Gota refutes claims of special unit

28 March 2017 08:36 am - 17 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Asked specifically if he was aware of the existence of a ‘special unit’ established to attack journalists, as alleged by former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday asked “whose unit? Under whom?” and held that the army commander was responsible for every single soldier. “My security was selected by Sarath Fonseka. Even my officers reported to his seniors."

His job as defence secretary was at a strategic, higher level and he did not get involved at the tactical level, he said, responding to questions at a forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association in Colombo yesterday.

Responding to questions regarding charges that army intelligence officers were involved in enforced disappearances, he said these were ‘baseless’ and ‘politically motivated’ allegations. Accusing Fonseka of saying things in anger, he asked how Fonseka could maintain that he did not know what intelligence personnel working under him were doing.

Rajapaksa also said that foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera could have got a better outcome at the recent Human Rights council session in Geneva had he correctly understood the changes that have come about in the US administration.

US President Donald Trump has said he wants to ‘look inward and not outward’ and our government should be able to use that opportunity, he said.

Rajapaksa blamed US State Departments officials of the Obama administration like Samantha Power and Susan Rice for targeting Sri Lankan security forces in the 2015 Geneva resolution, to which Sri Lanka renewed its commitment in a follow-up resolution this year. He remarked that these officials were focused on human rights, R2P etc. and that Power would ‘probably write a book about how she succeeded in changing the government.’ “That’s where the resolution came from” he said.

Analyzing the changing US attitude to Sri Lanka he said that when he was Defence Secretary, the US wanted to help and they assisted by giving the intelligence coordinates to locate the LTTE ships. Bob Blake who was US ambassador at the time asked the government to sign the Acquisition and Cross Service Agreement to show the world that the US was ‘behind Sri Lanka.’ With the change of government and with Obama coming to power there was a ‘definite change’ in the attitude to the war, he said.

On the question of whether he would enter politics as a presidential candidate, the former president’s brother said he had not decided. However he recalled that he came from a ‘political family’ whose association with politics went back to 1935, and that he had the capability to “do something for the country.”

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Comments - 17

Shelly. Tuesday, 28 March 2017 12:19 PM

We expected him to say yes me....But he is not straightforward . May be he is terribly scared. via DM Android App

Vipn B Wednesday, 29 March 2017 09:15 AM

It seems you won the battle but lost the war.

Sambo Wednesday, 29 March 2017 06:29 AM

Not now even then he refuted many things. You mean to say if a person has done wrong he is going to admit it. Specially in Sri Lanka. Must be joking.

COLD FEET Tuesday, 28 March 2017 12:49 PM

Hopefully evidence is being unearthed, which is causing those responsible to get cold feet and getting on to the blame game.

OMG Tuesday, 28 March 2017 12:35 PM

from this article it is clear that he has done nothing for war victory, all done by SF. He only reported to higher authorities. How people crave for others fame even if not theirs.

Manel Tuesday, 28 March 2017 12:33 PM

BR denied he owned houses and properties, GR denies everything about white vans MR , NR, YR they all will deny all dirty deeds done by them. Rajapassas must be thinking that all Sri Lankans are "konde bandapu cheenas"

Sri Wickrema Tuesday, 28 March 2017 12:30 PM

Any perpetrator refuses charges until proven guilty. That is the nature.

Lord Wolfstein Tuesday, 28 March 2017 12:30 PM

When one transfers to insignificant people a great task such things happen. Gotha was a peon in an American library, Adolf Hitler was a painter.

daily boru Tuesday, 28 March 2017 12:21 PM

His job as defence secretary was at a strategic, higher level and he did not get involved at the tactical level, he said.So what exactly you did to be a war hero?

JAN Tuesday, 28 March 2017 09:11 AM

At that time whos the Directorate Army intelligence Colombo UnitHe is Responsible for all this actions via DM Android App

Haramanis Tuesday, 28 March 2017 12:18 PM

Sir, we respect you and honour you always for ridding us of the terrorist LTTE. May the Devas bless you always.

Bimbo Tuesday, 28 March 2017 11:06 AM

Can ask Mervyns new party if all this is true or not

Lanka Perera Tuesday, 28 March 2017 10:57 AM

Then who killed the journalists ? opposition ? they killed themselves ?..neighbours ?

Nihal Amarasekera Tuesday, 28 March 2017 10:46 AM

Once a strategist always a strategist. It's a matter of manipulating facts as well as acts.

Lal Tuesday, 28 March 2017 10:43 AM

I guess jounelist kill themselves, kidnap themselves and assault themselves as well

Meema Tuesday, 28 March 2017 10:10 AM

what a joke. When it suits them know nothing.

Dee Tuesday, 28 March 2017 09:24 AM

Yes. You knew nothing. Not even about the war.

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Gota refutes claims of special unit

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