Fonseka found guilty; sentenced to 3 years
Sarath Fonseka was found guilty and sentenced to 3 years in prison after the verdict of the case regarding the ‘White Flag’ statement was given today (November 18) by the Colombo High Court.
The former Army Commander is accused of inciting violence by, in an interview given to the Sunday Leader, alleging that Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa gave an illegal order not to accommodate any LTTE cadres attempting to surrender with white flags.
Fonseka, who is currently serving a 30-month jail term imposed by a court martial, will face 3 years imprisonment.
Security was tight around the Colombo High Court ahead of the judgement, with hundreds of armed police guarding the complex.
The charges against Fonseka stem from comments he made to a newspaper that troops had shot dead a number of Tamil Tiger separatist leaders when they tried to surrender at the end of Sri Lanka’s long-running ethnic conflict in May 2009.
Fonseka insisted the published comments — which suggested Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse, the brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse, had ordered the killings — had misquoted him.
“I have never made any statement that was in opposition to the country or the army,” the former Army Commander had said.
He had further stated in courts that the journalist Fredrica Janz had distorted a reply that he had given to a question that she had put forward in her own words in order to build this story.
The trial before a three-judge high court bench took 16 months. Fonseka supporters had staged demonstrations during previous hearings.
A former four-star general, Fonseka led the Sri Lankan army to its 2009 victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), ending the island’s 37-year separatist conflict.
But he has since fallen out with the government and says the legal cases against him are politically motivated.
Fonseka was arrested shortly after he failed to unseat President Rajapakse at a January 2010 election.
In September last year, a court martial sentenced him to 30 months for corruption related to irregularities in military procurements as army chief. He also lost the parliamentary seat he won in April 2010 polls.
An earlier court martial found him guilty of interfering in politics while in uniform and stripped him of his rank and pension.
The leader of the Democratic national Alliance (DNA) making a statement during the White Flag trial had stated that he would accept a ruling given by an independent judiciary while adding that he has helped save the country from terrorism and will now continue his fight to rid the country of corruption.
Friday’s verdict coincides with President Rajapakse’s 66th birthday and the court complex was decorated with huge cut-outs of the president’s image.
Courtesy: Ada Derana
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Good NEWS !!! but still very low period. Should be at least 5 – 10 years.
birthday precent for Noda-King.
when chandana kasturi arachchi is a clean handed man
when kudu duminda was not given any court order to surrender
SF was given 3-year term.
SL bicome another somalia soon
Ranga put KP,Pilliyarn and Karuna to jail.
Ponseka mahathaya kate thiyaganne itiyannam owa mokuth venne ne nii.Politician person can´t do soldiers duty and Army soldiers person can´t do politician duty.
This case all we understand he want only get leadership after army retaired.
remember those who ruled wth their family members (sadam and Gaddafi) it will hpne in sri Lanka soon.
SF made a big mistake in contesting MR for Presidency. He is an army officer, who did not have the sagacity and experience to be the President. He was incited to do so by JVP and our enemies, USA and UK, who also supported him financially.
He also planned a coup d’tat, if he lost the Presidential Election. He holed himself up in Cinnamon Hotel with more than 100 ex-soldiers and deserters and enticed senior serving army officers also to join the conspiracy. His plan was to assassinate the President and his entire family, cabinet ministers, other politicians and celebrities he had a grudge against. He was blood thirsty, full of hate and sought revenge for his loss. There is ample evidence for this.
SF should now be charged for this serious crime of treachery. If found guilty he deserves a long sentence, which should run after this 3 year sentence has been served. In USA such traitors are sentenced to death.
He does not deserve a Presidential pardon. He is too dangerous for the country.
Welcome to Sri Lankan justice-
-Terrorist leader responsible for thousands of killings- not only no word about justice but govt. showers with blessings, comforts, security
-Ex Attorny General – dismisses criminal cases ( murder, rape) specifically against politicians and one of them kills again
-Underworld kingpins, rapists given authority to monitor law enforcement
– Underworld killers sent abroad with in hours after killings- No one responsible
-Man ties another man to a tree- and he is given minister of public relations
-Top politicians boasting about law and order- sleeps, cuddles, kisses, with underworld kingpins doing extra judicial killings/ kidnappings
– Many journalists killed/ missing- no one found guilty
– Around 30 have died under police custody- no one guilty
-Billions plundered from the state, inferior oil imports, oil hedging, world cup cricket loss of billions- no one guilty
– Most govt. departments running at a loss of billions- no one responsible
-Ex president CBK says 80% politicians corrupt- no one found guilty
But
SARATH FONSEKA
– ‘Doing politics while being in the army’- GUILTY
( oops not applicable to presidents son !!)
-’White flag case’ – GUILTY
-’Irregularities of war procuments’- GUILTY
– ‘Keeping army deserters’- GUILTY
‘Dealings with Hicorp company – GUILTY
– Medals removed
-No pension
– and many many more guilty verdicts to come…..
He must be GUILTY of saving the country !!!
Welcome to Lanka – the country with animal law !
Untill current leadership alive, SF inside for entire period, two more cases were pending and he may release after 2022, OR entire country people has to come to the road to protest and through the current political system.
As we know, our country politicians were cristal clear people (Govt and Opposition), therefore no crimes has been done as far as past election results sounds. More over, KARUNA & KP well known figures in the nation. I am sure entire nation is blind including MP’s, all need their post & jobs, shame to share my thoughts too.
BUT FOR SURE WHAT WAS HAPPEND IN ARABIAN PANINSULAR, ONE COULD HAPPNES IN SRI LANKA TOO……WAIT & SEE future is dark for the people who dose not have heart & positive mind.
Rtd General Fonseka as former head of the genocidal forces that allegedly obliterated 40,000 civilians as part of the push in Jan-Mar 2009, bears responsibility for alleged war crimes.
I hope the LLRC report out next week identifies his role in the genocidal war and makes recommendations on future treatment for past actions of the Rtd General.
Good point Mr Chelvam, Foseka is jailed on trivial charges. If the more serious war crimes allegations are brought against him, the man could find himself in prison for the rest of his life. I prefer a local trial for war crimes.
There was no genocide of Tamil civilians as DC falsely claims. They were rescued, £300,000 plus of them by the biggest hostage rescue operation by the heroic SL defence forces, in the Humanitarian Operation. They were held as a human sheild by the evil VP and the brutal LTTE. Thousands of the Tamil civilian hostages and also some LTTE cadres escaped to the SL army side across the Nandrikadal Lagoon, despite the hail of gunfire from LTTE cadres and the suicide bombing ordered by evil VP.
War crimes, crimes against humanity, such as torture, genocide of Sinhalese and Muslim civilians, conscription of Tamil children to be cadres in LTTE militant forces and to be sent on suicide missions was done by VP and the LTTE. The heroic SL defence forces totally wiped the LTTE out and the whole evil leadership, never to rise again.
DC and his diaspora ilk can never deny the truth however much they may try to cover it up. History has been written. It cannot be distorted, try as they might till they die.
What to do other people for sfs’ own actions.?
He did well under MR, then people praised him.
He did not well over MR, then people not praised him. He gets the results of what he did. That’s it.!
Their is no JUSTICE system in South Asia, that is the reason we all are suffering today. If we join in the politics may we do the same, because no qualifications required to become political person or MP.
We can assume the final verdicts are not as per the system, its all belong to political involvements. The right person not going to be in political party, because their is no JUSTICE, however in 70’s or before their was good leaders, but now days quite difficult to get honest political leaders, that is the system in South ASIA, no need to blame each others, just hope & pray for better future of the people and nation.
Corniche,
I can understand your sorrow! However it is unfair to blame only the South Asia for that. Which country in the entire world that would ask for “academic qualifications” to become politicians? USA, UK, Canada, Australia? None. The only “qualification” to become a politician is the ability to convince people for the ideologies held by those individuals, in simple words, ability to give leadership based on a vision. That mass murderer prabakaran did the same thing based on his best vision which was killing, becauise that was the only trade he knew (shamefully).
About protecting Karuna and KP. The Americans also do the same thing all the time. They also protected and supported “Thaliban” when Thaliban was doing the dirty work for US against Russians . After that US started to hammer Thaliban. India supported Tamil tigers when they were doing the job for Indians. When things went wrong they turned around. That is called politics. It is similar to the case of “Karuna and KP. When you help, you get protected and when you are against, then you will be in trouble. I think we all naturally do that. Whether it is right or wrong is another story altogether.
However, SF is suffering for his own faults of being power greedy. He was a hero as long as he was doing his job expected by people. As soon as he crossed the line treating Sri Lankans as fools, he drove himself into muddy waters. US and other western powers who guided this foolish fellow in that path are totally responsible for SF’s down fall.
There is no point in blaming MR. MR didn’t give the verdict. If you are not prepared to take the verdict from the judiciary then it becomes your own problem and no one can help you. You must be able to put your trust on someone if you want to live in civil society. If you can’t, Hmm… god bless you! Remember, the person who lost a case always say “no justice”, and is not a surprise statement from the losing side.
Well said Manjula! I totally support your views. As the saying goes, ‘Grapes are sour’ for the losers.
Dear Manjula,
Bravo 1 Yours is a perfect eye opener or better stil,
a superb knock (with good intentions) on those heads
who refuse to see the truth. SF ,hand picked and trusted by the Commander -in-chief betrayed the trust placed
on him by the President and turned foe to destroy him
and his family.Perhaps he was knocked off his senses by
the Man gala from Matara and jvp cohorts.
SF is definitely not fit for civil enviorement and
anyone can judge him from his salacious demanour and
arrogant behaviour. Sri Lanka is blessed indeed.
senses by the Man gala from Matara
Commander -in- chief betrayed the trust placed on him
cajoled by the Man gala from Matara and his JVP cohorts.
Hello Manjula,
I had read ur feedback its one kind of opinion, I was in politics in my school times, i was much involved in SLFP activities, even today my family members were SLFP, but I am not in politics due to bad practice of politics. If you had seen RATHU IRA programes, you may see how they debating the subject, but non of them talking with clear vision, you know why, its a one men show. You see now 2012 budget had been submitted, UNP walkout. However, whoever support or against that is the final submission, why no one can against to it, if you talk against you may need to back home, because no more position for you or entire family will be in trouble by hooks.
You know my opinion is, time to time govt has to change,then no one can rules the way they wants. UNP rules JR, Premadasa & Wijetunga continue for almost two decades, the same by CBK & MR. As my knowledge the real democratic nation is US for their people. In US the president candidate choose by the party people then only they can be president candidate.
In my observation SF facing unjustice which is not clear verdict for him. Two more case has been pending, I am sure he will get another six year for that too, may its already planned.
AS FAR AS PEOPLE NOT CHANGE THEIR VOTING STYLE, THIS WILL CONTINUE IN OUR NATION. Our nation, people and climate superb, but this dirty politics become barrior to the nation.
This just my opinion after my long observation.
Where’s my fried Udurawana? He’s been quiet for a while. Get back on board Udurawana, we miss you.