Around 1,400 deserters surrendered at Army camps on Independence Day last week, availing themselves of the amnesty granted by the government, said the Sri Lankan Army here on Monday.

Desertions have been a bane of the forces for several years now. As per one estimate, the three wings saw 36,000 deserters.

A military spokesman said the deserters surrendered at the Army camps in response to an announcement made by the government.

“If they wish to continue, they can continue serving at their respective regiments. Those who wish to be released would be granted the opportunity to do so officially,” said the spokesperson and added that those who failed to surrender would be arrested by the military police.

A study commissioned by the Interior Ministry had revealed that deserters, particularly those armed, posed a menace to society. Some of them had committed crimes or had been used by vested interests as mercenaries.

The former Army chief and defeated opposition presidential candidate, General (retired) Sarath Fonseka, has been accused of plotting a coup with the help of a group of deserters and retired officers and soldiers. General (retired) Fonseka has strongly refuted the charge.

At least two dozen alleged deserters and retired officers and soldiers who were supposedly with him on the night of the January 26 presidential poll are in custody and are being questioned.

Meanwhile, a group of journalists who have accused the government of a witch hunt against those suspected to have sided with General (retired) Fonseka in the presidential election, staged a protest on Monday demanding the release of a detained Editor representing the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).

They urged the government to allow the media to report without hindrance and to free Chandana Sirimalwatte, Editor of the Lanka newspaper. They also demanded that authorities track down a website’s columnist who disappeared last month.

The protest came days after calls by international human rights and media groups for the Sri Lankan government to stop what they say is harassment of journalists following last month’s re-election of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

New-York based Human Rights Watch said since the election authorities have detained and questioned several journalists and blocked news websites. At least one reporter has been assaulted and several have been threatened. – (The Hindu)