(December 22, Colombo - Lanka Polity) The interview given by opposition presidential candidate of Sri Lanka Sarath Fonseka to the Sunday Leader newspaper on December 13, 2009 wherein he alleges that three Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) leaders who came to surrender with white flags during the final stages of the battle were shot dead by ground troops that were following the orders of Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, has opened an UN probe into possible war crimes charges against the government.
However, the government ahead of an unexpected competition in the presidential on January 26 has decided to manipulate the scenario to rouse patriotism among masses and to bank the floating votes disregarding the risk factor. The government has assigned Sinhala nationalist ex-Marxist Wimal Weerawansa, the leader of the National Freedom Front (JNP), to run a campaign to grow hatred among security forces against Fonseka. He also begs to people to come to streets in defense of the Rajapaksas to show gratitude for the service they rendered in wiping out terrorism.
Weerawansa, who has begun to advise the government in legal affairs since recent times urged issuing a press statement, to bring Sarath Fonseka before the martial court and punish him under martial law.Weerawansa is delivering a series of fiery speeches in this regard and urges the government to forget the presidential and to take action to avoid further betrayals.
However, the more responsible government politicians including arch Sinhala nationalist militant leader of the National Heritage (JHU) Champika Ranawaka have been instructed by the government to be prudential since the government has been advised to face the problem diplomatically.
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions Philip Alston in a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa has demanded an explanation regarding the allegations made by Fonseka that the Defence Secretary has instructed the Commander of the 58th Brigade of the Sri Lanka Army to shoot those surrendering.
The United Nations is inquiring particularly “the circumstances of the death of three representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Balasingham Nadeshan, Seevaratnam Pulidevan and Ramesh, as well as members of their families, in the night of 17 to 18 May, 2009.”
In his letter, Alston says that the information that he has received are based on the allegations made by Sarath Fonseka in the above mentioned interview. He also says “accounts of journalists embedded with the SLA 58th Brigade confirm some of the alleged circumstances of the deaths of Nadeshan, Pulidevan and Ramesh and their families.” Referring to “fundamental legal rules applicable to all armed conflicts under international humanitarian law and human rights law”, particularly Article 5 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the Special Rapporteur has inquired about the accuracy of the allegations and demanded information and documentary proof in the event that the accusations are inaccurate.The letter also seeks information on the family members of Nadeshan , Pulidevan and Ramesh.
Defesce secratary gotabaya Rjapakhas is the biigest ever betrayor of the nation who sigh=ned an agreement with America which enable USA to use Sri lanka as a security base.Why is government silent over that agreement.
ReplyDeleteSF has been crying a long time that government did ill treat him to gain the sympathy vote of the masses. Then he goes and blunder himself in the present situation. He has been no commander when the war started nursing his wounds in Singapore nor he was there at the end where he was having a family vacation in China visting the great wall. Why do not the writer mention the facts.
ReplyDeleteWhy not???
ReplyDeletePresident MR should use it in a possitive way to win this election.
Isn't that SF's doing?
SF is the one who's doing dirty politics here. He started this & now he should face it too. He's giving away military secrets for his personal gains. What sort of a leader is he going to be? Who can trust him?
He's the biggest traitor in history of politics. And he's going to be the biggest looser too.
As far as I can see SF is in this race to take a personal revenge from Gotabaya Rajapakse. This is a hate driven campaign and since SF is not a politician with a clear policy statement he will throw as much mud as he can at certain individuals with a vicious personal attack campaign. This is a sad for situation for Sri Lanka and on the 27th morning SF will realized what a Jackass he had been by letting others use his reputation.
ReplyDelete