US denies it bankrolled Sri Lankan opposition
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COLOMBO, FEB 12 - The United States denied accusations that it bankrolled Sri Lanka's defeated and imprisoned presidential candidate, and the U.S. Embassy called on the government to protect the rights of opposition supporters and media.
The denial came after reported allegations by the Sri Lanka's defense secretary that the U.S. and Norway financially supported the opposition's attempt to oust the government in last month's presidential election.
"The United States backed no candidate but strongly supported a free, fair, and credible democratic process," the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa secured a sweeping victory over his former army chief Sarath Fonseka. The two men were close allies in the country's defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels last year, but they fell out after the war, and contested a bitter election.
The political crisis deepened Monday after the military arrested Fonseka on unspecified sedition charges. The opposition has called his arrest illegal and an act of political vengeance.
The country's Supreme Court will hear the appeal for his release Friday, when both opposition and government supporters have threatened with protests in the capital.
On Wednesday, police fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse thousands of opposition supporters gathered outside the Supreme Court to demand Fonseka's release after clashes with scores of pro-government demonstrators.
The U.S. Embassy statement released Thursday night called on the government to respect the rights of those who supported the opposition in the past poll, after reports that scores of opposition activists were detained, harassed or pressured. Media rights groups rank Sri Lanka among the most dangerous places in the world for dissenting journalists.
The country will hold its general election on April 8, when the ruling coalition hopes to secure an absolute majority in the country's parliament, which would help it cement is stifling grip on power.
Posted on: 2010-02-12 12:41
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