By Colombo Telegraph –
“Bogollagama passes to Ambassador an Aide Memoire, which noted that allegations against the defense secretary affected the vital interests of the GSL and had already occupied considerable time and attention of both governments at the highest level .” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.
The purpose of the Fonseka interview was to gather information about the possible involvement in war crimes of SL Defense Secretary and president’s brother and U.S. citizen Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
The Colombo Telegraph found the relevant leaked cable from the WikiLeak database. The cable recount details of a meeting the US Ambassador has had with the Foreign Minister Bogollagama on November 2, 2009. The cable is classified as “CONFIDENTIAL” by the Deputy Chief of Mission Valerie C. Fowler.
The US Ambassador Butenis wrote “It noted that the GSL president had formed a panel to consider the matters raised in the U.S. Report to Congress on Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka and claimed that any information Fonseka had gained in performance of his official duties had the status of ‘privileged information.’ It closed with a request to the U.S. State Department to inform DHS that ‘there is very reason for the interview proposed for the 4th November 2009, to not take place,’ and noted the GSL’s view that DHS ‘should not forthwith desist from any endeavour in this direction.’
“Bogollagama said what concerned the GSL were reports that a DHS lawyer had allegedly told Fonseka that the purpose of the interview was to gather information about the possible involvement in war crimes of SL Defense Secretary and president’s brother and U.S. citizen Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Bogollagama said any questioning of Fonseka about SL ‘official’ information would be frowned upon by the GSL and ‘could seriously impact our relationship.’” she further wrote.
The full text of the aide memoire is reproduced in para 6 in the cable below.
Related news link to this cable- WikiLeaks: Fonseka’s Hawaii visit cancelled due to his involvement in human-rights violations
Related news link to Fonseka’s DHS interview – WikiLeaks: Fonseka tried to shift blame on war crime to Gota
Below we give a part of the confidential cable.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001006 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE SUBJECT: MFA CALLS IN AMBASSADOR OVER DHS QUESTIONING OF CHOD FONSEKA COLOMBO 00001006 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION VALERIE C. FOWLER. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) On November 2, Foreign Minister Bogollagama called in Ambassador regarding reports that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had requested that Sri Lankan Chief of Defense (CHOD) Sarath Fonseka come in for a "voluntary" interview with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Oklahoma City on November 4. (NOTE: Fonseka is a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) in the United States and has family and property in Oklahoma. He currently is in the U.S. visiting family and re-establishing his LPR status. END NOTE.) Bogollagama said the interview was a matter of "urgency and relevance" to the government of Sri Lanka (GSL) and asked for information to "help us understand and formulate a proper reaction." ¶2. (C) Ambassador recounted recent developments regarding Fonseka, including cancellation of his invitation to attend the recent Chiefs of Defense conference in Hawaii due to U.S. concerns about his involvement in human-rights violations during the conflict with the LTTE. She also explained that as a green-card holder, Fonseka was required by U.S. law to confirm his status as an LPR. But as regards the DHS request to see Fonseka on November 4, Ambassador said she did not know the specific reason for the invitation. ¶3. (C) Bogollagama said what concerned the GSL were reports that a DHS lawyer had allegedly told Fonseka that the purpose of the interview was to gather information about the possible involvement in war crimes of SL Defense Secretary (and president's brother and U.S. citizen) Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. He said the GSL was very concerned about using Fonseka as a source for "prying" into the actions of the government in Sri Lanka and was seeking "immediate action" to prevent anything further from happening on November 4. He claimed that their sources (presumably the law firm Patton Boggs, which embassy understands has been hired to represent the GSL) told them that DHS had investigated war crimes in the past. Bogollagama said any questioning of Fonseka about SL "official" information would be frowned upon by the GSL and "could seriously impact our relationship." ¶4. (C) Bogollagama passed to Ambassador an Aide Memoire, which noted that allegations against the defense secretary affected the vital interests of the GSL and had already occupied considerable time and attention of both governments at the highest levels. It noted that the SL president had formed a panel to consider the matters raised in the U.S. Report to Congress on Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka and claimed that any information Fonseka had gained in performance of his official duties had the status of "privileged information." It closed with a request to the U.S. State Department to inform DHS that "there is every reason for the interview proposed for the 4th November 2009, to not take place," and noted the GSL's view that DHS "should forthwith desist from any endeavor in this direction." (NOTE: The full text of the Aide Memoire is reproduced in para 6 below. END NOTE.) ¶6. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT OF AIDE MEMOIRE (grammatical and other irregularities are preserved from the original): The assistance of the US State Department is sought concerning an unwelcome intervention by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in a matter of grave concern, that has the potential to complicate the existing dialogue between the friendly Governments of Sri Lanka and of the United States. The Government of Sri Lanka is informed that Sri Lanka's Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka who at present is in the United States, has received a letter calling him for an interview with the DHS Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In addition, on the 28th of October, General Fonseka had received a telephone call from a DHS Attorney to the effect that the intention behind the request for the interview is to use him "as a source against human rights violations done by Secretary/Defence". It had been clarified during the telephone conversation that the reference to "Secretary/Defence" relates to Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order of Sri Lanka. It is pertinent to recall in this regard that Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa's duties as Secretary of that Ministry required his dealing with a situation of a grave onslaught that threatened the integrity of Sri Lanka and which was launched by the LTTE, an organization proscribed by several countries including the United States, for its terrorist activities. The allegations therefore leveled against the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary affect the vital interests of the Government of Sri Lanka and have occupied considerable time and attention of the respective Governments, at the highest levels. In fact, the US Ambassador in Colombo has already been briefed of the decision taken by the President of Sri Lanka to appoint a Panel to consider the matters raised in the US Department of State 2009 Report to Congress on Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka. This decision by the President stems from Sri Lanka's unbroken commitment as a democratic nation to the Rule of Law, under which allegations are first assessed as to whether they possess any substance meriting further inquiry. The Chief of Defence Staff is a high level position within the Sri Lanka Government. General Fonseka is on an official visit on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka. He traveled to the United States on a diplomatic passport for prearranged appointments with senior personalities of the State Department and other US Government Agencies. Moreover, whatever General Fonseka may have become aware of during his service with the Government of Sri Lanka and in the course of his duties, has the status of privileged information. He has no authority to divulge or share this information with third parties, without the prior approval and consent of the Sri Lanka authorities. Given the above, it is hereby requested for the US State Department to inform the Department of Homeland Security that COLOMBO 00001006 003.2 OF 003 there is every reason for the interview proposed for 4th November 2009, to not take place. The Government of Sri Lanka is of the view that the Department of Homeland Security should forthwith desist from any endeavor in this direction. Colombo 2nd November 2009 END TEXT OF AIDE MEMOIRE BUTENIS
DG US / November 24, 2011
GOSL panicked and took him to Jaliya’s residence where there was diplomatic immunity and put him on the first flight in hours. We were all monitoring the movements and calls of SF. Even now Cannot say the whole story. The point is SF did not want to “Sing like a Canary then” or even now, At that time he was confident that he could become a strong candidate in 2 years time (That is now) as a Presidential candidate. But the Rajapakses also panicked and had the elections immediately .
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Peter Casie Chetty / November 24, 2011
Rubbish. He sang off key into any cameras available to him. He would have taken his trousers off for the US little realising that the US has more war crimes on their hands than Pol Pot and Hitler put together. Who the hell are the bugger on Capitol Hill anyway to play policemen when there is no freedom of expression for 99% of the people against the 1% of Jews who run the damned states. Racism is not a thing of the past and all the lip singing to Human Rights is being down about Syria and Libya why are they not moving against the junta in Eygpt or the governments of Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Baharain? You are getting as cockeyed as any average intellectual American who thinks that only the Americans know anything about civilisation. The Indian sub continent was civiliased even before the Romans or Greeks were. Spend more time in a library.
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raymond / November 24, 2011
Peter, are you on MaRa’s payroll? Are you taking your trousers off for MR?
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Renuka Siriwardena. / November 24, 2011
SF knows all war crime secrets against Gota, that’s why Gota keeps him in a cell , read http://colombotelegraph.com/2011/11/20/the-general-and-the-witch-hunt/
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Henry / November 24, 2011
Renuka, if this is your real name, what are you trying to prove??? You are not helping Fonseka and you are making sure he will stay locked up for the rest of his life. More you keep instigating to get at each other no one is going to stop. For you, my dear, stop, encouraging hate and revenge.
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Renuka Siriwardena. / November 24, 2011
@Henry, yes this is my name, why? of course you are correct, I’m not a fan of Fonseka and wanted him to be in jail due to his crimes against humanity but not these bogus charges Rakapaksas brought in.
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Peter Casie Chetty / November 24, 2011
There are no more war secrets to be published. He opened his mouth a vommitted his lot that the Sunday Leader used against the Rajapakses. Sri Lanka got hit in the end and when Butenis interferes she is making a statement. “Israel and the US are immune to prosecution because the Bible says so.” I do not care what they think or whatever the US has to say. We have the same right to kill our terrorists whether they carry while flags, white knickers or white bedsheets. When the killed poor unarmed Sinhalese villagers and their chidren they respected not the fact that some infants were being bereast fed. If the US and Obama could have killed an unarmed Osama Bin Laden and made many attempts on the life of a Staesman like Fidel Castro what gives them the right to ask us to justify killing Prabakaran’s close aids. The Geneva convention covers soldiers of a regular army not terrorists. If they move on to the civilians even at this moment the US is firing drones into the territory of a souvereign country – Pakistan. Then we have to take into consideration the civilians they kill because they are chasing the shadows of the Taliban
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Peter Casie Chetty / November 24, 2011
Gota did not put him in his cell. His mouth put him in the cell. He should have kept it shut till he became President and that would have meant to keep his mouth shut forever because he never would have won. The Tamils let him down, his lawyers let him down, the Sundauy Leader let him down. He should not have trusted that Burgher woman. This is evidently a plot to divide the Sinhalese Buddhists because the United Churches of Sri Lanka are pretending that the Tamils were being ill-treated. There is a balance today that has never been since Lanka was sold to the British in 1814. Ranil and SF are trying to sell Lanka to the United States.
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dave / November 24, 2011
the war crimes we know is not against gota, but against sri lanka.it was not gota’s terrorism that was crushed.. it was sri lanka’s terrorism..if SF wants to give out military secrets , he is the worst traitor. will it be any differant or ecen worse if a USA senior military office expose the same? where were you pundits who cry about human rights when civilians were bombed in busses and trains, hacked to death and pregnant mothers had their bellies cut open?
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Henry / November 24, 2011
You are an LTTE supporter, and I wonder where were you when the LTTE terrorists were going around killing civilians. Your firend Tisaranie, is a long time LTTE suporter, since 1980s she has been a rogue character.Your plan is to put Fonseka against Gotta, I know your agenda, you are not what you are pretending to be. Bloody hell with you.
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Henry / November 24, 2011
Why does anybody keep digging this garbage over and over, this website has nothing else to publish??? Fonseka is in jail for very good reason, and he is putting his feet in mouth at every opportunity he gets to talk to someone. We all know that and stop digging this rubbish now. Enough. You are not contributing to reconciliation between fractured relationships, unless you have some other intentions.
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Ellepola / November 24, 2011
Fonseka is a man who poured a bottle of oil (veg oil) on his wifes head in public where they were vip guests when she failed to light the oil lamp. That is the type of man we are talking about. He would have done or said anything to get to be the president of the country. OMG imagine this man who has no political experience backed by the JVP, UNP tamil ltte groups, has never even appointed to a village councilon public vote becoming the president of SL ! By now would have had to say good bye to democracy and live under military rule. Fonseka is a man who is known to have punished his cook because his fried egg (bulls eye) was not perfect. Those who worry so about him should consider these facts. On the other hand Gota is a total vegitarian because he respects life and does not beleive in taking it even to fill his tummy and a practising buddist. Sure he didnt like terrorists. Both of them fought hard to save the nation from the bastard terrorists who went on suicide bombing the innocent. It is a shame that Fonseka was ready to deal in stories for personal gain and was lead up the garden path by his new found friends the jvp and the unp who were looking for a life saver.
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raymond / November 24, 2011
The picture above depicts Rt. Honourable General Sarath Fonseka, M.P. standing behind a pompous ass – a former gas pump attendant!!!!
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dave / November 24, 2011
Raymond..that’s exeperience.. this gas pump attendent was also able to pump out the gas from the megelomamiac prabakaran. some still feel hard to stomach it..
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