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India urges fair trial for Fonseka

11 February 2010 12:57 pm - 40     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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NEW DELHI: India urged Sri Lanka today to follow “due process” in its prosecution of Sri Lanka's former army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka.

“As a friend and neighbour, we trust that due processes of law will be observed in democratic Sri Lanka in this matter,” the Indian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Several western countries and human rights groups have objected to the fact that Fonseka is to be court-martialled rather than tried in a civilian court, reports AFP.

India wields considerable diplomatic influence over Sri Lanka, whose 12.5 per cent minority Tamil community has close links with million of Tamils in India's Tamil Nadu state.

Fonseka was arrested on Monday - just weeks after his failed bid to unseat his former commander-in-chief, President Mahinda Rajapakse, at the ballot box.

He is being detained at a naval detention centre where he is currently awaiting court martial for conspiring against the government.

Rajapakse won the January 26 presidential poll with a comfortable 58 per cent of the popular vote.

Colombo has yet to specify the charges Fonseka will face, but Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse said in comments published Thursday that the retired four-star general had clearly been plotting a military coup. (Dawn.com)

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  Comments - 40

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  • Thursday, 11 February 2010 06:47 PM

    It is India, who started sowing the seeds of suspicion, in respect of the General ... ultimately, for their own benefit. This statement, from India, is only for diplomatic purposes. They don't mean it at all!

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 02:17 PM

    Indian foreign ministry ,you don't care,when government masscared more than 50,000 people final stage of war.
    now you are crying for SF.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 02:20 PM

    This is only the beginning. There is more to follow...

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 02:29 PM

    Mind your own business India. Our Govt knows how to respect people's human rights.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 02:29 PM

    defence secretary has gone mad. sri Lanka must import some Anti rebies vaccinations becoz there is a shortage.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 02:48 PM

    Gotabhaya listed just two countries, Norway and US as Fonseka supporters and now he need to add India also. India was late by few hours to urge SriLanka to practice democracy.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 03:17 PM

    It's a big joke...with India's blessing everything happening in Sri Lanka... I thing Sri Lanka loss it Sovereignty to India.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 03:21 PM

    Yeah rite, I know what india means by fare triial means>>>kill sarath fonseka. Like they ordered when army captured Prabakaran alive.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 03:23 PM

    Gen. Fonseka presently is only charged with violating Army Statutes and is rightly charged by the Military. However, I am sure there are several other charges pending which no doubt would be dealt with in the Civil Courts. Whatever the case, I am confident of the due process. The fact that SF is not incarcerated in a prison but in an apartment with many facilities denied to ordinary prisoners is tantamount to the favourable treatment he is receiving as is due to a former Commander.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 05:49 PM

    Shaik Anwar Ahamath - Why should he be incarcerated in the first place? Its apparent to all that he has committed no crime. These are all trumped up charges. Sri Lanka is a joke in the international community. There is no rule of law in Sri Lanka. Its the Politicians who makes the laws in Sri Lanka. There are too many suck ups in Sri Lanka.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 02:14 PM

    For me MR is too soft for this man. MUST BE JAILED FOR LIFE TIME.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 06:59 PM

    W h y ?

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 08:45 PM

    Why is India interested in this? India should keep-out of it!

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 09:22 PM

    INDIA has been our worst enemy, since the conflict started - as far back as during Indira's time!

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 09:51 PM

    INDIA IS SO AFRAID OF SARATH FONSEKA BECAUSE HE MIGHT RELEASE THE SECRETS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, DURING THE LAST DAYS OF THE WAR!

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 09:53 PM

    You must be joking!

    Friday, 12 February 2010 07:00 AM

    India why are you interested in another Country problems ? Please leave it in the hands of Sri-Lankan Armed Forces to handel it.

    Friday, 12 February 2010 07:01 AM

    SF needed a jail term to complete his political profile. MR is helping SF on this issue.

    Friday, 12 February 2010 07:05 AM

    India mind tour own business.

    Friday, 12 February 2010 07:10 AM

    India is neither a true friend of SL or a good neighbhor. They have been plotting against SL since the 1940s in order to keep the southern tip of India secure from foreign threats.

    By the indo lanka accord India effectively capitulated our foreign policy independance. In the after math of the was India knows very well if Sri Lanka is let lose will spring back with development and vibrancy as a developed nation and strong.

    Therefore India is today is instrumental in sowing the seeds of division between the people of Sri lanka.

    Foolish and selfish MR & Co has effectively become a protege of India selling everything and sacrificing at the altar of Maha Barath Inda God the truse sons of Sri Lanka in order to serve Indian Interese.

    MR is opening up 9 detentions centers for what ? Is it for the LTTE. It is to incarcerate the True Sri Lankan at the behest of God India of MR & Co.

    Cheers myopics

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 01:20 PM

    CROCODILE TEARS!

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 01:06 PM

    Sri Lankan Politicos are always fair !.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 01:13 PM

    I think India doesn't need to cry for General, because I belive they (RAW) are the ones who support the current situation in Sri Lanka to keep their remote control.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 01:15 PM

    Dear srilankans,

    This problem has been created by the infamaous Research and analisis wing.RAW.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 01:15 PM

    India! who are you trying to fool? these are all crocodile tears. We know you are silently supporting these types of undemocratic acts.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 01:16 PM

    What.... India urges fair trial for Fonseka ? The question is why a trail for a person who didnt invlove any crimes....If India is that much interesed in SL then then should urge a fair trial for the election riging.......

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 01:17 PM

    Should not any citizen be informed of the charges against him before he is arrested?

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 01:19 PM

    He is a free man SOON.... Gen we are always with you... Guess SL govt will have to make new prisons for 5.5 Mil who voted for Gen then...

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 01:19 PM

    huh... Tamilnadu wont him Dead anyway....

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 01:20 PM

    We suspect that India has a big role behind these sceneries.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 01:06 PM

    TRIAL FOR WHAT?

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 01:27 PM

    World war three is about to commence on Fonsekas Issue !.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 01:33 PM

    Too late statement India, MR did accourding to India's wishes so India cannt talk on this. India is a danger to the region ans should be divided.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 01:37 PM

    India you should insist that the General be released immediately as he is being falsely accused. This is injustice and totally unacceptable.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 01:38 PM

    India, the Defence Secretary should be severely reprimanded. This is personal vendetrta against the General. Please put pressure on the Rajapakse administration to release General Sarath Fonseka immediately

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 01:41 PM

    India Playing Double game In Sri Lanka for their own Interest and not for the benefit of Sri Lanka.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 01:54 PM

    India being the largest Democratic country in the world, MUST FORCE THE S/L government to release Fonseka forwith.

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 02:04 PM

    yes, he should try in civilian courts. not on fabricated evidence. he is lost candidate. still he is potent threat to the government. who made him hero. its govenment. who militarized the army to politics. its MR. now trying to destroy them. Fonseka must realised when do bad things it will came back. it will come back to all. all are white van kidnappers

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 02:05 PM

    Yes, About time too. It is regretted to say that India is the country which started all this trouble by informing the paranoids that General Fonseka is trying to stage a Military Coup. See what has happened to a true son of this country now because of a false information. Fair Trial my..................

    Thursday, 11 February 2010 02:07 PM

    Why a trial? Isn't it Freedom of Expression


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