The movement continues in Sri Lanka, which is facing severe economic crisis. Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa have been banned from leaving Sri Lanka after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left the country. According to Transparency International Sri Lanka, the two leaders cannot leave the country without permission till July 28. In addition, two former governors of the central bank are also not allowed to leave the country.
Meanwhile, after the former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, now the new President of the country is to be elected within seven days. Parliament will meet on Saturday and the new President will be elected within seven days as per the provisions of the Constitution. Even before Sri Lanka, such a situation has been seen in many countries, when the President fled the country overnight. Let us know which are those countries-
Ashraf Ghani, Afghanistan
The Taliban took control of the country after the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan last year. During this, the then President Ashraf Ghani fled the country with his family overnight. Ghani reached Kabul airport in a private jet. He had kept a lot of cash in this helicopter. He had so much cash that when he was sitting in the plane, he had to leave a lot of money on the runway. Currently he is in United Arab Emirates.
Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan
Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf left the country after being found guilty in corruption cases. Musharraf declared himself the President of Pakistan after toppling the elected Nawaz Sharif government in a coup in 1999. He remained in this post till August 2008. During this, he took several decisions which proved disastrous. These include the suspension of the Chief Justice and the siege of Lal Masjid.
Germany, Eric Honecker
Erich Honecker was the Communist leader of East Germany since 1971. Honecker ruled East Germany. He was steadfast in his loyalty to the Soviet Union and strongly opposed the idea of a unified Germany. An estimated 125 East Germans were killed while trying to cross the Wall in West Berlin during Honecker’s rule. Eric was ousted from power in 1989 in the wake of sweeping democratic reforms in Eastern Europe. He fled to Moscow with his wife to avoid trial for several crimes during the Cold War. However, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, he was deported back to Germany. On his arrival in Berlin he was detained and arrested.
Nicolae Ceausescu, Romania
Nicolae Ceauescu’s government was considered one of the most repressive in Eastern Europe. His secret police were accused of mass surveillance, severe repression and human rights abuses. In December 1989, the waves of protest against him intensified in the country and most of the army also joined this revolution. At that time there was so much anger against Ceausescu in the hearts of the people that he tried to address a public meeting, but he had to take shelter in a building when people threw stones at him. Then he somehow reached the roof of the building and from there fled the country with his wife in a helicopter. But the army closed Romanian airspace and ordered their helicopter to land. Ceausescu and his wife were captured by the police and handed over to the army.
Ferdinand Marcos, Philippines
Ferdinand Marcos served as the head of state of the Philippines from 1966 to 1986. During his rule he faced criticism for corruption and suppression of democratic processes. Marcos is known as a cruel ruler in the history of the Philippines. He imposed martial law in 1972 and ran the government as a brutal dictator until 1986 when he was ousted from power. During his reign there were 3257 murders in police custody, more than 35,000 people were tortured and 70 thousand people were imprisoned. Marcos and his family flew to Guam and Hawaii by a US Air Force plane in late February 1986.
Evo Morales, Bolivia
Evo Morales served as the first president of Bolivia’s indigenous origin from 2006–19. He is credited with introducing economic and social reforms. He had to step down after an unclear mandate in the 2019 elections. An arrest warrant was issued against him for alleged treason and terrorism in Bolivia. A Mexican government plane took him out of Bolivia after Mexico offered him asylum. A few days later he was also given asylum by Argentina and he went to that country.
