By Shihar Aneez COLOMBO, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Sarath Fonseka, who quit as Sri Lanka's top general after the end of a 25-year war, has said he plans now to fight for democracy and human rights, fuelling speculation he will soon announce his candidacy for the presidency. [ID:COL426892] He said on Monday he would announce his decision on entering politics this week. Here are some questions and answers on Fonseka: WHO IS SARATH FONSEKA? A soldier from 1970, Fonseka was the army commander who spearheaded victory over the Tamil Tiger rebels. Known for his volatile temper and win-at-all-costs attitude on the battlefield, Fonseka was nearly killed in April 2006 by a Tiger suicide bomber, but returned three months later to launch a 34-month campaign that defeated the rebels. WHY DID HE RESIGN? Fonseka in his resignation letter accused President Mahinda Rajapaksa of sidelining him despite his contribution to the victory, and of sullying the army's reputation by falsely alerting India that a coup plot was afoot in October. WHY THE SPECULATION HE WILL CHALLENGE RAJAPAKSA? He has recently spoken out on democracy, human rights, and media freedom, areas in which the opposition and Western nations say the administration of Rajapaksa has done too little. Both the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna and pro-business United National Party have said they have spoken to him and are ready to adopt him as their common candidate to defeat Rajapaksa. Fonseka has not responded to this yet. WHY IS HE DELAYING HIS ANNOUNCEMENT? Analysts say Fonseka wants Rajapaksa first to announce the date of a presidential poll which the government has said is due by April. The president on Sunday dodged the date announcement, in what analysts saw as a tactic to buy time until the Fonseka flap settles down. CAN FONSEKA TAKE VOTES FROM RAJAPAKSA? Fonseka has at least as much claim as Rajapaksa to credit for victory in the war, a key factor in the incumbent's popularity. WHAT ABOUT THE ECONOMY? If Fonseka enters the presidential race, economists expect Rajapaksa to spend more to woo voters with public-sector wage hikes, subsidies and new state jobs. Rajapaksa has already promised public sector pay increases from January. But implementing this will be very difficult due to strings attached to a $2.6 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). If Rajapaksa decides to cancel the IMF loan, investor confidence in the $40 billion economy will be badly dented. (Editing by Andrew Roche)
Police and railway officials stand next to an overturned coach of a passenger train which was derailed after suspected Maoist rebels blew up a railway track near Manoharpur, in India's eastern ...
