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Free Fonseka, BJP urges SL president
ET,
Feb 12.
NEW DELHI: The Sri Lankan government’s decision to arrest and court martial retired Army chief General Sarath Fonseka for ``plotting to overthrow
President Mahinda Rajapaksa’’ found its echo in India here on Wednesday with BJP taking up cudgels on his behalf.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, in a statement issued here on Wednesday, denounced the move, and urged President Rajapaksa to set Gen Fonseka free immediately.
“We are disturbed by the news reports about the arrest and detention of Gen Fonseka, the opposition candidate in the recent presidential election in Sri Lanka,’’ the BJP leader said, adding, ``As the world’s largest democracy, we cannot approve of this, particularly when it is happening so close to us. We call upon President Rajapaksa to ensure the safety and well-being of the opposition leader and request his release immediately.’’
More...
Published: Thu Feb 11 20:14:05 EST 2010
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India hopes Fonseka will get justice
ET,
Feb 12.
NEW DELHI: The Indian government on Thursday reacted to the detention of former Sri Lankan Army chief Sarath Fonseka and said that India ‘trusts’
that due process of law would be observed. In a cautionary statement, the external affairs ministry said India was in touch with Sri Lanka on the detention of Mr Fonseka, who lost the presidential election to Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa.“We have been in touch with the government of Sri Lanka about the detention of Rtd. Gen Sarath Fonseka. As a friend and neighbour, we trust that due processes of law will be observed in democratic Sri Lanka in this matter,” MEA spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said in a statement.
The Indian statement also comes on the heels of UN chief Ban Ki-moon asking president Rajapaksa to respect due process of law in Mr Fonseka’s case. Mr Ban conveyed the concern in a telephonic conversation with Mr Rajapaksa on Wednesday night. Mr Ban called on the Sri Lankan government to guarantee the safety of Mr Fonseka and announced plans to send an envoy for talks with the Lankan government.
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Published: Thu Feb 11 19:59:37 EST 2010
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Sri Lanka: Long-simmering suspicions led to Fonseka's arrest
CSM,
Feb 12.
Sri Lankan authorities have yet to charge former Army chief Sarath Fonseka, the opposition candidate defeated in last month’s presidential election and arrested on Monday. But already the general has been accused of divulging official secrets, recruiting deserters, and even plotting to overthrow President Mahinda Rajapaksa.In fact, the allegations against Fonseka predate the election campaign. They stem from his ambitions in the aftermath of last May’s victory over Tamil Tiger rebels. At the time, Fonseka proposed a doubling of the Army’s manpower and claimed credit for defeating the Tigers. That stirred unease in the administration, which began to sideline him within the military command.
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Published: Thu Feb 11 19:58:28 EST 2010
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