Opposition leaders fear arrest

By Yohan Perera - Opposition party leaders who backed General Sarath Fonseka for the presidency yesterday charged that some of them might be arrested.

UNP deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya told journalists they had received information on being harmed and therefore decided to move out of their homes on the eve of the election.

He said he could not divulge some of the details about these threats but revealed they were advised to gather at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel in Colombo.

Responding to questions asked by the journalists on reports that opposition party leaders including

General Fonseka were seeking the support of some foreign countries, Mr. Jayasuriya said none of the party leaders sought international help but said he was not aware as to whether General Fonseka had done so.

He rejected rumours that General Fonseka was planning to leave the country and said he was a Sri Lankan citizen and we don’t see why he could not reside here.

Opposition leaders also dismissed reports that General Fonseka was keeping army deserters and said nine officers who were given to him legally for his security but they were sent back to the Military Police yesterday.

JVP parliamentary group leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake who also attended the news conference said this was the first time that a candidate who lost a presidential election is held under siege by getting the troops to surround the premises he was staying.

“A candidate should have the freedom of movement,” he said.

Mr. Dissanayake said it was essential to put a stop to the undemocratic acts carried out by this government.

Meanwhile General Fonseka who was at the hotel after army troops surrounded the hotel charged that some of the officers stationed around the hotel were making several attempts to enter the hotel forcibly.

He made this charge in a letter to Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake yesterday. He also alleged that some of the officers he returned to the Military Police were made to kneel down.General Fonseka had also told the Commissioner that several of his employees had also been arrested.

The number of troops deployed around the hotel was increased at the time this report was going to the press. The riot squad was also brought in to prevent possible clashes.

© Daily Mirror