Fonseka denies accusations

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, June 9 (UPI) -- Former Sri Lankan Gen. Sarath Fonseka, now in military detention, denied accusations by the defense secretary that he is a liar and a traitor, the BBC reported.

Fonseka, who became a hero after the military defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels in May of last year, resigned after he fell out with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who later won re-election. The former general is now an opposition member of parliament.

Fonseka spoke to the BBC's Sinhala service by telephone while attending parliament a day after Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa reportedly told a BBC program Fonseka is a liar and threatened him with execution.

Currently, Fonseka is facing two courts-martial on charges relating to corruption in defense deals and politicking while in uniform.

The report said Fonseka had said in a clandestine telephone call earlier he'd be prepared to testify before any independent investigation of alleged breaches of humanitarian law in the final stages of the war against the Tamil Tigers.

"If I cover up, if I hush up things, if I don't tell the truth fully I will become a traitor," Fonseka was quoted as telling the BBC. "If I know anything … my duty is to expose."

Separately, the BBC reported Rajapaksa, the brother of President Mahina Rajapaksa, sought to clarify his earlier remarks by telling a local news Web site that if Fonseka is found guilty of treason, he could be sentenced to death.

Sri Lanka's Daily News quoted government spokesman Lakshman Hulugalle as saying Fonseka had previously made similar allegations against the country and its security forces. He said the security forces conducted the war against the Tamil Tigers in a humanitarian way with great dedication and self-sacrifice.