UN Chief renews call for the safety of Sri Lanka's convicted ex-Army Chief

The United Nations Secretary-General Friday renewed an earlier call that urged the Sri Lankan government to assure the safety of the former Army Commander and current parliamentarian General (retired) Sarath Fonseka, who was given a guilty verdict by a military court yesterday.


Addressing the media, Martin Nesirky, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General said the UN has no new comment on Fonseka's tribunal except the same request the UN chief made when Fonseka was arrested.
"On the court-martial ' we do not have any new comment on this process''.. Following Sarath Fonseca's arrest, the Secretary-General urged the authorities to follow due process of law and provide all the necessary protections and guarantees for his safety," the spokesman said.
Sri Lanka Army said Friday the first Court Martial, probing charges against General Sarath Fonseka's participation in political work while in active service convicted him of all three charges during its sittings.
The court has not decided of his punishment yet. It will convey its decision to the convening authority, the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the Army said. The President is to convey to Fonseka of the sentence meted out to him by the Court.
Responding to a query on Sri Lanka's Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, UN Chief's spokesman said the United Nations is aware of the domestic commission that has started its work in Sri Lanka but declined to comment any further.