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Latest update: 09/02/2010
- Mahinda Rajapaksa - Sri Lanka
Defeated presidential candidate Fonseka to face court martial
Sri Lanka's former army chief Sarath Fonseka (pictured), who lost to the incumbent in the recent presidential election, will face a court martial for "military offences", an official announced Tuesday.
By News Wires (text)
AFP - Sri Lanka's former army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka will face a court martial for "military offences", an official said Tuesday.
Fonseka, who was arrested by military police at his campaign office on Monday night, has been moved to an undisclosed military establishment ahead of court martial proceedings, the military official said.
"He will face a court martial even though he is not a serving officer," said the official, who declined to be named. "The military law applies up to six months from the date of retirement of any officer."
Fonseka was taken into custody "in connection with certain fraudulent acts and other military offences committed by him", the defence ministry said in a brief statement posted on its website.
Fonseka, who lost to President Mahinda Rajapakse in the January 26 election, was arrested hours after he vowed to give evidence at any international probe into the final stages of fighting against Tamil Tiger rebels last year.
The government has resisted international calls for an investigation amid charges that a senior defence official ordered the killing in cold blood of surrendering rebel leaders.
Fonseka, 59, the only four-star general in the army, quit in November following differences with President Rajapakse over who should receive credit for the Tigers' defeat in May 2009.
Police detectives searched his home, shortly after troops stormed Fonseka's office and arrested him, a family member said.
"They searched the house but did not seem to find what they were looking for," the Fonseka relative said. "They recorded a statement from General Fonseka's wife and left."



























Comments (18)
Mahinda
Mahidna and his brothers are a curse in this country. The quicker they are out the better for this country and its people.
WAR CRIMES IN SRI LANKA
IT IS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH THAT THE DEFENSE SECRETARY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE CRIMES & AN INVESTIGATION MUST BE HELD INTERNATIONALLY
Arrest
In the matter of fact whether General is arrested or abducted it does not matter. One thing remains he cannot be tried in military court as he retired from the military in June 2009 and now six months have elapsed. Tha Military Law does not work after six months of his stay in the Militry. That is the law of our country. They bungled in huge time.
Kangaroo Court
This Court Marshal will be a Kangaroo Court What Gotabhaya and Mahida Rajapaksa want to do. Sri Lanka has the last satges of its democracy. Rajapaksa is now a Dictator.
gossip to fool public
this article seems to be written as to gain sympathy towards ex army chief,but the facts are stubborn,most of the Sri Lankan community knows the truth,so nobody can fool everybody only few fools will get caught.
Help Sri Lakans
Our days are numbered, in communicating with the world.
Action is now being taken to block news sites, even Google.
International community must get involved, and protect the country from the psycho gang!!
Defeated presidential candidate Fonseka to face court martial
During the recent Presidential Election Ruling Party violated election rules enormously. They used public owned media institutions heavily, most of the opposition media institutions were banned, Journalists and Opposition supporters were murdered by the government sponsored thugs, People were bribed, Election officers were chased away from Election Centres and full control of them was taken by the government thugs. President's brother has threatened Election Commissioner at the Main Election Office and took control of it and manipulated election results in the computer systems. Election was held like this with full of frauds and has got the Election Commissioner by force to declare the win. First speech of Election Commissioner after the Election confirms them.
Arrest of Main Opposition Candidate is to stop any Election Petition and derail opposition campaign for the forthcoming General Election. Also this arrest was made just after General made a comment to BBC that he is ready to testify in any War Crime Tribunal. After arresting him they can stop General's free movement. President's brother who is the Defence Secretary has bypassed the General (then the Army Commander) at several times to give unlawful orders to army and he is guilty conscious of them and fearful to go to a War Crime Tribunal.
In addition President and his Family (99% are in very higher positions in the government) have looted $478 B of money during his first term, (this money) mostly coming from Foreign Aids.
SriLanka is now not a Democratic country. Foreign countries should force Rulers to reinstate democracy by means of putting up sanctions, cutting Aids etc.,.
If Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has done anything unlawfully or unproffessionally, he should defineatly go the justice no matter local or international.
What a sad state of affairs
What a sad state of affairs
General Fonseka
Actually speaking rajapakse & his family is scared of Generals following. People of Sri Lanka is fed up of current Presidents style of governing. Its a known fact that Rajapaskse & family is making money on every project. Moreover now they are acting like "dictators". Threw away peoples majority vote and cheated the people. Lot more happening day by day. Very soon masses will get on road. Read www.lankatruth.com to get latest uncensored news. Hope International intervention will help us Sri Lankans!!
Gen.S.Fonseka Faces court
Pleas safeguard the life of our Great Hero Gen. s.Fonseka.We need safe him.All country and bbc give a suport him.I thank all sri lankans stand up democracy.President must pay for him.Gen. s.Fonseka is great man and he done great job.Nother New Sadham in sri lanka All Rajapaksa need to go learn democracy in school.God bless Hero Gen. SF and his family especiall his wife Anoma Fonseka.Gen.Sf your the right and learn democracy our country stand up the trut. God bless the democracy Gen. S.Fonseka.wake up Sri lankans.Best wisher from Irene.
Balu weda
Balu weda! Only dogs can do this kind of think!
SF is reaping the harvest of
SF is reaping the harvest of the wild seed he sowed at the behest of US
PLease Help us
Please international governments- Please intervne in to this matter, we are lost here, we don't know how many days we will live..
Fonseka not Arrested - But got abducted
Fonseka was a National Hero in the country, The opposition was preparing to request a null for the presidential campaign results as they are 100% sure about the fraud results Mahinda Rajapakse regime published with influencing the elections commisioner.
But now Opposition main competitor has been taken to custody without making any charge on him. He has been assaulted and taken away from his office by Army(Not even Police).
Please I am a Sri Lankan, I love my mother land, I love democracy, Now we don't have freedom. Our journalists get assaulted and kidnapped. Even tomorrow after writing this , govt thugs might kidnap me aswell by getting my IP address.
Please , I ask support from Foreign countries to intervene for this matter, Mahinda Rajapakse creating the "IDI AMIN" control over his oppossing parties and innocent people.
Please Help us, Please help
Sri Lanka University Student from University of Colombo.
Defeated presidential candidate Fonseka to face court martial
Democracy and Justice in SriLanka are going to die. While the war criminals Karuna Amman and Pilliyan who killed unarmed policemen and civilians and recuited thausands of children for war are free and have been given Ministers posts in Rajapaksa Administration, the general who liberated to country from brutal terrorism has to face court martial on fabricated offences.
What a nice Justice system of a President selected from vote rigging and frauds? Time has come for foriegn governments in intervene.
General in custody!
He was not arrested but taken forcibly by army officers. In May 2009 he was a Hero of the government. Now he is a traitor just because he entered Presidential Elections. Rajapakse didn't win the election but got-together with family and cheated the results. Reporting should not be biased. Get on the road and ask SL people what really happened. Thanks!
Arrest of Gen. FONESEKA
As a Foreigner and impartial observer, I find it hard to comprehend how a man who is no longer a sworn military officer could face a Courts Martial. The whole affair reeks of corruption; particularly when General FONESEKA has indicated that he wished to make details of atrocities known to an international war crimes tribunal. The current incumbent president and his henchmen however would not want that would they. It is absolutely great to see corruption alive and well in Sri Lanka. This is a warning to us Australians. There is a minority of Australians who want to get rid of our current Monarchical system of government and replace our head of state with a president. Have a bloody good look at Sri Lanka; once a stable country until it became a diseased republic.
good work.
good work.
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