Political parties and retired military personnel

Both the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the JVP-led National People’s Party (NPP) are courting ex-military and police personnel as they get ready for elections later this year. Former STF chief Nimal Lewke was the latest to join the SJB while two senior military officers, namely Daya Ratnayake, one time Army Commander and Daya Sandagiri, a former Navy Commander both joined the SJB in the past week. The NPP on its part has set up retired armed forces collectives in all districts and is attracting a considerable amount of support from retired personnel.

There is no doubt that support of retired military personnel will be a big boost to any political party given they make up a big chunk of voters. With the number of retirees increasing each day as the Sri Lanka Armed Force begins to downsize, many may be attracted to a career in politics. But political parties should rethink over dependence on ex-military personnel in the political sphere.

The military in any country are held in high esteem and except for some rotten apples, the country’s armed forces have conducted themselves well. Their profile took a massive boost after the defeat of the LTTE in 2009 but since then, even those who fought in the frontline and many who suffered horrendous injuries, are disgruntled and have expressed their dissatisfaction in the manner that their needs are neglected. During the ‘aragalaya’, there were groups of retired military personnel including amputees and others with disabilities they incurred on the field who came forward to join the people’s struggle.

Ironically in the 2019 Presidential election, Gotabaya Rajapaksa won the overwhelming support of both serving officers as well as retirees, but the tide has since turned against the political party that propelled the former President to office. Instead, many in the rank and file have turned to the NPP while senior officials are joining the SJB. If this trend continues, the country may see a large number of retired military personnel also contesting for the next general election as well as Provincial Councils (PC) and Local Government elections slated for 2025.

There is no law that prohibits a man in uniform from contesting for an election or joining a political party of his preference once he retires from the service. Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, the senior most military officer in the country, is in active politics and contested for the presidency in 2010. A large number of people also voted for him even though he lost out to Mahinda Rajapaksa.

In the past few decades, particularly with a raging separatist war in the north and east, successive Governments began sending military personnel to serve in Sri Lanka overseas missions as military attaches or to other posts. This was necessary in certain capitals where the exchange of intelligence and other information with host nations was essential.

Since 2009, many retired personnel have been sent as heads of missions, some as deputies, etc., but it has at times been problematic given that due to allegations of human rights violations, some Western capitals have refused to accept such appointments. This trend is likely to continue even if there are changes in government unless credible allegations of human rights violations are addressed seriously by the Government.

While political parties may gain favour by getting more and more military retirees onto their sides, it is important to consider that overdoing this could also alienate some sections of the population. Unlike when they are serving officers, any military officer, however high his rank may be, will not have any immunity from criticism and scrutiny and hence it’s best political parties go slow in this direction. It’s not only a matter of voters but it is also a matter of upholding the dignity of the uniform which they once wore with much pride.