Stricter screening of VIP security staff

In Sri Lanka, the moment a politi-cian rises to power, there is a rush of 'loyalists' to surround him and prove unstinted loyalty. Unquestionable self sacrifice is demonstrated in the attempt. This bunch of psycophants includes security personnel. If the VVIP is not averse to these machinations, he is soon 'captured' by a group of persons suitable and loyal to each other as well. Anyone not toeing the line will be blackballed by poisoning the mind of the VIP against such person. This is easily done because in the mind of politicians, the quality described as 'impartial' does not exist. A person who is not aligned towards a politician is considered as being against him.

It was the late Felix Dias Bandaranaike, one of the most intelligent politicians this country has seen, and by 1965 had also gained sufficient experience to perceive things, who elucidated in Parliament one facet of the behaviour I speak of. The S L F P had just lost in the general elections in 1965 and the UNP under the leadership of the late Dudley Senanayake had come to power. FDB learnt of some insidious allegations concocted against him by his former ministerial security officer and conveyed to Prime Minister Senanayake (With a view to 'capture' the new Premier). FDB exposed in Parliament how this same security officer had similarly conveyed information against Dudley Senanayake when the SLFP was in power, and when verified was found to be false, whereupon he had to be reprimanded. He warned the Prime Minister and Parliament to beware of such elements that rush to you when you rise to power, to demonstrate their loyalty.

In the past all VIP Security personnel were vetted and monitored by the Special Branch and its reports were spot on. A case in point was also in 1965 when Dudley Senanayake came to power. On the recommendation of a businessman who was a close supporter, the Prime Minister selected a relative of the supporter as his security officer. The vetting report on him however was not favourable. The officer concerned denied the contents of the report, but the contents were irrefutable. The officer was so embarrassed when confronted with facts that he handed his resignation from service and went home. The resignation was not accepted as the Prime Minister had him accommodated in a similar level posting, elsewhere. With better judgment prevailing the Prime Minister's security was ensured on professional lines.

There can be no objection to the VVIP selecting officers on whose loyalty he can rely on. But to allow a fraternity among them and place implicit trust in them is suicide. There has to be professional vetting and objective monitoring of the security staff and those they associate. Lapses and misdoings and all information in regard to their conduct must be objectively verified by professionals and not considered subjectively. Such objective steps cannot be followed when the VVIP relies on personal trust and deals directly with matters concerning his security staff. This places the security men in a position overbearing professional supervision and paves the way for self-aggrandisement and holding sway over people in places that matter.

That power corrupts is a well known human failing. Corruption at times comes in disguised forms. Seemingly innocent businessmen befriend these officers and they know how to win them over. Next is, harmless favours. These harmless looking favours invariably have high stakes. Thenceforth it quietly extends to sordid enterprises and aspirations. I do not wish to elaborate more on this subject here but would cite for a lesson the disaster that befell S W R D Bandaranaike in the hands of Buddharakkitha Thero and group who were his trusted inner circle.

When 'loyalists' have formed a fraternity spreading their tentacles too wide, and matters concerning them are assessed subjectively, to whom can a genuine informer pass his information?

The principle of natural justice: 'Nemo judex in causa sua' (one cannot judge his own cause) comes into focus. A professional outfit to vet and monitor the PSD has become a very urgent necessity.