Fonseka prosecution has implications on freedom of expression in Sri Lanka – US
The US State Department official has stated that it shared concerns about the judicial processes used to try and convict Former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka and the wider implications his prosecution has on freedom of expression and the rule of law in Sri Lanka. It adds that in the U.S. Department of State’s 2010 report on Sri Lanka, Sarath Fonseka is described as a political prisoner.
In a response to a petition filed on the US White House website urging the release of Former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka, Michael H. Posner the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the Department of State states that the United States has been following the case of General Sarath Fonseka closely since he was first detained in February 2010, shortly after the presidential election.
‘Despite important outstanding questions about the manner in which the war against the LTTE was prosecuted by forces under the direction of General Fonseka and his political superiors, we share your concerns about the judicial processes used to try and convict him and the wider implications his prosecution has on freedom of expression and the rule of law in Sri Lanka.’ He states in his response.
He adds that, ‘We continue to urge the Government of Sri Lanka to respect the universal right of all its citizens to express themselves freely, and without fear of retribution. We also call on the Government of Sri Lanka to promote the principles of good governance, transparency, justice, democracy, and independent state institutions.’
Official Department of State Response to Urge the release of former commander of the Sri Lankan Army and Presidential candidate General (Ret.) Sarath Fonseka
Protection of Human Rights and Transparent, Democratic Processes in Sri Lanka
By Michael H. Posner
The United States has been following the case of General Sarath Fonseka closely since he was first detained in February 2010, shortly after the presidential election. Fonseka was convicted in November 2011 on incitement of violence charges, arising out of allegations he purportedly made to the press in 2009 that Defense Secretary Rajapaksa had ordered surrendering cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) be shot. Fonseka had been the main opposition presidential candidate prior to his detention.
More broadly, we are closely following issues that affect the protection of human rights and transparent, democratic processes in Sri Lanka. We strongly encourage the strengthening of checks and balances in Sri Lanka, consistent with the principles of a constitutional democracy.
At the request of Congress, the Department of State prepares annual country reports on human rights practices. In the U.S. Department of State’s 2010 report on Sri Lanka, Sarath Fonseka is described as a political prisoner. Despite important outstanding questions about the manner in which the war against the LTTE was prosecuted by forces under the direction of General Fonseka and his political superiors, we share your concerns about the judicial processes used to try and convict him and the wider implications his prosecution has on freedom of expression and the rule of law in Sri Lanka.
We continue to urge the Government of Sri Lanka to respect the universal right of all its citizens to express themselves freely, and without fear of retribution. We also call on the Government of Sri Lanka to promote the principles of good governance, transparency, justice, democracy, and independent state institutions.
Thank you for signing this petition and your continued interest in Sri Lanka.
Michael H. Posner is Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the Department of State
Courtesy: Ada Derana
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This is bureaucratic double-speak. As a close collaborator in SL’s genocidal war, the US supported Gen SF’s war effort to the hilt.
From that perspective, I can understand US concern for Gen SF’s incarceration.
This Posner guy is pretty low level Washington bureaucrat. I suggest someone of Kshenuka’s capability and stature follow this up with M/s Clinton in Geneva.
Then what about the FORGIEN PRISONERS in evil USA for years without any trials..?
What’s this hurry of USA to have expression freedom of us..?
Where the hell you were in ’80s when sl had no expression freedom..?
Did you gave that f..king freedom to original black nationals of america..?
Can’t you mind own business..?
F..king slave drivers you mind that this time you’re going to touch the WRONG NATION…!
I warn you, that don’t go wrong by touching the SNAKE…!
Dear Amden,
The United States of America is Sri Lanka’s gretest friend.
The United States of America:
1. provided killer jets via its mates, Israel to SL to ruthlessly suppress tamil nationalism
2. provided a new George W Bush definiion of terrorism which enabled it to classify and ban the LTT
3. provided military raining and arms to SL’s genocidal army to suppress tamil nationalism under the guise of terrorism
4. provided intelligence to SL’s killer Navy on LTT arms ship movement to enable destruction of the ships in the mid-ocean
5. turned a blind eye towards the Mullivaiykal massacre in May 2009 through its ambassadorial agent by remaining silent (unlike France and the UK)
6. provided 4 of its citizens / permanenet residents to lead the genocidal war against tamil nationalism
7. provided diplomatic support in overcoming UN initiatives agianst war crimes
The United States loves the Kurakkan Satakaya clan and the Commander of the genocidal army, Retd Gen SF.
I cannot understand why you keep on throwing shit at the US. AMDEN, THEY ARE YOUR FRIENDS AND THEY DO LOVE YOUR KURAKKAN SATAKAYA RULING CLAN.
At this very moment, the US is working hard behind the scenes to introduce a UN resolution supporting SL’s bogus reconcilliation intitiatives. This is to pre-empt any damaging resolution from liberals in the EU and Canada.
So please take it easy in critcising the US.
There must be a common low like this. If there is no low our big man will dance like a bee. You and I know the general didn’t do any wrong to the country.The thing is this the rajapaskas want the people to think there are the ones who finished the war. That is bullshit my friend.During the war the rajapaskas in side generals pockets. Think my friends general fonsaka must come out.
Who is this ‘namil’? He cannot be from this planet. Where has he been from 2007 onwards? Doesn’t he know that it was Hon MR and Hon GR who planned from the beginning the total defeat of LTTE, in order to set SL free, to develop on fast-track to become most developed nation in SE Asia? SF was about to retire. It was Hon GR who knew him and roped him in, to lead the Security Forces in the war against LTTE. He deserves as much credit as the other Security Forces chiefs. It was a team effort, led by Commander-in-Chief, Hon MR, with the input from Def Sec. They all played their roles ably.
However, SF’s ego became swollen with the delusion he alone won the war. It was massaged by the crafty JVP, in order they may hitch a ride to govern the country through him. The JVP were politically bankrupt at the time and are worse off now. SF then made serious mistakes. He conspired with JVP and the CIA, while he was still in the army, to topple MR by contesting him at the Presidential Election. He left for USA on the pretext of visiting his daughter, but actually for talks with Pentagon and CIA. This was treason on the part of the general, who was still a serving army officer, to conspire against his President with the JVP and the foreign power. He should actually be charged with treason for this, but has not been charged so far.
In the final days of the war, which was ably led by the front line generals, SF was galavanting in China with his family. He infact ordered 3 ship-loads of heavy and light weapons without the knowledge and permission of the President and the Def Sec. Why did he do this, when there was no need for so many weapons? Did he conspire with JVP to topple the President by a Coup d’etat if he lost the Presidential Election? This means he had planned well ahead with JVP and the CIA. The CIA infact gave him a brief case full of greenbacks for the election expenses, which he promptly hid in a safe deposit box in his son-in-laws’s mother’s name. During the P/Election campaign he made ugly and open threats of what he will do to his political enemies. This man was well known in the army for his sadistic cruelty. Is he the man that ‘namil’ and his ilk wants to rule the country? He also made secret treaties with TNA to divide the country to give them the N & E they demanded for a sovereign country. What betrayal! What treachery!
This man should never be given credit for winning the war. In fact he was a hindrance. The Hon President, the Hon Def Sec and the heroic Def Services won the war despite SF’s hindrance. After he lost the P/Election he conspired to activate Plan B, the coup d’etat, with the ex-servicemen and army deserters who lodged with him in Cinamon Hotel and in other strategic places in and around Colombo. They were all rounded-up and were charged and are in prison now. Rest is history.
He deserves to be in prison for a very long time for high treason.
Who is Nicholas Dias? You are a person who loves to read and believe in imaginary novels written by people like harry potter?
namil, You seem to have got your priorities mixed up.As per our constitution President gives orders and secretary to the ministry of defence gets it done through the chief of staff and so on.In fact ex gen. Fonseka was not in the island when the war was concluded.And after coming home with a Green Visa Card in his pocket he started his villainous plot against his mother country.
And you damian,Nicholas Dias is a well read person and you admit it.His beliefs in imaginary novels has not been established yet.However he is a down to earth intellectual who has his feet well grounded in Sri Lankan soil.
Dear Auto C,
Thank you for your defence of my good name. I don’t know about this fellow Damian, he assumes I have read Harry Potter books. I have never read these books nor even seen the films, because I don’t like witchcraft.
I am a past pupil of St Jospeh’s College, Colombo and after passing to University to graduate in Physical Science I renounced everything to join the Franciscan order in Bangalore for 6 years, where I spent a life of prayer and meditation and also studied Philosphy and Sacred Theology. On my return to SL I taught in St Peter’s College. I am now retired.
I love my country as most people do and am a strong patriot. I support Hon President MR and his MC Idiri Dekma. We are all grateful for him for tearing up the treaty signed by the traitor RW, in which he conceded to the terrorist VP and the LTTE 1/3rd of our Country and 2/3rd of our coastal belt, and defeating the LTTE for good. RW should be hung for high treason, along with the other traitor SF. I am dismayed it has not happened yet. These traitors may yet come to power and betray our motherland, given half the chance, just for their greed to be President. Our enemies are constantly baying at our door. The enemies are inside SL as well as outside. They are a minority but may try to grab power with the help of USA and the imperial West allies. Our only hope is alliance with China and Russia, and give China a base in SL, in return for our defence and to write-off all our debts, and to help us develop even further, to be the best developed nation in Asia along with China. This is better than to lose our Motherland to TNA/diaspora Tamils, in return for a US base in SL to dominate Asia even more. This is their hidden agenda. These are facts and not fiction. Damian and diaspora Tamils will try to deny this hidden agenda. The writing is on the wall. One doesn’t have to be a prophet to see what is in the ofing. One has only to study the recent history of US domination of the world and past political agenda through CIA etc to see what their hidden agenda for SL is.
So Damian..,
…That’s why US worried about SF & still trying to get him out to use as abet.
US went to “bring down jackfruit seeds by mad cats”…!
do you know what i mean Damian…? That’s hilarious, man…!
Actually it’s like a novel story for americans, that winning the 30yrs old WAT(war against terror).
Because americans dreamed WAT as a novel story but we realized it.!
Good man yourself, Damian. You told the home truth.!
Then, “අර පාප කර්ම” (Ara P karma)…!
Let’s sing an old sinhala song now…!
“…කළ කර්මය පලදෙනවා… ආආආ…!”
…මේ ඊර්ෂ්යා මාන ලොවේ..!
Machan, Ara Paapa Karma…!
We won the WAT..(War Against Terror)
Amden, Parakramata ‘ara papa karma’ kiyana padaya sudusuyi. eka kallathoniyek!