Free Fonseka, Sri Lankan opposition says (Lead)
May 2nd, 2012 - 3:33 pm ICT by IANSColombo, May 2 (IANS) Sri Lanka’s main opposition party has called for the immediate release of the jailed Sarath Fonseka, who led the army when it crushed the Tamil Tigers in 2009.
Fonseka, who challenged Rajapaksa in the 2010 presidential election, was sentenced to an additional three years in prison after his sentence expired in January this year.
At a May Day rally here, United National Party’s (UNP) deputy leader Sajith Premadasa called for the “unconditional release” of Fonseka, who has filed an appeal for bail.
Besides, the country’s main Tamil party - Tamil National Alliance - reiterated its demand for a political solution to the ethnic conflict by devolving power through devolution.
At a separate rally, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that “international conspiracies” under the guise of probing human rights would not be allowed to break Sri Lankan’s unity.
The unity of working people is essential to rebuild this nation,” he said Tuesday.
“I am confident you will not deviate from this task. I promise that no outside influences will derail the intentions of this government with talk over human rights,” Xinhua quoted the president as saying.
Sri Lanka has come under widespread attack over human rights abuses in the war that crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Colombo has denied the accusations.
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- Sri Lankan ex-army chief gets bail - May 18, 2012
- Rajapaksa gets nod to free jailed ex-army chief - May 17, 2012
- Probe rights abuses, CPI-M tells Colombo - Aug 07, 2011
- NSA to go to Colombo, voice India's concerns - Jun 25, 2012
- Fonseka jailed for three years - Nov 18, 2011
- Canadian Tamils support former Sri Lankan army chief - Oct 09, 2010
- Rajapaksa orders release of jailed ex-army chief - May 20, 2012
- Sri Lanka's ex-army chief released from jail - May 21, 2012
- Sri Lanka's ex-army chief says his detention 'unlawful' (Lead) - Apr 22, 2010
- Fonseka says he is victim of 'unlawful detention' (Second Lead) - Apr 22, 2010
- Former Sri Lankan Army chief arrested, to be court-martialled (Second Lead) - Feb 09, 2010
- Sri Lanka opposition protests court martial of former army chief - Aug 17, 2010
- EU wants fair trail for Sri Lanka detainees - May 06, 2012
- US believed Rajapaksa was responsible for 2009 Tamil massacre: Wikileaks - Dec 03, 2010
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