Arrest of Sri Lankan opposition leader escalates post-election repression
9 February 2010, 08:12AM
The arrest of retired General Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lanka’s former Chief of Army Staff and opposition political candidate in Sri Lanka’s recently held Presidential Election, escalates post-election repression, Amnesty International said today.
Sarath Fonseka was arrested late Monday evening and will reportedly face a military Court Martial on charges that he revealed military secrets and plotted the assassination of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
"Sarath Fonseka's arrest continues the Rajapaksa government's post election crackdown on political opposition,” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Director.
“After the military defeat of the LTTE and a major election victory, President Rajapaksa should steer the country toward a better human rights record. Instead, we're seeing less and less tolerance for criticism.”
The timing of the arrest is troubling given reports that Sarath Fonseka had announced earlier in the day that he was prepared to testify before an international court on war crimes charges against the Sri Lanka government.
Since his defeat in the election, several of Sarath Fonseka’s key supporters have been arrested. Journalists with the state media suspected of supporting the opposition candidate have also faced threats and violence.
Allegations and counter allegations of responsibility for violations of human rights and humanitarian law featured prominently in the run up to the election.
Sarath Fonseka was quoted in the press in December accusing the President’s brother, Sri Lanka’s Secretary of Defence, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa of ordering the executions of surrendering LTTE leaders at the end of the war in May 2009. He later retracted his accusations.
“Allegations of war crimes in Sri Lanka should be subject to an independent international investigation,” said Sam Zarifi.
“Sarath Fonseka was commander of the armed forces during a period when Sri Lanka’s army was accused of violating humanitarian law, including firing heavy weaponry into an area packed with civilians. Fonseka faces credible allegations of war crimes and should also be subject to investigation and accountability.”
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Comments are submitted by members of the public and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Amnesty International Australia. If you find a comment objectionable please contact the web editor.
JACK COLLEN
22 February 2010, 01:50PM
Sri Lankan government never ever going to allow to live anyone in that land. The political leaders are only try to earn money through the leadership.
So how the innocent people are going to get facilities.
The discrimination among tamil is still follows in different ways.
The rights for tamil is halfly rejected in Sri Lanka.
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