How can criminals become war heroes – Bar Association
Jan 04, 2016
The Bar association said the former president going to meet the suspected members of the army intelligence who are in remand custody is challenging the country’s legal authority.
Few suspected members of the army intelligence have been taken into remand custody recently for the abduction of the disappeared journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.
The former president during a meeting with BBC accepted that he met these army intelligence within the remand when he visited the Welikada prison recently.
A lawyer attached to the Bar Association Chandrapala Kumarage said “Court proceedings are on the way for the suspects who abducted Prageeth Ekneligoda. In such a time the former president who was the former defense minister meeting those suspects in the remand is illegal”
Lawyer Chandrapala Kumarage said during the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s era no proper investigations were conducted for the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.
“He do not have rights to meet and speak behalf of them. Now the criminals have been identified now it is the time to enforce the law against them”
Lawyer Chandrapala Kumarage said the attitude of the former president is intimidating the investigations.
“The investigations are conducted by police officers not by politicians. When the police officers has able to investigate and search the criminals, someone appearing and talking behalf of the suspects is a clear indication of effort to impede the criminal investigation process”
Lawyer Chandrapala Kumarage questioned how criminals can become war heroes.
“Criminals cannot become war heroes. There are clear evidences that Ekneligoda was abducted and caused to disappear. Based ont eh evidence people have been taken in to custody. The pro Rajapaksa faction is telling war heroes cannot be taken into custody. How can a group of criminals become war heroes?”
Responding to the statement made by the former president about arresting the war heroes for the abduction of Prageeth Ekneligoda.
The lawyer reminded the action taken and punishment given for the rape and murder of Premawathie Manamperi by an army soldier.
