By Mathalee
(November 02, Colombo / Washington, Sri Lanka Guardian) "I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God. " -- US pledge of citizenship.
This is what Sri Lankan Secretary of Defense pledged as he obtained his US citizenship few years ago. Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapakse pledged that he will not only stand by United States during a war or conflict, but also fight for United States against any enemy, may it be Sri Lanka or South Africa.
Now, United States is looking to conduct an investigation on Mr. Rajapakse's war crime involvements. Is this fair? Indeed it is. This is an internal matter of the United States and US has every right to persecute and investigate its citizens. Sri Lanka can not and should not interfere with sovereign rights of United States to investigate the American citizens.
This matter is strictly an internal matter of the United States.
If Mr. Rajapakse has any problems with it, he is very free to give up the US citizenship. After all, US citizenship was his choice.
It is reported that Sri Lankan Foreign Office lodged a formal complaint regarding this to the State Department. However, State Department has very limited jurisdictions on a federal investigations. Unlike corrupt structures of Sri Lanka, United States has clear and defined jurisdictions. Thus, any efforts from Sri Lanka to hamper any investigations will only result in more negativity rather any objecting any constructive goals.
As an American who followed the Sri Lankan civil war for the last ten years, I personally do not believe that Mr. Gotabaya Rajapakse is responsible for any war crimes. He definitely needs to be given a lot of credits for eradicating terrorism. However, no matter what he achieved, he is still liable for any federal investigations in United States irrespectively of his status as long as he is a US citizen. The investigation on such matters is strictly an internal matter of the United States of America. -Sri Lanka Guardian
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US has every right to investigate its citizens
By Sri Lanka Guardian • November 02, 2009 • • Comments : 2
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The FM at a press briefing has addressed General Sarath Fonseka as of a “Prisoner in the Dock” and referred to an innocent Defence Secretary as of “an accused of circumstances”. (inference interpretation only).
It is time up that the Cabinet ministers or politicians of Sri Lanka should learn to be more responsible in what they speak out, especially to the press or media. It would have been, in this respect most appropriate for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the FM to have consulted Communication experts and legal personalities in preparing the statement made. Further political communication analysis clearly indicates that such statements made can be detrimental to the subject matter at large and can hurt Sri Lanka at the end. It can also lead to instigating the media/press to pick on the “UNWARRANTED STATEMENTS/SENTENCES” and “go to town” in creating imaginary news items and news datelines. Already news websites droning the cloak of supporting the HE. Mahinda Rajapaksa government and the Secretary Defence have begun to drive the wedge between the unity of our great 3 patriots of modern political history of Sri Lanka .
The government of Sri Lanka should spend more time in looking at the US Title 18, Part 1 > Chapter > 18 U.S.C. § 2441 : US Code - Section 2441: War crimes and the USA Patriotic Act of October 26th., 2001 signed by President George W. Bush and the amended Act of March 9 and 10, 2006. It should use the best of it’s eminent lawyers of International Law and International Relations to study how the situation of the assumed War crime allegations can and will affect General Sarath Fonseka and Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa as both of them are assumed to be US Green card holders and dual citizens of Sri Lanka. This will give a clear picture that the situation is not grave as the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka has tried to dramatize to the media.
In my opinion, there is and will be NO harm done to the Secretary of Defence, even if the General speaks out as assumed by the Foreign Ministry address to the press, which I am sure will NOT be so.
Therefore, once again, please do not hurt the General or the President any more. Do not hurt Gotabaya too. DO NOT DIVIDE THEIR UNITY PLEASE. These are patriotic citizens of Sri Lanka who have given their best to the nation to remove the threat of violence and terrorism and create an atmosphere of peace and sustainability inclusive of harmony to the Nation of Sri Lanka. The opportunistic politicians, political leaders and the media should, including the international press/media stop their nonsense forthwith. Lets us stand united to save the present for the future of our children by the grace of God Allmighty. Let us fight the USA even to save our 3 patriots. It is our National duty.
Noor Nizam
Sri Lanka Peace Actvist and Freelance journalist - Canada.
Yes, US or any country should have a right to investigate its immigrants before citizenship is granted. However, one should not hold a carrot seeking damaging statements against another. During previous American regime they maintained a 1% doctrine on which even if there is a 1% chance of threat to America, they have a right to uni-laterally attack another sovereign state. On this principle General Fonseka has given reasonable leadership to SLA in a professional manner to end the terrorist war. The government of Sri Lanka was instrumental in providing the assistance to the defense establishment to do its task. Now armed with several LTTE supporters and their money America has put a different mask on the fight against terrorism.
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