Rtd. Gen. Sarath Fonseka who contested the recent presidential election as the opposition common candidate was arrested by the military police last night for what the army cited as committing military offences and fraudulences during his period in service. He is now expected to be court martialled. Military spokesman Maj. Gen. Prasad Samarasinghe told the Daily Mirror that Gen. Fonseka was arrested around 9.30 pm. At the time of his arrest Gen. Fonseka was at his office having a meeting with JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe, SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem and Democratic People’s Front leader Mano Ganeshan on the possible strategies to contest the upcoming general election and on filing a petition against the alleged election malpractices on polling day, according to sources close to him. An eye witness to the incident said several army officers broke into the room where the discussion was being held and asked Gen. Fonseka to come with them. However, he had refused to do so insisting that he would deal only with the civil police. He had then inquired about the charges served on him for his arrest. The army officers had apparently read out some charges in accordance with the military law. Media Centre for National Security Director General Lakshman Hulugalle also told the Daily Mirror that Gen. Fonseka had committed a military offence by striking deals with the opposition parties during his service period as the Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander. “In this manner, he has acted against the President and created rifts within the military. It is an offence. He has now been arrested to be court martialled,” he said. Meanwhile, Mr. Amarasinghe said the one who defeated terrorism was treated like a terrorist yesterday. He requested all political parties and ordinary citizens including Sri Lankan expatriate workers to protest against this incident. Mr. Hakeem said Gen. Fonseka was taken out in a despicable and disgraceful manner “No civilized government would resort to this kind of action,” he said adding that they were flabbergasted to see a military hero being treated in this manner. Why don’t they arrest me? Fonseka By Yohan Perera General Sarath Fonseka last evening said the government should arrest him if he had attempted to stage a coup as claimed by the authorities and the failure to take him into custody could only mean that the claims werefabricated. “The government should arrest me first if I planned to stage a military coup and they have not done so because it is a fabricated story,” the General said addressing family members of former military personnel taken into custody while being employed under him during the presidential elections. General Fonseka said he and the other leaders of opposition parties who supported him were to be rounded up at midnight on the Election Day and this forced them to check in to the Cinnamon Lake Side Hotel on that day. Alleging that some more were to be arrested, he said the government would have to arrest almost the whole army considering the rate the arrests were made. General Fonseka assured the family members of the arrested ex military personnel that he would look after them and see to their needs. “I know what you are going through and I will do everything possible to get your husbands, brothers and sons released,” he said. He said he had already provided financial help to the family members of his employees who were arrested earlier and would do the same to those whom he met yesterday. R. Malikarachchi the wife of one army officer said her husband was a diabetic and needed insulin daily. “I do not know whether he is getting it now,” she pointed out. She said she was able to see the husband only once after he was arrested. Sepalika the wife of another army officer said her Down Syndrome child was continuously asking for the father. She said her father managed to improve the condition of the child with great difficulty. “My child had to undergo several operations and my husband found the funds for his medical expenses with the greatest difficulty and managed to improve the child’s condition,” she said. She said her child runs to the road every time she sees head lights of a vehicle shouting ‘My father is coming.” |
