By Colombo Telegraph –
Sri Lanka’s ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka is barred from political office for seven years, despite being freed from jail on Monday, his lawyer says, BBC’s Charles Haviland reports. Fonseka’s lawyer, Nalin Laduwahetti, told BBC that the terms of his release prevent him from running for office. They are trying to secure a full pardon for the chief.
Fonseka
The President has remitted Fonseka’s two-and-a-half year jail sentence for corruption, but has not pardoned him or annulled the sentence already served. This means he is subject to a seven-year restriction of his civic rights.
The government is interpreting the Constitution to rule that he can vote but cannot contest an election in that period.
The attorney-general has also noted that there is still one case pending against Mr Fonseka, that of harbouring army deserters.
Nalin Laduwahetti told the BBC that they are “looking at all political and legal possibilities” to try to secure a more complete pardon for the former army chief.
A supporter of Sarath Fonseka and former Chief Justice, Sarath Silva, has commented that Fonseka is “a prisoner in the open”.
suz / May 25, 2012
please do not wear national suit in public always use military type kit to look strong like fidel castro.
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raymond / May 25, 2012
….and ensure that Idi Mahin also strips his national suit and wears his birthday suit instead!!
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M J / May 25, 2012
General SF’s lawyers have to go to the same court, which sent him to jail get, an expunge (drop) order for the case by a judge. If court does not allow it then we will know the real secret.
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Basil / May 26, 2012
So, in open prison
what, otherwise white-van or rearrested
MR will literally have to sell the country to win next time, but he may rely on the bullet
If foreign money is good for MR then international justice is good for SF and SL, MR courts fail, then HR courts (like MR in 90)
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Basil / May 26, 2012
My advice to the General is to go on second gear, enjoy, no need to be sacrificing all the time, people take for granted, spend some time with the family, gain support, LISTEN primarily to your friends; Tiran Alles, Arjuna Ranatunga, wife Anoma, focus on the people, ignore Rajapakse, he does not need to dwell in your mind, your mind for yourself, family, friends, friends and supporters. Your time will come the people will chase him away, some who bought him to power will throw him out, be cool, you will know when you will be needed, no shame in asking for support, not just I am going to do this, you seemed to have made a good start.
You see all Sri Lankans have been taken down the bigot path since independence by politicos, so we make an issue out of no issue. What we need is a trustworthy administrator, weve got plenty politicians
Col. Hariharan has some good ideas-
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=52711
Best wishes and hope things will get better for us all !
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suz / May 26, 2012
fonseka your worst enemy misguide you in ct again never trust people around you.
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Dinuk / May 26, 2012
General Sarth Fonseka should make a deal with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague for a war crimes trial of the Rajapakse Bros. He would be witness and testify, This is the best thing that Sartah FOnseka could do for Mother Lanka. He would be doing Lanka
s people and citizens who have suffered the Rajapakse regime for too long a great service by helping us get rid of the rotten, uneducated and corrupt Rajapakse family business that is looting the country and building up national debt with their white elephant infrastructure development projects in Hambantota and elsewhere rather than investing in human resource development and education because they are scared of the educated classes who know what they are up to!
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Rupert Vanderkoon / May 26, 2012
“Uneducated and corrupt ” is applicable to Fonseka more than anybody else. Have you noticed he doesn’t talk about Lasantha killing for example??smell a fish??And you believe a war crimes probe, if any, will exclude him?If there was pressure or concern from the international community against Fonseka’s release, that was only because he was the presidential candidate. In their view, he is as guilty as the political setup, which all is tosh anyway.
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KUMA / May 26, 2012
Raja paraya is scared of him cumming to politics that is why he has taken his civic rights.
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suz / May 26, 2012
man who does not know to secure his civil rights is not qualify as a presidential candidate.
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Narki Silo / May 27, 2012
Why is paraya after western bashing now bending over to the Queen
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