Sunday Times 2
Scapegoating police: It’s time to say no to politicians
With the battle for Uva hotting up day by day, the violence escalating from abuse, attack, damage to properties up to the level of shooting, one can expect a worse scenario within the next few days, up to the day of polls and after.
It is regretted that the perpetrators of violence are not only from the ruling party but also from the opposition party. However, independent election monitors have made clear that UPFA candidates are violating the election laws to the letter. The police have been mere onlookers. By being onlookers what do the police gain? All round condemnation, laughably from the ruling party ministers. The Elections Commissioner, independent election monitors, opposition politicians and the members of the public all pointing their fingers at the inaction of the Police. It is understandable that the opposition parties accuse police officers of being mere puppets and not enforcing the law effectively. The Elections Commissioner who has all the powers to take action against violators of the election law is also blaming the police. It is reported that he has gone to Moneragala and urged the police to enforce the law and act fearlessly against the perpetrators. The police spokesman who appears on the TV regularly promises that action will be taken and teams of officers have been deployed to investigate the complaints of election law violations in the Uva.
It is largely the government supporters who are engaged in violating election laws, attacks on opposition candidates, bribery and corruption in the Uva to win over the voters. But the Government, instead of taking action against its supporters, is passing the buck to the police for every misdeed and violation committed by the ruling party members.
Should the police continue to be silent and receive brickbats? The police had acted independently and will act independently provided they are given a free hand to act according to the law instead of the political shackles and interference, which have degraded the Police Department from sublime to decline.
It may be recalled that the Police under the National Police Commission conducted themselves creditably well during election time by not allowing any misdeeds, impersonations and hijacking of ballot boxes in spite of attempts made by ruling party supporters and henchmen.
The IGP and senior police officers need not be subservient. They should not draw condemnation from politicians who themselves have manacled the Police in the past so many years. It is time that the IGP and the senior officers declined to carry out any illegal orders and performed their duties according to the law of the land irrespective of any consequences. It is the law of the land which governs you and not the law of the politicians. Stand up to the politicians who make you to overlook criminal acts committed by their party members. You have done creditably well in solving many crimes where there was no political interference. Wherever there is political interference you have been prevented from apprehending the culprits. The public expects you to maintain law and order, not according to the dictates of the politicians, but according to the law of the land.
Act without fear. You will not get brickbats from the public, but bouquets. The people expect you to maintain law and order, and they have been waiting too long.
(The writer is a retired Deputy Inspector General)