Sri Lanka’s election loser Gen Fonseka arrested

Gen Fonseka was defeated by incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa last month by six million votes to four million.

Gen Fonseka rejected the results and vowed to challenge them in court.

The government has been seeking legal advice to bring a court martial against the general on charges of plotting to overthrow the administration.

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Sri Lanka’s election loser Gen Fonseka arrested was first posted on February 8, 2010 at 9:35 pm.

United Nations declares July 18 Mandela Day

The United Nations General Assembly has declared July 18 “Nelson Mandela International Day” to honor the South African leader’s contributions to global peace.

In a resolution adopted by consensus among the 192 member states, the General Assembly hailed the former president’s “promotion of a culture of peace.” It also noted the Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s devotion throughout his life to conflict resolution, race relations, human rights promotion, reconciliation and gender equality. In anticipation of the General Assembly’s vote, the United Nations had already officially paid tribute to Mandela on July 18 this year, for his 91st birthday.

Mandela was jailed for 27 years by the apartheid state but emerged from Robben Island prison in 1990 committed to democracy and negotiated a deal that led to universal suffrage and him becoming the country’s first black president. In 1993 he shared the Nobel Peace Prize with South Africa’s then white president F.W. de Klerk. Mandela served only one term as president during which he was seen as a multi-racial unifier amidst South Africa’s post-apartheid uncertainty.

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United Nations declares July 18 Mandela Day was first posted on November 12, 2009 at 8:02 pm.

Sri Lanka’s top general Sarath Fonseka quits ahead of vote

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka News : Sri Lanka’s top general Sarath Fonseka, a war hero at home credited with crushing Tamil rebels, quit Thursday, fuelling speculation he will enter politics to challenge President Mahinda Rajapakse.

“I gave my resignation. I have submitted my retirement papers,” Fonseka told reporters at a Buddhist temple he visited after sending his resignation as chief of defence staff to Rajapakse.

Fonseka is thought to have clashed with the president and his brother, who is defence minister, in a wrangle over who should take credit for the victory over the rebels in May, which ended a 37-year conflict.

After overseeing the military campaign that has been dogged by allegations of serious human rights abuses, he was named chief of defence staff in July — a more ceremonial position that has no command responsibility.

He did not elaborate on his plans on Thursday.

The government has warned that serving officers will be prosecuted if they enter politics while in uniform. His resignation is effective from December 1.

“He gave his letter of resignation this afternoon and expects the government to ensure his security because he was the main figure responsible for crushing Tamil Tigers,” a source close to him told AFP earlier.

Fonseka, 58, the country’s only four-star general, was already seen as a possible challenger to Rajapakse in presidential elections which are slated to take place before April next year.

He announced during a visit to the United States last month that he was willing to shed his uniform and take up “social work” if politicians did not take advantage of the end of the conflict to ensure economic revival.

The main opposition has strongly hinted that the general, a Sinhalese nationalist with popularity levels to match Rajapakse, will be their common candidate to challenge the incumbent president.

Fonseka visited a Buddhist temple just outside Colombo on Thursday evening to seek the blessings of monks after his resignation.

Earlier this month, the government asked the general to cut short his visit to the US after moves by the Department of Homeland Security to question him over alleged human rights abuses by Rajapakse’s younger brother, Gotabhaya.

Gotabhaya Rajapakse is defence secretary and Fonseka’s immediate boss. Gotabhaya is a naturalised US citizen while Fonseka holds a “green card” which makes him a potential US citizen.

Fonseka had taken credit for the military success while the Rajapakse brothers wanted to claim it as a result of political leadership.

The United Nations has reported that more than 7,000 civilians may have perished in the fighting this year. The Sri Lankan government contends that no civilians were killed by its troops.

Both Fonseka and Gotabhaya Rajapakse have survived suicide attacks carried out by Tamil Tiger rebels.

Fonseka was critically wounded in April 2006 when a woman suicide bomber targeted his car inside the army headquarters while Rajapakse was unhurt in a December 2006 suicide car bomb attack.

Sri Lanka is set for parliamentary and presidential elections before April 2010.

The government announced it would bring forward the presidential election, originally due to be held by November 2012, in a move to gain from strong public support after its defeat of the rebels in May.

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Sri Lanka’s top general Sarath Fonseka quits ahead of vote was first posted on November 12, 2009 at 8:15 pm.