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Ex-army chief’s appointment as Sri Lanka lawmaker criticized Ex-army chief’s appointment as Sri Lanka lawmaker criticized
(about 1 hour later)
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — An international rights group says the Sri Lankan government’s decision to appoint the civil war-winning general to Parliament contradicts pledges to investigate abuses alleged to have occurred under his command. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — An international rights group said Thursday that the Sri Lankan government’s decision to appoint the civil war-winning general to Parliament contradicts its pledges to investigate alleged abuses under his command.
Human Rights Watch says Thursday the appointment of former army chief Sarath Fonseka signals that the government may protect senior military leaders suspected of abuses. Human Rights Watch said the appointment of former army commander Sarath Fonseka signals that the government may protect senior military leaders suspected of abuses.
Fonseka commanded Sri Lanka’s army from 2005 until the end of war in 2009. Fonseka took his oath as a lawmaker Tuesday. He commanded Sri Lanka’s army from 2005 until the end of war in 2009 and is credited with leading the army to victory over the ethnic minority Tamil rebels.
The rights group says Sri Lankan forces under Fonseka’s command were implicated in numerous instances of shelling of civilians and hospitals, rape and other sexual violence, and summary execution of prisoners. The rights group said Sri Lankan forces under Fonseka’s command were implicated in numerous instances of shelling of civilians and hospitals, rape and other sexual violence, and summary execution of prisoners.
Sri Lanka promised to investigate abuse allegations with foreign help in a consensus resolution at the United Nations human rights council last year. “The government should meaningfully demonstrate to the Sri Lankan people and the U.N. that it’s serious about accountability and not on the road to a whitewash,” said Brad Adams, the group’s Asia director.
Sri Lanka has promised to investigate abuse allegations with foreign help in a consensus resolution at the U.N. human rights council last year.
According to U.N. estimates, up to 100,000 people were killed in the war but the figure is believed to be much higher, including up to 40,000 civilian deaths in just the final months.
Government officials could not be reached for comment.
Months after the war victory Fonseka challenged then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s re-election.
Soon after his election defeat Fonseka was arrested and charged with corruption and implicating Rajapaksa’s brother, who was defense secretary, in rights abuses. He won a parliamentary seat he contested while he was in detention, but lost it when he was convicted.
He was released from prison in 2012 and was part of President Maithripala Sirisena’s alliance that defeated Rajapaksa in last year’s presidential election.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.