President Ashraf Ghani in a cabinet meeting on Monday said that the attacks on journalists and civil society activists are "an attack on a generation" and an attempt to destabilize the country and demoralize the new generation.
Five journalists and two civil society activists have been killed in various incidents since November 7.
“Recent terrorist attacks on media, civil society and political activists and other members of our citizenry are attacks on a generation and on all the values of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,” Ghani said. “The motive (behind the attacks) is to remove stability, trust and to create help helplessness among the new generation, particularly women in Afghanistan.”
“The attacks that happen, whether on Yama Siawash, Yusuf Rasheed, Malalai, Elyas Daee, Rahmatullah Nekzad, Freshta Kohistani, Fatima Khalil, the doctors of Pul-e-Charkhi (prison) and others...is an attack on a generation. It is an attack on the values of our nation and on our heart,” said Ghani.
On Sunday, the interior affairs minister said that three suspects were arrested for being involved in the Nov. 7 blast that killed three people, including former TOLOnews anchor Yama Siawash.
Siawash’s family said that any information from the government about the incident will be acceptable for them after approval by an international team that is technically competent and impartial.
His family in a statement once again called to make public the CCTV camera footage and GPS information of the car that was attacked.
“Those who are wanted should be named publicly at a press conference and their identities and their connections--who they are related to--should be disclosed,” said Ali Akbar Jamshidi, an MP.
“The individuals that are arrested should be put on trial publicly; otherwise their arrest will be a lie to the people,” said Belgis Roshan, an MP.
The targeted killings of journalists and civil society activists raised concerns and reactions. Lack of information by the government of some of these incidents was criticized by many.
“Access to information is getting more limited every day and even governors are losing their spokesmen. Sadly, this shows that, so far, we don’t have a government responsive to the people,” said Aziz Rafiee, head of the association of civil society organizations.
This comes as a meeting of the members of the joint committee of the government and the media led by Second Vice President Sarwar Danesh was held on Sunday.
Recent attacks on journalists and civil society activists were discussed and security agencies reported on their actions for the incidents.
Danesh said the recent incidents involving well-known people have shocked the public.
He said such incidents should not be ignored and serious measures should be taken to prevent them.
Andarabi said that a serious investigation is underway into the incident in collaboration with the National Directorate of Security.
He added that he has held meetings with Siawash’s family and the heads of some media outlets to discuss the incident.
Andarabi said that one “terrorist” was arrested in connection with the attack on Elyas Daee, a Radio Azadi reporter, who was killed in Helmand on Nov. 12.
According to him, one member of the Taliban has been identified in connection with the killing of Rahmatullah Nekzad, a freelance reporter who was killed in Ghazni last week.
Andarabi said that an investigation is underway into the death of Ariana News presenter Fardin Amini.
He said that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack on civil society activist Freshta Kohistani.
According to Andarabi, two suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack on Malala Maiwand, a reporter in Jalalabad who was killed this month.
Meanwhile, NDS officials in the meeting said that their findings show that the attack on Rahmatullah Nekzad and Freshta Kohistani were conducted by the Taliban, the statement said.
The officials said that members of three terrorist groups were arrested recently who were involved in targeted killings.