News
Disappearance of 11 persons: AG withdraws indictment against Karannagoda
By Chitra Weerarathne
Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, has withdrawn the indictment against wartime Navy Commander the then Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda in respect of the alleged abduction and disappearance of 11 Tamil youth in 2008. The case attracted the attention of the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and local and international NGOs.
The Court of Appeal yesterday (13) permitted the AG to withdraw the indictment against now Admiral of the Fleet Karannagoda.
The AG informed the Court of Appeal that the former Navy Chief wouldn’t be prosecuted.
Of the missing eleven persons, five were allegedly taken into custody on Sept. 17, 2008 by navy personnel along with black Tata Indica. Police have identified them as Rajiv Naganathan (21 years/Colombo 13), Pradeep Vishvanathan (18 years/Wasala Rd, Colombo 13), Mohammed Sajith (21 years/Dematagoda), Thilakeswaram Ramalingam (17 years/Bloemendhal housing complex, Colombo 13) and Jamaldeen Dilan (Maradana). Those involved in the operation were believed to have been accompanied by a navy informant Mohammed Ali Anwar alias Hadjjiar of Karagampitiya, Dehiwela. Subsequently, the 28-year-old informant, too, had disappeared and listed among those eleven missing.
The remaining five persons are Kasthuriarachchilage John Reid (21 years/Kotahena/8-9-2008)), Amalan Leon (50 years/Arippu, north/25-8-2008)) and his son Roshan Leon (21 years/Arippu north/25-8-2008), Anthony Kasthuriarachchi (48 yerars/Kotahena/10-10-2008) and Kanagaraja Jegan (32 years, Trincomalee)
Karannagoda requested the Court of Appeal to issue a stay order on the High Court proceedings against him. The Court of Appeal at an earlier hearing issued a stay order until the Attorney General explained his position with regard to the indictment.
The Writ Application will be mentioned again on November 3.
Romesh de Silva, PC, appeared with Niran Anketell and Sugath Caldera for the petitioner Karannagoda.
Dr. Avanthi Perera Senior State Counsel appeared for the Attorney General.
The bench comprised Justice Sobitha Rajakaruna and Justice Dhammika Ganepola.
The alleged abductions and disappearances came to light after relatives of one of those missing brought the incident to Karannagoda’s attention. Subsequent investigations implicated a group of navy personnel, including the Chief Security Officer of the Navy Commander.
South Korea’s Asiana Airlines has stopped selling some emergency exit row seats following an accident in which a passenger opened an emergency exit door midair causing panic on board.
The incident took place on an A321-200 plane, which was carrying nearly 200 passengers, as it approached the runway at Daegu International Airport, about 240km (150 miles) southeast of Seoul. The plane landed safely but several passengers were hospitalised. There were no serious injuries or damage.
The airline told the AFP news agency on Sunday the emergency exit seats – 31A and 26A – on its 14 A321-200 jets would no longer be offered for sale. “As a safety precaution, this measure will apply even if the flights are full,” it added. It is however unclear how the move might stop passengers seated elsewhere on the plane from attempting to open the emergency door.
The man, in his 30s, was arrested by authorities in Daegu for allegedly breaking aviation security laws. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. He told Daegu police that he had been under a lot of stress after losing his job recently and that he opened the door because he wanted to get off quickly after feeling suffocated, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported on Saturday.
Video footage apparently taken by a person on board and posted on social media showed passengers’ hair being whipped about by air rushing into the cabin when the emergency door opened.
It is still unclear how Lee was able to open the emergency exit door mid-flight.
Jin Seong-hyun, a former Korean Air cabin safety official, said as far as he knew, this case was unprecedented, although passengers have opened emergency exits without authorisation while planes were on the ground.
A South Korean transport ministry official said it was possible to open emergency exits at or near ground level because the pressures inside and outside the cabin were similar.
(Aljazeera)
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