This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8636478.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Fonseka in S Lanka 'freedom' call | Fonseka in S Lanka 'freedom' call |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Defeated Sri Lankan presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka has been released from detention to appear in the opening session of parliament. | Defeated Sri Lankan presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka has been released from detention to appear in the opening session of parliament. |
The general, who is being court martialled, called for the "rule of law" in an attack on his arch-rival, President Mahinda Rajapaksa. | The general, who is being court martialled, called for the "rule of law" in an attack on his arch-rival, President Mahinda Rajapaksa. |
His comments were his first remarks in public since his detention on 8 February on corruption charges. | His comments were his first remarks in public since his detention on 8 February on corruption charges. |
He travelled under escort from military custody to take up his seat. | He travelled under escort from military custody to take up his seat. |
Gen Fonseka fell out with the president after the defeat of Tamil Tigers rebels last May. | Gen Fonseka fell out with the president after the defeat of Tamil Tigers rebels last May. |
He was beaten by Mr Rajapaksa in presidential elections of January 2010. | He was beaten by Mr Rajapaksa in presidential elections of January 2010. |
'Speaking with grief' | |
"What the country needs is democracy, rule of law, personal freedoms and media freedom," Gen Fonseka told members of parliament attending a swearing-in ceremony for the body's 225 lawmakers. | |
The general was alongside former cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga | |
During the ceremony, he and other party heads were permitted to offer congratulations to its new speaker - Chamal Rajapaksa, the president's brother. | |
"The protection of democracy must begin here in parliament," he said. "The citizens must have freedom of movement, freedom of expression and freedom from illegal detention." | |
He said he was speaking "with grief" as he had been arrested under false charges. | |
The general, who was wearing white, shook the hands of other opposition MPs and waved to the public gallery. | |
The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says that the government is highly sensitive about him. | |
Journalists were not allowed to approach him, and state television's report of the opening of parliament ignored his contribution. | |
The general's leftist Democratic National Alliance (DNA) party won seven seats in the elections of 8 April. | |
The assembly is dominated by the United People's Freedom Alliance led by the president. | The assembly is dominated by the United People's Freedom Alliance led by the president. |
Mr Rajapaksa's coalition is just short of the two-thirds majority required for the government to rewrite the constitution, which debars the president from standing again when his second term ends in 2016. | Mr Rajapaksa's coalition is just short of the two-thirds majority required for the government to rewrite the constitution, which debars the president from standing again when his second term ends in 2016. |
Gen Fonseka - who won his parliamentary seat while in detention - has been allowed to attend the opening but will be returned to detention afterwards, government officials said. | Gen Fonseka - who won his parliamentary seat while in detention - has been allowed to attend the opening but will be returned to detention afterwards, government officials said. |
His court martial, on charges of allegedly engaging in politics while in uniform and involvement in corrupt arms procurement, was adjourned on Tuesday for two weeks. | His court martial, on charges of allegedly engaging in politics while in uniform and involvement in corrupt arms procurement, was adjourned on Tuesday for two weeks. |
The general denies all the accusations, saying they are a politically motivated attempt to silence him. | The general denies all the accusations, saying they are a politically motivated attempt to silence him. |
The main opposition United National Party was soundly beaten in the parliamentary elections, winning just 60 seats, while the main Tamil party, the Tamil National Alliance, came third with 14. | The main opposition United National Party was soundly beaten in the parliamentary elections, winning just 60 seats, while the main Tamil party, the Tamil National Alliance, came third with 14. |
On Wednesday, President Rajapaksa appointed DM Jayaratne, a former teacher in his 70s, as prime minister. | On Wednesday, President Rajapaksa appointed DM Jayaratne, a former teacher in his 70s, as prime minister. |
Mr Rajapaksa is working out who will be in his new cabinet. | Mr Rajapaksa is working out who will be in his new cabinet. |