Sunday Times 2
The good cop and the bad cop
Several articles, of late in the Sunday Times, have drawn attention to the plight of police officers due to politicisation.
In respect of empathising with serving police officers it behoves me to point out that they fall into two distinct categories. The first category consists of police officers who are compelled to carry out unlawful orders from politicians for their survival. It is this category yet consisting of a larger majority that one should empathise with. The second category consists of despicable police officers who are revelling in the politicised police force for their own benefit.
The main strategy of this second category is show of force. Show of force to suppress rights of others is the precursor to violence. It is the first aggression in violence. A new phenomenon has been observed in the show of force in recent times by the presence of police squads at scenes of violence. This was witnessed at Beruwela and at Fashion Bug, Pepiliyana where even Buddhist priests were seen going on the rampage undeterred by Police presence. The show of force in these instances was in effect against any retaliation by the victims, and in like effect protection for the assailants. The overall effect was convoluted protection.
Show of force is not only resorted to for political ends by this second category of police officers. Many are instances when this strategy is resorted to for commercial advantages too. Being hand-in-glove with corrupt politicians, narcotic peddlers, gambling magnates, sky is their limit. Missions undertaken by this category have even led to contract killings. It was a well-known fact that the head of the President’s Security Division (PSD) during the tenure of President Kumaratunga, intervened with show of force at tenders for leasing state land and auctions of state vehicles, to keep down other bidders. Whenever investigations were initiated on complaints against the conduct of this officer, President Kumaratunga is alleged to have interfered and the investigations were called off.
During this period I had occasion to talk to other PSD officers and suggested that the President be made aware of this officer’s activities that bring discredit to the PSD and also to the President. The explanation was that he was the confidant of the President and he knew too much of the President’s activities.
Emboldened by the political protection of President Kumaratunga in his nefarious activities, this same police officer obstructed the Hanguranketha Police when they detected a group of people in a vehicle with unlawful automatic weapons during the November 2001 Parliamentary Elections. In the course of investigations it had transpired that some PSD officers were in this group. Head of the PSD had obstructed the Hanguranketha Police and released the suspects and unlawful weapons. He was charged for obstruction of Police in the lawful performance of duties in High Courts, Kandy and after much haggling was convicted in 2010 and sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment. His appeal was turned down with sentence being suspended. While this case was pending against him, this same officer figured in another case of obstructing the Police in 2004. This time it was the Mirihana Police which had taken to custody the notorious criminal Baddegana Sanjeewa with several other criminals. The Head of the PSD had obstructed the Mirihana Police and released the criminals. He was charged in this case too and in 2011 convicted and sentenced to two years RI suspended for ten years. He is now languishing at home, spending his suspended sentences. This is only a case-study of one police officer of the second category and a few of his escapades. Many others are holding forth even today though not as blatantly.
Prior to the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, there was a vestige of hope for justice through courts. Now with the 18th amendment in force what hope do we have even through the courts? Your guess is as good as mine.
Recently we read in the media of a Senior DIG who has figured in many a controversial issue. He is on extension of service, having had the audacity to boast to a sitting magistrate in open courts about his political popularity, stating that he can easily win a parliamentary seat!! Oh tempora, Oh mores!!
(The writer is a Rtd. Senior Superintendent of Police)