The Criminal Investigations
Department (CID) today arrested three army personnel including a major over the
abduction and attack of Keith Noyahr, the deputy editor of The Nation newspaper in
2008. However, sources pointed out that the main culprit, who orchestrated the
attack against Noyahr, continued to remain in the government, serving as a
senior minister in the Yahapalanaya government.
Nohayr, was abducted on May 22, 2008 near his residence, when he
was returning home after work. He was severely beaten by the abductors and also
received injuries to his head.
Noyahr
was abducted just days after he wrote an article in the ‘military matters’
column published on May 11, 2008 in The Nation newspaper titled ‘An army is not
its commander’s private fiefdom’ which was critical of Fonseka, who was the
then Army Commander. Fonseka, now serves as the Cabinet Minister of Regional
Development in the coalition government.
Before
coming to power, both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil
Wickremesinghe pledged to bring the culprits to book, including those behind
the assaults, abductions and murders of journalists, that occurred during the
tenure of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. However, since coming to power,
Sirisena has been critical against the arresting and remanding of military
personnel behind several of these incidents including the high profile murder
case of Lasantha Wickrematunge, the editor of the Sunday Leader.
In
October, under pressure from Sirisena, the Mount Lavinia Magistrate released
Army Intelligence Officer Premananda Udalagama on bail despite his involvement
in Wickrematunge’s assassination.
Since
Sirisena’s statement, all army personnel who were linked to various journalists
related murders and abductions including the disappearance of Prageeth
Ekneligoda have been released on bail by the courts.
--- By Tamil M.M
Nilamdeen Anallyist ---
By English Raise Ahmad
By English Raise Ahmad
