Ex-army chief calls Lanka 'dictatorship'
Sri Lanka's ex-army chief called the government a "total dictatorship" and said yesterday that he will appeal his recent conviction by a military court, which he described as a political vendetta.
Former Gen Sarath Fonseka said the inquiry on charges he was involved in politics while still in the military was launched to persecute him for daring to challenge President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the presidential election earlier this year.
He criticized the Rajapaksa regime for harassing political opponents, saying a "lawlessness" prevails in the country while "a total dictatorship is going on."
A military court ruling last week recommended Fonseka be dishonorably discharged and stripped of his rank, pension, medals and other military honors. The president approved and carried out the dismissal on Saturday.
Fonseka led Sri Lanka's army in its victory last year against ethnic Tamil rebels, ending a quarter-century civil war that killed 80,000 to 100,000 people.
One-time allies, the president and Fonseka were both considered heroes by the Sinhalese majority for crushing the Tamil rebels.
Rajapaksa and Fonseka had a falling out months after the war ended and the general quit the army after accusing Rajapaksa of sidelining him, suspecting a military coup. Their relationship further deteriorated after Fonseka challenged Rajapaksa in the presidential election.
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