UN’s Ban Ki-moon urges safety of defeated Sri Lankan presidential candidate
February 10th, 2010 - 3:30 am ICT by BNO News ( 3 comments )UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday called on authorities in Sri Lanka to ensure the rights and safety of the defeated presidential candidate and former army chief that was arrested yesterday.
General Sarath Fonseka, the challenger who received 40 percent of the vote in January’s presidential election, was arrested yesterday by Sri Lankan troops for alleged military offenses. The country’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa is reported to have ordered the dissolution of Parliament that goes into effect midnight on Tuesday.
The Secretary-General said he is following developments in the South Asian nation “with concern,” a UN spokesman said.
“He urges the authorities to follow due process of law and provide all the necessary protections and guarantees to his safety.”
The Secretary-General intends to speak to Mr. Rajapaksa, who was re-elected after obtaining nearly 58 percent of the more than 10 million votes cast in recent polls, and will maintain close engagement through his senior advisors.
- Sri Lankan parliament dissolved - Feb 10, 2010
- Fonseka jailed for three years - Nov 18, 2011
- Sri Lanka's ex-army commander appears before military court - Mar 16, 2010
- Supporters of detained ex-army chief attacked in Sri Lanka - Feb 10, 2010
- Former Sri Lankan Army chief arrested, to be court-martialled (Second Lead) - Feb 09, 2010
- Sri Lankan ex-army chief's son-in-law to be arrested - Feb 15, 2010
- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urges peace in post-election Sri Lanka - Feb 09, 2010
- Canadian Tamils support former Sri Lankan army chief - Oct 09, 2010
- Three-year jail term for Sarath Fonseka - Sep 18, 2010
- Sri Lanka court frees ex-army chief's aides - Sep 25, 2010
- Rajapaksa takes early lead in Sri Lankan presidential poll - Jan 27, 2010
- Hearing in fraud case against Rajapaksa begins - Jul 05, 2010
- Lanka Supreme Court allows Fonseka to question legality of his arrest - Feb 12, 2010
- Detained Sri Lankan ex-general starts hunger strike - Mar 07, 2010
- Sri Lankan ex-Army chief convicted for engaging in politics while on active service - Aug 13, 2010
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February 11th, 2010 at 12:34 am
Mr. Secretary Geernal you must come down hard on the present regime in Sri Lanka. They are a bunch of uneducated, corrupt, deceitful, despotic, greedy, revengeful group of people.It has got worse after the war. You must impose sactions if they dont release General Fonseka. Do not keep silent and cave into any pressure from them. This administration must go or we are going back again into dark ages. Please be consistent in your insistence of the release of General Sarath Fonseka (the legitimate President of Sri Lanka)
February 15th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
We are still back in stone era.We are so ashamed to be sri lankans because of these politicians.I believe people do believe that its an revengeful hunters act but always have to bend the head to this injustice as they use public means to supress them.Please do something to protect him and send some representatives to have a clear investigation on how they fool people and use public money.This is really painful for the educated crowd in sri lanka.SF is a real lion and a genuine person.He really loves this nation and country.
February 15th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
People want to protest but the police treat them according to politicians needs.So no body can speak the truth or go beyond the injustice we are waiting for the supreme court decision.If someone can depoliticize the public institutions you can see how people react on this.We lose the faith even on religions looking at these insidents.Sri lanka is a fools paradise.You are a true hero SF.You must win your rights.We are waiting to see that.