All police officers should be reminded of their responsibilities, says Presidential Commission

The Mahanama Tilakaratne Presidential Commission of Inquiry regarding abductions, disappearances and attacks on civilians resulting in death, set up in September, 2006, is due to expire in December 2009. The term of the Commission may be extended by the President.

Mahanama Tilakaratne

Earlier this year, the Commission issued a report that carried recommendations and observations relating to such abductions, disappearances and attacks on civilians.

Here are highlights from the report:

1. Police officers to whom complaints about abductions, disappearances and unexplained killings were made have been slow to act.
2. Persons who had disappeared for short periods and returned to normal life had failed to inform the police about their return.
3. Several people have been found to have “voluntarily” disappeared or given the police false information. Immediate legal action should be taken against those who have knowingly set the law in motion with false complaints.
4. Regardless of their social status or reputation, those believed to be behind abductions, disappearances and killings should be dealt with under the Rule of Law.
5. Article 12 (1) of the Constitution, which declares that “all persons are equal before the law and are entitled to the equal protection of the law”, must be strictly observed, safeguarded and respected,
6. Because of the notoriety attached to “white vans”, which are associated in the public mind with abductions, disappearances and attacks on civilians, white vans should be routinely checked by the police.
7. Regardless of their rank, all police officers should be reminded of what is expected of them when carrying out their official duties.
8. Senior police officers should keep close tabs on their subordinates and their work. Surveillance and guidance of subordinates is an essential part of police work.
9. Police officers should be rotated or allocated new duties daily to prevent them from building up relationships with suspected offenders. Besides abductions and disappearances, police also deal with drugs, the illegal transportation of cattle, and illicit business in timber, soil and sand.