India favours fair trial for Fonseka
India on Thursday asked President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government in Sri Lanka to go by the ''due processes of law'' while trying former chief of the island nation’s army, Gen Sarath Fonseka.
Breaking its silence over Fonseka’s detention for allegedly plotting a military coup against the Rajapaksa’s government, New Delhi in a veiled message to Colombo sought fair trial for the former Sri Lankan army chief.
“As a friend and neighbour, we trust that the due processes of law would be observed in democratic Sri Lanka in this matter,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated in a statement.
Joint Secretary (External Publicity) and official spokesman of the MEA, Vishnu Prakash, said New Delhi was in touch with Colombo over the detention of Fonseka.
India broke its silence on Fonseka’s arrest two days after Sri Lankan Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe visited New Delhi and called on External Affairs Minister S M Krishna. Sources said Wickremesinghe had requested for India’s intervention to ensure fair trial for Fonseka.
The Sri Lankan government stated that Fonseka, currently in a naval detention centre, would face court-martial for treason. His wife Anoma Fonseka moved the island nation’s apex court stating that he should not be tried under the Army Act as he had already retired.
Fonseka had been taken into custody on February 8 last, almost two weeks after Rajapaksa had defeated him in the Sri Lankan presidential poll with a margin of over two million votes.
The day result of the presidential election had been announced, Rajapaksa’s government had deployed army personnel around the hotel where Fonseka was staying along with other opposition leaders.
Fonseka’s close aides had reportedly got in touch with New Delhi and sought India’s intervention to ensure his safety. But India had maintained silence on the issue, although diplomatic sources said New Delhi had been monitoring the situation in Colombo.
