X-files and excuses
Posted on December 21st, 2015
Editorial Island
December 21, 2015, 7:27 pm
Many thought the Jan. 08 regime change would pave the way for thorough probes into attacks on journalists and media institutions during the past few decades. But, regrettably, investigations into those dastardly incidents are being conducted very selectively.
Media person, Pradeep Ekneligoda, disappeared and national rugby player, Wasim Thajudeen, died under mysterious circumstances which must, no doubt, be investigated. But, the government must not lose sight of other such incidents.
The abduction of The Nation Associate Editor Keith Noyahr in May 2008 has not yet been probed properly. Keith should be able to reveal vital information about his abductors who held, questioned and beat him for hours before releasing him. The government which was blamed for his abduction is now out of power and he is resident overseas.
Keith, as a responsible journalist who took up the cudgels for media freedom, is sure to cooperate with investigators. There is reason to believe his abductors were involved in attacks on other journalists as well. Therefore, his help needs to be sought to identify those elements.
It is mind-boggling why the police are still groping in the dark. Two months after Keith’s abduction, the then Chief Opposition Whip and UNP MP, Joseph Michael Perera, speaking in Parliament in July 2008 held the then Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka, responsible for attacks on journalists. BBC reported on July 28, 2008:
Sri Lanka’s main opposition party has accused the country’s most senior army officer of being behind violent attacks on reporters.
Opposition MP Joseph Michael Perera told parliament that the attacks were carried out by a ‘special team’ controlled by Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka.
Mr. Perera said the government should arrest the offenders and ‘immediately bring them to justice’.
The army has denied that it is any way involved in attacks on journalists.
“We are told by those in the army itself that journalists are abducted and subjected to grievous injury by none other than a special unit under the army commander,” Mr. Perera, a former parliamentary speaker, said.
The Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunga was killed a few months later in Jan. 2009. The UNP which asked the Rajapaksa government to make arrests at that time is in power today. It is duty bound to get cracking and ensure that former Chief Opposition Whip Perera provides the police with all necessary information about the ‘special team’ he mentioned in Parliament. What prevents the government from doing so? Let no lame excuses be trotted out.
Perhaps, the yahapalana grandees do not want to open up a can of worms because those they accused of killing journalists at that time are today in the good governance camp!
Unfounded fears
Convener of the Mawbima Wenuwen Ranawiruwo (MWR) organisation, Major Ajith Prasanna, has told the media that a plot is being hatched to arrest former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa over the disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda.
But, it is doubtful whether the present government will ever do anything of that nature on the basis of mere allegations. It is compassionate towards even terror suspects. Detained hardcore Tigers are being released on the grounds that there is no irrefutable evidence against them.
Before the presidential and parliamentary elections this year, the leaders of the present administration made solemn pledges to arrest the self-appointed leader of the LTTE, Kumaran Padmanathan alias KP, for his active involvement in terrorist activities in the past. They also said Karuna Amman had been responsible for many crimes in the Eastern Province such as the massacre of Buddhist monks at Arantalawa and the mass execution of 600 policemen. But, they have chosen not to take any action against the two former Tigers.
The champions of good governance, currently ensconced in power, condemned the ministers of the Rajapaksa government as a bunch of rogues responsible for mega corrupt deals, killings, abuse of power etc. The new government would deal with them severely, we were told. But, today, those ‘rogues’ have been forgiven and made ministers of the ‘yahapalana’ government!
Thus, we don’t think the present government will ever abuse its power to throw its political opponents behind bars on the basis of mere allegations even though former President Rajapaksa is threatening to stage street protests.
Moreover, no less a person than UNSG Ban Ki-moon has spoken very highly of the present government; he considers the Jan. 08 regime change one of the most significant world events during this year! President Maithripala Sirisena has said he had the rare honour of viewing Queen Elizabeth’s private jewellery collection as a special guest besides being given a gloveless handshake. Pope Francis has also showered praise on him, we are told. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has always been in the good books of the international community.
So, the ‘yahapalana’ government led by President Sirisena and PM Wickremesinghe will not run the risk of blotting its copybook by arresting its opponents in the same manner as the Rajapaksa government.
December 21st, 2015 at 2:46 pm
MOST alleged killers are in THIS GOVT.
That is why they cannot investigate these cases.
The Muslim drunkard drug dealer’s death is MARKETED to COVER UP these things. He was under the influence of Whiskey and heroin when he crashed on to a wall at MIDNIGHT and burnt to death. His DRINKING PARTNERS testified to this.
December 21st, 2015 at 3:23 pm
Lorenzo,
Don’t make up unnecessary bullshit to sling mud at dead man. We like to honour your words and saying such hateful blatant lies will make it impossible.
He was the captain of Havelocks team. He was well known to students of nearby school who practice with Havelocks team. He was a very good friend of Namal, Yoshitha and a team member of Sri Lanka. Surely a playful youngster no worse that Namal and Yoshitha but to say a “drug dealer” will bring you a lot of bad results. You let me know when the results arrive. So far my words have come true.
December 21st, 2015 at 6:08 pm
Nanda,
There is LEGAL EVIDENCE given by those who were drinking and taking recreational drugs with him that night.
Please read their testimony before making comments.
May be the word “dealer” is wrong in the context. Instead I should have used the word GENEROUS.
Please read what they told police (telling lies to police is a criminal offense). NONE was blamed for telling lies.
ALL this YOSHITHA and TISSA involvement was COOKED UP by YASARA. Now she denies!!!
Don’t believe everything anti-MR people (and pro-MR) people say. Look for THIRD PARTY EVIDENCE.
December 21st, 2015 at 7:05 pm
Lorenzo,
I too have my intelligence unit in Sri Lanka. I don’t need to depend on internet. I can judge what is cooked up and what is not. All I said is “drug dealer” condemnation is not necessary. He did not deserve death penalty.
December 21st, 2015 at 9:38 pm
Yoshitha injured and hospitalized – Dec 22, 2015
Yoshitha injured and hospitalized -Lankanewsweb
Reports reaching us conform that the former president’s son Yoshitha Rajapaksa has become injured yesterday 20th during the match played between the Havlock sports club and the navy. The latter is admitted and taking treatment in the Nawaloka Hospitals Colombo.
Yoshitha’s friends allege that during the match the havlock players surrounded and attacked Yoshitha.
When Mahinda Rajapaksa was ruling the country during any match of Namal, Yoshitha and Rohitha Rajapaksa played his team mates use to create a security ring preventing the opposition players to reach the president’s son. Since there are no such security rings created now the former president’s son has become an easy target for the opposite team mates.
Reports reaching from Havlocks Sports Club assert that there is no such attack took place and it is a normal injury during any match. However Yoshitha’s friends emphasize a contrary opinion.
December 22nd, 2015 at 5:08 pm
How about this abduction done in daylight, in front of pubilc, without ANY FEAR ? Shouldn’t this kind of habitual crime and thuggery sky rocketed in Sri Lanka after a relatively “peaceful” period since Premadas’s death (excpet for LTTE bombs) ?
We can see whether the Yahapalanaya punish the main THUG here, not just the security thugs or “ranaviruwo’s ” who did the ABDUCTION.
Six arrested with Hirunika’s jeep over abduction
December 22, 2015 07:02 pm
Six persons have been arrested with a jeep belonging to MP Hirunika Premachandra in connection with an abduction of a youth in Dematagoda area, police said.
The suspects were arrested after they surrendered to the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) this evening.
However, it has been reported that a statement has also been recorded from MP Hirunika Premachandra regarding the incident.
A 34-year-old was abducted by a group of six persons who had arrived in a Land Rover Defender which is reportedly owned by Premachandra.
The victim who is a resident of Kolonnawa was abducted by the group last afternoon in Dematagoda area over a clandestine love affair between the victim and one of the suspects’ wife.
The victim has been admitted to the Colombo National hospital for treatments.
Meanwhile, Hirunika Premachandra said that she had nothing to do with the incident and she was not involved at all. She made the observation at a press conference held in Colombo this afternoon
December 22nd, 2015 at 5:11 pm
The abducted man has said that Hirunika sat on the desk of hers and threatened him. She also has said that she is not scred of police , according to him. Why is she not arrested ?