By R. K. Radharishnan –
Jailed former Army Commander of Sri Lanka Sarath Fonseka, who led the Eelam war IV against the Tamil Tigers and helped win it, is set to be released shortly.
“We will release him soon,” Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa told The Hindu on the sidelines of a function organised to launch a book, Gota’s War, here on Monday.
MP’s role
Mr. Rajapaksa said the person who tried hard to secure Gen. Fonseka’s release, Member of Parliament Tiran Alles, was out of the country.
Fonseka and Mahinda
Mr. Alles was in the U.K. and he was cutting short his visit to reach Colombo on Tuesday, a source said. “He [Mr. Alles] has to get the credit for the release [of Gen. Fonseka],” the President said.
Mr. Alles had been liaisoning with the President over the past many months. He had been a close associate from the time the former General ran for office. Mr. Alles was in touch with the President from the U.K.
Earlier, the government had insisted that Gen. Fonseka or his family members appeal to the President for pardon.
Gen. Fonseka, soon after leading the Army to victory against the LTTE in May 2009, tried to cash in on his popularity. He ran for the office of President in 2010, against his one time Commander-in-Chief Mr. Rajapaksa. He suffered a crushing defeat. He was arrested in February. He was convicted by both military and civil courts and stripped of his military ranks in August 2010.
Gen. Fonseka was recently moved to a hospital for treatment amid some drama over the choice of the hospital. Finally, the government agreed to his choice.
Hearing postponed
Meanwhile, the Colombo High Court on Monday postponed till June 7 a case filed by the Attorney-General against Gen. Fonseka for harbouring Army deserters during the presidential election in 2010.
Gen. Fonseka’s counsel told the court that he was undergoing treatment and requested postponement of the case.
Ralf Sheldrake / May 15, 2012
….if we lack human values such as forgiveness, gratitude and compassion…there is no point in all the wealth & power that we earn…
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Vasu / May 15, 2012
Forgiveness, for what?
I think you stand on the wrong side. I´m not a friend of SF ( not San Francisco)
His approach and attitudes were similar to MR and Gota
He killed journalists and civilians. No fire zones were fired under his commando
He has done a mistake, mistake of confrontation for power
His release has nothing to do with “FORGIVENESS”
This shows the willigness of MR regime for a honeymoon with west
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Sylo / May 15, 2012
I dont think he was directly involved, though he was the only one to accept responsibility.
(He was sent to Budhagaya and China towards the end)
When we all (including you) are modern and western the issue is our bogus anti-western hype.
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Sylo / May 15, 2012
Air Marshal Goonatilake may also then have to take some blame for the areal assault, etc…
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Gowrie / May 15, 2012
Well! Do you have any other choice MaRa? If that’s what the Americans want then that’s what you do. I wonder if thats what G.L.Pereis talking to Hilary about..Not about the accountability of course. And then why should the Americans care about the Tamils political solutions as long as they get what they want..Remember it was not Fonseka who so called “won” the war but Gota according to Chandraprema. Ha! Ha!
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KUMA / May 15, 2012
WHO IS THIS CRIMINAL CROOK RAJA GANU HORA HE IS NOTHING TO WITH SF RELEASE SUPREME COURT MUST DECIDE THAT , HE WAS JAIL FOR NO REASON ONLY REASON WAS HE WON THE THE ELECTION BECAUSE OF THAT HE BRIBE OUR LEGAL SYSTEM AND CONVICT HIM FOR NO REASON.
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Senguttuan / May 15, 2012
Well informed sources in Colombo were aware the State Dept insisted if GLP is to get an appointment – after arrogantly refusing an offered meeting with Secretary Clinton in February – there must be public and unambigous declaration of good intent on major issues. The Sarath Fonseka release, implementation of the Govt’s own LLRC, long-due sharing of local government power to the Tamils being the major ones. It is understood firmer steps were threatened in the next Geneva HRC Confab if no evidence of good behaviour was forthcoming.
So this clearly has nothing to do with Big Chief mellowing or suddenly becoming an exceptional Buddhist seething in compoassion and forgiveness. Anyway, with some, until the thing happens one is never certain.
What is central and in the interest of the larger number of the hapless Lankan nation is for the country to regain her political and economic composure – destroyed by “a bunch of buffoons” – if one is to use the language of GL Gunasekera. One hopes this takes place soon irrespective of who is right, who did wrong etc etc
Senguttuvan
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Chrish / May 15, 2012
What a shame you are MRP. You can not hold a Kingship everyday. You must move to sharing of the Power. That is how you could beautify this country
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kamal nissanka / May 15, 2012
Liberal party of Sri Lanka demands the release of Sarath Fonseka
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whywhy / May 16, 2012
Talks with the opposition on Tamils,mute on Dambulla, voice on SF and
GL in the US.Attanayake still not sure of any results of their talks.
Well,the west is on a world tour of fact finding and rogue-catching.
They are specially interested in patriot-hunt and may be GL is there to show his both hands “look we don’t have any”!
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DAS / May 16, 2012
An important ruling by the Supreme Court which arose from the trial of General Sarath Foseka by a Military Court Martial, was that the latter “was ‘equal’ to civilian courts”.
This is a landmark judgement.
There was no comment by the Bar Association.
Military officers unqualified in law are now therefore on par with the judiciary.
Will we see an Army General appointed as Chief Justice?
If Fonseka is released,it would mean that he is “Not Guilty”.
Therefore, will judge Warawewa, who dissented and whose extention of service consequently denied, be reinstated?
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