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Last Updated : 2023-05-29 10:19:00
The US ambassador in Colombo, Patricia Butenis had said that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka bore responsibility for alleged war crime last year, according to a leaked US cable.
In a cable sent on 15 January this year ambassador Butenis, said that one of the reasons that there was so little progress towards a genuine Sri Lankan enquiry into how so many people were killed was that the president and the former army commander, Sarath Fonseka, were largely responsible.
The cable, released yesterday by whistle-blowing website, Wikileaks.(http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2010/01/10COLOMBO32.html)
"There are no examples we know of a regime undertaking wholesale investigations of its own troops or senior officials for war crimes while that regime or government remained in power," Butenis noted.
"In Sri Lanka this is further complicated by the fact that responsibility for many of the alleged crimes rests with the country's senior civilian and military leadership, including President Rajapaksa and his brothers and opposition candidate General Fonseka."
In her cable to Washington, Butenis seeks to explain where there is so little momentum towards the formation of a "truth and reconciliation" commission, or any other form of accountability.
Butenis wrote: "While they wanted to keep the issue alive for possible future action, Tamil leaders with whom we spoke in Colombo, Jaffna and elsewhere said now was not time and that pushing hard on the issue would make them 'vulnerable'.
"Accountability is clearly an issue of importance for the ultimate political and moral health of Sri Lankan society," the ambassador said.
"Such an approach, however, would seem to play into the super-heated campaign rhetoric of Rajapaksa and his allies that there is an international conspiracy against Sri Lanka and its "war heroes," Butenis argued.
Manilal Thursday, 02 December 2010 10:41 AM
Patricia seems to carry on her work she did in Bangladesh and was considered persona non grata..had to pack up her bags and leave.
The US of A seems to be continueing it's dirty work again in South and North Korea..with the imminent withdrawal of it's troops in the near future from Iraq and Afghanistan they are trying to find a new place to create havoc and facilitate arms deals for the lucrative American weapons manufacturing companies.
WHEN IT COMES TO US TROOPS IT IS COLATERAL DAMAGE BUT OTHERS COMMIT WAR CRIMES....JOKE OF THE DECADE. WE EXPECTED OBAMA TO BE FAIR BUT HE HAS DISAPPOINTED THE WORLD.
mallie Thursday, 02 December 2010 05:14 AM
MR said he was solely responsible for Victory. So he should be responsible for the actions pertaining to Methodology too.
gamini Thursday, 02 December 2010 07:41 AM
How many USA have killed innocent people and who is there to judge them !!
SourLanka Thursday, 02 December 2010 08:16 AM
Sinhalese - MUST learn to accept the truth
Tamils - Must learn to understand the reality.
Politician - MUST learn not to mix both for their own good.
Deshan Lankaputhra Thursday, 02 December 2010 08:44 AM
America's double standard policy is exposed thanks to Wikileaks.Now whole world should change their attitude towards USA>
SHAN Thursday, 02 December 2010 09:05 AM
Very soon we will get more truth
Shan
TMA Thursday, 02 December 2010 05:04 AM
Go w Hyde Park Corner. Even mentally insane hold speeches there
Pathma Thursday, 02 December 2010 11:25 AM
Dont worry Gamini however big they are they will have their turn. So many confidential stuff is coming out now. Hillary doesn't know where to put her head.
shameer Thursday, 02 December 2010 12:01 PM
Better close the US embassy in Colombo. We would have lasting peace..............
RUWANI Thursday, 02 December 2010 02:10 PM
So she's accusing SF also of war crimes!
& this just proves that what the govt says- that SF is plotting with USA to accuse MR & GR of war crimes is a big lie!
mich Thursday, 02 December 2010 02:41 PM
Butenis should be deported back to US!!!!!!!!!!
Rathanavali Thursday, 02 December 2010 05:51 PM
It is not the UNP in this instance. It is the failure of MR to unite with SF that has caused most of the problems for him and for Sri Lanka
David Thursday, 02 December 2010 02:06 AM
as long as rulers of Sri Lanka stand strong regardless whether they are from UNP or SLFP such outsiders and terrorist diaspora can't do anything against Sri Lanka other than releasing few videos and publishing some articles.
Saman/South Africa Thursday, 02 December 2010 05:02 AM
Well Said David,Now we know why Ambassador Butenis came to Sri Lanka
TMA Thursday, 02 December 2010 05:01 AM
What a dissapointment 4 our patriots. Seems there was no conspiracy after all
Rajitha Seneviratne Thursday, 02 December 2010 04:48 AM
"War Heros" only in the US ....?
Rajitha Seneviratne Thursday, 02 December 2010 04:46 AM
Ambassador must resign from her post . Its an ugly statement and Sri Lankans are shocked.
indike Thursday, 02 December 2010 04:32 AM
I totally agree with you. We need to see SF & MR united.
spark Thursday, 02 December 2010 03:28 AM
May the blessings of the triple gem be upon Ambassador Butenis for being bold enough to state the truth about our leaders.
kanthi Thursday, 02 December 2010 03:04 AM
Not only weerawansa, most of us knew about it already. But we did not like his silly stupid act. He is blinded by lust for power and material gains.
perumal Thursday, 02 December 2010 03:01 AM
This is a time when survival is more important than the truth.
Fayad Thursday, 02 December 2010 02:56 AM
why won't you say Bush & Robert Gates bore responsibility for alleged war crime in Iraq & Afghanistan
Why Double Standard ???????
Jsilva Thursday, 02 December 2010 02:42 AM
Lets see what else comes out. I bet that Blake guy had more than enough venom to spew..
Patriot Thursday, 02 December 2010 02:36 AM
The US is the source of all hypocrisy in the world. We honour our leaders for standing firm and freeing our country from LTTE. Do not be shaken by these false accusations and propaganda. The accusers are only using them to cover their evil deeds. People are with you.
Saranga Thursday, 02 December 2010 02:30 AM
Yep David, cant agree with u more, but unfortunately UNP is always against Sri Lanka's best intrest
malkanthi Thursday, 02 December 2010 02:29 AM
This is no secret, though it is proved now. One is already paying. Blinded by power and recognition is the main cause.
Saranga Thursday, 02 December 2010 02:28 AM
Here we go , at last Weerawansa is correct! hmmmm no one new it was coming, thanks a lot Wikileaks
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