01/22/2015, 00.00
SRI LANKA
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Government reinstates former General Sarath Fonseka

by Melani Manel Perera
His military grades and civil rights are restored, including the ability to stand in elections, the general was ousted by former President Rajapaksa. After receiving the amnesty, the former army chief says: "The most cruel leader of this country has tried to uproot me from history. I am ready to work for Sri Lanka and for the people."

Colombo (AsiaNews) - The new government of Sri Lanka has rehabilitated the former army chief, Gen. Sarath Fonseka, yesterday declaring him innocent of all the accusations that had been leveled by the former regime of Mahinda Rajapaksa. Acting under the art. 34 of the Constitution, the new president Maithripala Sirisena restored Fonseka his military ranking and his civil rights, including the right to vote and to stand for election.

Shortly after the announcement of the amnesty, the General held a press conference: "It is true that, in the end, the truth wins. The cruelest leader of this country has tried to uproot me from history. But the people have always been with me. In 2010 I said goodbye to my uniform to save the south of the country from state terrorism, just as I had saved the north of the country from terrorists [as army chief]".

"Now - he added - I have been given all what I had been deprived forcefully and  unjustly by that most cruel leader. For that, I go forward for this country and its people, till the people gain the victory they deserve."

Along with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gen. Sarath Fonseka led Sri Lanka to win against the rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeelam (LTTE, Tamil Tigers), ending the long civil war in 2009. Rajapaksa had stated that he is "the best army commander worldwide ".

A few months later, they fell out. In 2010 Fonseka left his office and decided to run for president against Rajapaksa, who nevertheless amid allegations of rigging won. Two weeks after the vote (26 January), the government arrested the former general for "irregularities" committed during the conflict. In 2012 was released.

 

 

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