Activists, politicians and monks demand release of Gen. Fonseka
Rallies and sit-in outside the prison where the winner of the war against the Tamil Tigers has been held for over a year. Also present his wife Anoma, who asked the demonstrators not to give in until her husband is released.
Colombo (AsiaNews) - Opposition politicians, human rights activists and several Buddhist monks demonstrated yesterday evening in Colombo, demanding the release of the former General Sarath Fonseka, a year after his incarceration. The march, organized by the National Alliance for Democracy, arrived outside the Walikada prison - where Fonseka is currently held- and began a peaceful demonstration by a sit-in across the street from the prison.
Dressed in black, the protesters held signs in Tamil, Sinhalese and English that read "One year the arrest of General, stop the political hostility," "One year on from the General’s arrest, freedom now for General Fonseka”.
Fonseka is in prison since 8 February 2010, on charges of misconduct when he was commander in chief during the war against Tamil Tiger rebels (LTTE). A presidential candidate, his arrest came two weeks after the presidential elections, which saw the triumph of the current President, Mahinda Rajapaksa. The vote was much criticized, and representatives of civil society have denounced fraud, an excessive deployment of the army and a “preannounced” arrest warrant for Gen. Fonseka.
The protest was also attended by Somawansa Amarasinghe, leader of the nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Wickramabahu Karunaratne, secretary of the Left Front, the Tamil politician Mano Ganeshan from the Democratic People's Party, and Anoma Fonseka, the general's wife. The lady spoke, urging supporters of her husband to "not give up until the general is released."
This evening, another protest, organized by the United National Party (Unp) - the main opposition party – will be held in Colombo. (MMP)
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