White flag story deliberate lie -Defence Secretary
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa testifying before the Trial- at-Bar hearing Sarath Fonseka’s white flag issue yesterday said that the Sunday Leader lead story on December 13, 2009 that he gave orders to eliminate LTTE members who came with white flags to surrender at the last stage of the war is totally false and a deliberate lie.
“There was absolutely no truth in that story”, the Defence Secretary asserted.
Examined by Deputy Solicitor General Buvanika Aluvihare the Defence Secretary said that he had served the Army for about 20 years and assumed duties as the Defence Secretary in 2005. The LTTE attempted to give the impression to the world that they were the only organisation who always looked after the interests of the Tamil speaking people.
“The Sri Lankan Army had always treated the LTTE cadres humanely. Out of 11,968 LTTE cadres who surrendered to the Army 5,000 had been rehabilitated including several women LTTEers and five LTTE doctors. Some of the LTTE suspects had been prosecuted in several Courts,” the Defence Secretary said.
He emphasised that after 30 long years of battle with the LTTE, it was due to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s far-sighted advise and counsel that the Forces were able to liberate the country from terrorism on May 18, 2009. The credit should go not only to the Army but also the Navy, Air Force and the Police.
The Bench comprised Colombo High Court Judge Deepali Wijesundera (President), Colombo High Court Judge WTMPB Warawewa and Colombo High Court Judge MZ Razeen.
“Every action and important step was taken during the war after lengthy discussions with the Three Forces by the President and the Defence Secretary. No complaints were reported against the Army”, the Defence Secretary said.
Not a single person attempted to contact him in order to clarify about the white flag issue which appeared in the Sunday Leader. He never gave any instructions to Brig. Shavindra de Silva.
Questioned at length about the Sunday Leader story the Defence Secretary said that the story led to several misunderstandings by foreign countries. Tamil people living abroad had different views. The Government had to face several problems internationally due to that article in the Sunday Leader.
Cross examined by Senior Defence Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty, the Defence Secretary said that when all Army Commanders assumed duties, their prime responsibility was to take all steps to eradicate terrorism. Sarath Fonseka was appointed as the Chief of the Army by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Questioned about an article that appeared in the June 2009 issue of the “Business Today” the Defence Secretary denied that he gave an interview to that magazine.
Re-examined by Deputy Solicitor General Buvaneka Aluvihare the Defence Secretary said that KP was arrested by the intelligence division and brought to Sri Lanka and investigations against him are pending.
Sarath Fonseka earlier pleaded not guilty to the three charges preferred against him of making a false statement to The Sunday Leader Senior Journalist Frederica Jansz that Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had told Brig. Shavindra de Silva to eliminate the LTTE cadres who come with a white flag to surrender during the war.
Sarath Fonseka is charged on three counts under the Criminal Procedure Code and under the Emergency Regulations Sections 28 and 29.
Deputy Solicitor General Buvaneka Aluvihare with Senior State Counsel Dilan Ratnayake, State Counsel Lakmini Girihagama and State Counsel Rize Bawa appeared for the Attorney General.
Senior Attorney Nalin Ladduwahetty with Nilanthi Peiris, Ajith Pathirana, ULG Bandara, Mervyn de Silva, Wasantha Pitigala, Niroshan Perera, Namal Rajapaksa, Swarna Bandara and Chathura Anushka Amarasinghe attorneys appeared for Sarath Fonseka.
The case will be called again on February 7, 2011. SM
Courtesy: Daily News
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SF is a traitor. He is corrupt as he accepted millions of USD from US embassy in SL during the run-up to the Presidential election, for his campaign expenses.
He is no war hero. The real war heroes are the poor soldiers who fought valiantly with little food and rest, and sacrificed their lives and limbs. The Hon President and the Defence secretary are also war heroes, who proved to the world that LTTE is not invincible, as the imperial West claimed time and again. It was a myth the LTTE propagated. Without the Hon President and the Defence Minister to give leadership, the country would not have been liberated from the evil LTTE and the evil imperial West who supported LTTE.
SF is an immoral evil man who slept with young female soldiers and imprisoned soldiers who dared to question his morals. Thank God our country was saved from this ruthless dictator from being elected President. The people made the right choice in overwhelming majority by electing Hon MR as President.
I hope the Hon Court finds SF guilty of lying and treachery and also coup attempt and sentence him to death.
“SF is a traitor. He is corrupt as he accepted millions of USD from US embassy in SL during the run-up to the Presidential election, for his campaign expenses”
So the General who led the war is corrupt. That brings all statements and actions, especially during the war, into question. Any claims against him by the tamils must therefore be investigated. With regards to money from the US embassy, this is not proven, but it is open knowledge that Rajapaksa used state resources and state media institutions for his campaign which is strictly against campaign regulations, so he is just as guilty of being corrupt.
“The Hon President and the Defence secretary are also war heroes, who proved to the world that LTTE is not invincible, as the imperial West claimed time and again. It was a myth the LTTE propagated. Without the Hon President and the Defence Minister to give leadership, the country would not have been liberated from the evil LTTE and the evil imperial West who supported LTTE.”
What is Rajapaksa now doing visiting this evil imperial west? Why are the President’s brothers including the Defence Secretary citizens of the evil imperial west? Why do they swear allegiance to the evil imperial west?(any naturalized US citizen swears allegience to the US when they become citizens). Do you see how foolish and hypocritical you and the Rajapaksas look?
“SF is an immoral evil man ”
If SF is an immoral evil man, then the war he conducted had to have been conducted in an evil, immoral way aswell. This is why the tamils want an international investigation on the evil, immoral conduct of the war.