GR/DS instructed commander SS during the last phase of the Eelam War IV to shoot all LTTE leaders who came out to surrender!! Now SF did a U-turn.!!

Fonseka goes back on his statement

..................................B. Muralidhar Reddy

Says no violation of international laws by army

Owns up responsibility for Army’s actions

Government misinterpreting statement


COLOMBO: A day after his statement that Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa instructed a ground commander during the last phase of the Eelam War IV to shoot all LTTE leaders who came out to surrender, the former Army chief and presidential poll contender General (retired) Sarath Fonseka did a U-turn.

At a hastily convened news conference on Monday, General (retired) Fonseka owned up responsibility for all actions of the security forces throughout the war against the LTTE and said that no field commander acted in violation of any international law. General (retired) Fonseka went back on his statement, made in the course of an interview to English weekly Sunday Leader, after the government not only categorically denied the charges but also said it was considering legal action.

According to President’s counsel Gomin Dayasiri, the remarks of the former Army chief amounted to admission of war crimes and General (retired) Fonseka, who led the military in the war could not escape culpability.

Before the retired General’s clarification, he had been advised to clarify whether he stood by his interview or he had been misquoted.

The media secretary to the former Army Chief, Ajit, told The Hindu: “At the hurriedly convened press briefing the General explained the true import of his comment in his response to a question on the sequence of events during the last days of the war and talked about how senior functionaries in the government are hurling cooked up allegations against him by misinterpreting a media statement made by him”.

Political circles here believe General (retired) Fonseka chose to distance himself from the controversial statement after senior opposition leaders pointed out to him that it would deprive him the plank of “sole hero” of the war against the LTTE and blow up on his face as he could not disassociate himself from the actions of the military he led.

The controversy has raised concerns about politicisation of the military and further polarisation of the already divided ethnic communities.
hinduonnet.com