US wants fair trial for SF

14 June 2010 07:32 am - 13 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The US government has reiterated the need to a fair trial for General Sarath Fonseka (SF) and expressed pleasure that whatever decisions are made by the military courts, which are now considering the two different charges against General Fonseka, will be reviewed by higher Sri Lankan civilian courts.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Robert O Blake in an interview with rediff.com said the US had welcomed the steps taken by the Sri Lankan government including the forming of a Reconciliation Commission.

Blake was circumspect when asked about the recent threat by Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse -- the brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse -- to hang former General Sarath Fonseka, who is under house arrest.

But when pressed, Blake said, "We have expressed our interest in ensuring that General Fonseka is treated fairly and in accordance with Sri Lankan law."

"We were pleased to hear that whatever decisions are made by the military courts, which are now considering the two different charges against General Fonseka, will be reviewed by higher Sri Lankan civilian courts that that will be done in a public manner, so that there will be an assurance of due process," he said.

"So, now we'll have to just see. We have not had access to the charges against General Fonseka. So, we are really not in a position to comment on those," he added.

Blake said the recent meeting of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Gamini Laskhman Peiris with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington was "very successful".

He said US had welcomed the steps taken by the Sri Lankan government including the forming of a Reconciliation Commission, "now that its two elections (presidential and parliamentary) are behind it and now that the President has a two-thirds majority in parliament".

He said US has asked Sri Lanka also to work with the UN since the UN had a "great deal of experience in these matters".

"This Commission should now be given a chance to do its work and we have laid out a series of parameters that were described by Ambassador (Susan) Rice (US envoy to the UN) in a statement a few months ago about the experience that we and the UN and others have had with such commissions in the past."

Blake said the administration was pleased that Peiris had "said that the commission that Sri Lanka has established will meet the criteria that Ambassador Rice laid out".

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Comments - 13

Monday, 14 June 2010 07:58 AM

JUSTICE MUST BE DONE NOT WITH VENGENCE BUT WITH CONSIENCE.

Monday, 14 June 2010 08:25 AM

Thank goodness that at least the USA is keeping an eye on the trials to ensure due process.

Monday, 14 June 2010 08:41 AM

Can you expect a fair trial for this gentle giant???

Monday, 14 June 2010 08:43 AM

Has Sri Lanka requested a fair trials for a these kind of senario from US ?, if so what will happen. This is a Independant ountry and anymore coloney of any country.

Monday, 14 June 2010 08:47 AM

Verdict is already given...Gota is going to hang him !.

Monday, 14 June 2010 08:48 AM

SF will bounce back and put an end for the prevailing corrupted politics.

Monday, 14 June 2010 09:08 AM

Why just one person? Why not have fair and speedy trials to all in Guantanamo Bay as well. Hypocricy or what?

Monday, 14 June 2010 09:28 AM

General should be met with justice and importantly he should be treated with due respect.In other words a war hero cant be hung that easily

Monday, 14 June 2010 09:45 AM

Who can expect a fair trail here?

Monday, 14 June 2010 09:53 AM

US have to intervene more active way. Like Thissa Nayagam Case.

Monday, 14 June 2010 10:03 AM

Sri Lanka's supereme court is going to be defence ministry as the govt can change the law with it 2/3 majority in the parliment.

Monday, 14 June 2010 10:08 AM

Yes, it will definitely be fairer than the one against Saddam Hussein no matter who does it.

Monday, 14 June 2010 10:12 AM

I think SF trusted US and decided to go against the Strong Rajapaksa’s. So it’s the duty of US to protect SF

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US wants fair trial for SF

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