One is inclined to wonder
What is going on here.... Where is the treason ?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/8725899.stm

Surely it is in the interests of *the COUNTRY* for a soldier *after* the event to expose the alleged barbaric tactics.

Surely the intervee's aggressive if somewhat evasive defense is/was inappropriate, given his position?
Was he pre-empting the court process?
Is/was his attitude reflective of the Government? If so one has to wonder how safe are the Tamils under such a government?
Especially given its probable impact on refugees.

The Sri Lankan government is brutal and corrupt. It is NOT a peace loving government intent on forgiving and helping it's defeated enemy within the country. Like all brutal and corrupt regimes, if a major figure does not tow government line, they are threatened with execution, as is the case with the government threats against Sarath Fonseka who has joined the opposition political movement and is a member of parliament.

**BOTH** sides committed atrocities.

Tamils are definitely not safe in Sri Lanka.

To suggest that atrocities were committed against Tamils, with eye witness accounts plus evidence, is NOT treason, punishable by execution.

Just like if an ex Aussie soldier saw atrocities committed by other Aussie soldiers, and he reported those atrocities. That also is NOT treason. It's called "doing the right thing".

Gentlemen...and any others...

I don't hold up much hope for a very fruitful discussion on this.

You folks are (yet again) trying to understand the Asian/Tribal situation through rose colored Western political binoculars.

The thing is obviously a struggle between dominant families.. the elite.
You cannot believe anything no matter who reports it.. so I'd give up now :)

Trying to unravel that mess is a bit like trying to understand Islam from a secular perspective.. it simply cannot be done.

To know what really went on you would have to..... I can't even finish that sentence because you/we/I will just not know.

Forget it Examy... pick another topic.. like... SouthPark does Glenn Beck :)

Dear Examinator,

Treason or truth?

"In the spider web of facts,
many a truth is strangled."

This is certainly a complex situation.
The "facts" appear a bit dubious at
best.

General Fonseka was in charge of
an aggressive military strategy which
crushed the Tamil Tigers. Wasn't he
in charge of events that took place,
and shouldn't he be held responsible
for them?

He then
quit the military after the defeat of the
Tigers and went into politics. (He was the
main opposition candidate in last January's
Presidential election).

Now he's been arrested
and is being threatened with execution because
he has evidence (an eye witness) of the
Defence Secretary ordering army officers to
shoot and kill surrendering Tamil leaders at the
end of the war.

Examy, it all sounds a bit
suss wouldn't you say? What does he hope to gain
out of all this? A bullet in the head, a medal,
or become the next President? Isn't he just
being motivated by politics here? Would he
have come forward with this information if he
wasn't running for office?

Sorry, but I find the whole thing not quite
Kosher. I could be dreadfully wrong, but it
doesn't quite add up for me. H wasn't that
concerned when he was in charge of the aggressive
military strategy which crushed the Tamil Tigers,
why is he concerned about things now?

Foxy,
You are correct I wondered at that too. However, the issue I was making was more along the line of the *principal*. Should a soldier be charged with treason if he/she witnesses or knows of the breaches of Crimes against humanity as is alleged this case.
The Wiki-leaks case where a soldier blew the whistle about the US shooting civilians in cold blood.

There is little doubt in my mind that the general is politicking.
The issue is is the minister being interviewed merely (ab)using the court martial (death penalty) to cover his complicity in the CAH.

The sub issue is that it would appear that the government is tainted.

Polycarp. Haven't you got splinters from your tired hobby horse yet?

Dear Examy,

Thanks for responding.

I was interested in your take on things.

Regarding the question of what a soldier
should do in the case of wrongdoing -
should he report it? One would hope that
a soldier would do the right thing.
However difficult it may be. We have a
conscience for a reason. However, having
said that, I guess I'm speaking as a civilian,
and it would be interesting to get someone
like Custard - who's a poster with a military
background, to give you their answer to that
question. He may have a different slant on
the subject alltogether.