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'Jail to stop politics' claims Fonseka | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The former army chief detained by the Sri Lankan authorities, Sarath Fonseka, says he expects that he will imminently be given a jail sentence to put an end to his nascent political career. A military court last week sentenced him to be stripped of his rank as a general and dishonourably discharged from the armed forces, which he joined in 1970. The former general Sarath Fonseka was speaking to reporters at the parliament, to which he was elected in April and which he can attend under military escort. Verdict was already planned He said he expected to receive a jail sentence from a second military court trying him on charges of. He believed the verdict was already planned. The 59-year-old said he would appeal against the first court-martial verdict, which declared him guilty of dabbling in politics while still military chief, although he played down the sentence removing his rank, medals and pension. Didn’t expect medals "Whatever I contributed, whatever I did for the country, I didn’t expect anything in return. When I served the country for 40 years I didn’t expect medals. I did not expect promotions. I did not expect money. I didn’t work on a contract." say Fonseka Sarath Fonseka accused the Sri Lankan president and government of harassing opposition politicians and alleged that there was no rule of law on the island.
"They are trying to create a lawless situation, lawlessness in the country. That is not in the long term interest of the country. If there is no law and order in the country, people are not safe. Said the Leader of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA). There’s still a host of other cases pending against the former military chief. Coup and assassinations The government says he was planning a coup and assassinations earlier this year and that the law will take its course. Sarath Fonseka, once very close to President Rajapaksa and his powerful brothers, says he is being victimised for daring to challenge Mr Rajapaksa in the presidential election. "The verdict is already written," Fonseka said. "I know the psychology and the thinking of these people. I sat next to the defence secretary for four years!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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I know the psychology and the thinking of these people. I sat next to the defence secretary for four years
India's frustration with Sri Lanka over Tamils