Council for a Community of Democracies

Fonseka Faces Military Tribunal on Two Separate Charges, Denies Allegations
March 17, 2010
By: Randi Zung

This week Sri Lankan ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka faced two court martial proceedings, one related to his conduct in the country’s January presidential election and one to address allegations that he participated in corrupt arms dealing, the Associated Press reports. The March 16 hearing was held to discuss Fonseka’s charge of participating in politics while in uniform. The trial is currently adjourned and will resume on April 6, thus prolonging Fonseka’s detainment and preventing him from participating in the country’s upcoming April 8 parliamentary election.

The March 17 hearing, to address the accusation of arms dealing, was postponed indefinitely by the three judge military panel. The judges rationalized the postponement of the March 17 hearing on the basis that a separate panel should be convened to address the arms charges. According to BBC News, the army stated that a separate panel will ensure that a fair trial is conducted. Despite the army’s claim of trying to ensure a fair trial, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Fonseka's spokesman, says the army is stalling. He stated: “The army judges did not wake up this morning and discover that they have been appointed to both courts… They knew it from the day they were appointed,” AFP reports. In addition, the Associated Press also reported that Fonseka’s lawyers have called the trial proceedings “fraudulent.”

BBC News also reports that two additional cases are currently pending in Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, both of which are calling for Fonseka’s release. President Mahinda Rajapakse, who ran against Fonseka in the election, has been criticized by political opponents and human rights groups for suppressing dissent since his re-election. Fonseka asserts that he is innocent of all of the charges against him. Fonseka was arrested in February, 12 days after he lost the election.

Sources:
Associated Press - Hearing in court-martial of Sri Lankan postponed

AFP - Trial of Sri Lanka's ex-army chief adjourned

BBC News - Trial of Sri Lanka ex-army chief Fonseka adjourned

For previous news on Sri Lanka, please see: http://ccd21.org/news/asia/sri_lanka_fonseka_arrest.html