Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka, now on a private visit to the United States, has been told to face a "voluntary meeting" with the Department of Homeland Security, prompting fears in Colombo that Washington is asserting its legal authority over the "war crimes" report released last week.
General Fonseka said one of the officials had asked him whether he was prepared to be a ‘source’ against the ‘Defence Minister’ of Sri Lanka. General Fonseka had responded by asking him whether whom he meant was the President, who is the Defence Minister.
The official had then told him he had meant Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
.
http://www.dailymirror.lk/...
Gen. Fonseka is a US Greencard holder and Gothabaya Rajapakse, the Defence Secretary and brother of the President is a US Citizen. Both lead the Sri Lankan Defense Forces which defeated the Tamil Tigers and the caused massacre of Tamil Civilians. They were responsible for many may instances of Human rights violations.
More than 20,000 Tamil civilians were killed in the final throes of the Sri Lankan civil war, most as a result of government shelling, an investigation by The Times has revealed.
The Sri Lankan authorities have insisted that their forces stopped using heavy weapons on April 27 and observed the no-fire zone where 100,000 Tamil men, women and children were sheltering. They have blamed all civilian casualties on Tamil Tiger rebels concealed among the civilians.
Times Archive
Aerial photographs, official documents, witness accounts and expert testimony tell a different story. With the world’s media and aid organisations kept well away from the fighting, the army launched a fierce barrage that began at the end of April and lasted about three weeks. The offensive ended Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war with the Tamil Tigers, but innocent civilians paid the price.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/...
And there is this Video taken by a Sri Lankan Soldier,
Just three months after the Sri Lankan government declared the country liberated from the Tamil Tigers, video footage has emerged apparently showing government troops summarily executing Tamils.
Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka, which obtained the material, said it was filmed in January - when the international media were prevented by the Sri Lankan government from covering the conflict zone. The images in Jonathan Miller's report contain extremely disturbing images.
http://www.channel4.com/...
After the end of the war, Gen Fonska was "kicked upstairs" as Chief of Defence Staff with no line of command. the Army commander reporting to the
Secretary of Defence. To quote Aesop, ‘Tis with Sharpers as ‘tis with Pikes, they prey upon their own kind; and ‘tis a pleasant Scene enough, when Thieves fall out among themselves, to see the cutting of one Diamond with another."
The very unhappy, Gen. Fokseka has been flirting with opposition parties and now seems to be willing to turn against the Defence Secretary and the President.
Reports reaching the highest levels of the Government say US Department of Homeland Security officials want to interview him on Wednesday (November 4) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Gen. Fonseka, who is a US Green Card holder, has a residence in Oklahoma. His visit is in connection with renewing his Green Card which affords him residency in the US. This is a prelude to US citizenship.
Gen. Fonseka
He had already sought legal advice from Fred Fielding, a former White House Counsel to late Presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and former President George W. Bush. His lawyer had advised that the CDS should face the meeting and answer all questions truthfully.
Thereafter, according to highly-placed Government sources in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador who learnt of the US move, mobilized lawyers from Patton Boggs, the law firm hired by the mission for lobbying and promotional work, to fly to Tulsa. Gen. Fonseka has agreed to drop lawyer Fielding from representing him and to retain the services of Patton Boggs.
http://sundaytimes.lk/...
UPDATE
ov 02, Colombo: Sri Lanka government today said that it would strongly object to any move by the US Homeland Security Department to question Chief of Defense Staff General Sarath Fonseka.
Speaking at a special press briefing held in Colombo this afternoon Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said the Government of Sri Lanka will under no circumstances, authorize such an illegal act.
According to the Foreign Minister, the President and the Government of Sri Lanka will stand firmly behind the Chief of Defense Staff of Sri Lanka.
http://www.colombopage.com/...
This is getting interesting!