Sunday Times 2
Crime and cost of living race for the moon; government leaders play politics
An increasing crime rate has brought the police force to the lime light. Seen here a policeman photographing the crime scene where a supporter attending one of Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake's election rallies was shot and killed in the run up to the general election. Pic Nilan Maligaspe
Crime and lawlessness on the one hand and cost of living on the other hand, are racing for the moon while government leaders are busy fiddling in political games while burning questions go unattended. Yahapalanaya promises of the Government are centered on containing crime and lowering the cost of living. But these two promises have been cast into the limbo of forgotten things and government leaders are hell bent trying to consolidate themselves with political power.
President Maithripala Sirisena who was voted into power with the people’s victory over the corrupt Rajapaksa regime in order to usher in good governance and free the country of crime, corruption and nepotism, is too busy consolidating his political power in methods not very scrupulous and there are no visible signs of ushering in the promised relief under good governance.
Much was expected from the Constitutional Council (CC) and the Independent Commissions. But what have they delivered? Has the CC nominated fit and proper persons to the National Independent Commissions or have square pegs been put in round holes.
May I illustrate the importance of selecting the right man for the job with a case- study: Over twelve years ago the mental hospital at Angoda was a hell hole. Complaints of attendants assaulting patients were galore. It was most unclean, with filth strewn all over the place, and teeming with flies. Miss. Celia Jayewardene, who has the experience of having worked in the Probation Department and is a retired teacher, is a frequent visitor to patients at the mental hospital. She has observed a tremendous change in this hospital: “No more complaints of assault, the attendants treat patients with love, and the attendants themselves look a contented lot as against the ruffian looks they bore earlier. The place is as clean as any clean Government hospital.” The trick? Earlier administrators were non-medical officers. During the past twelve years or so, it has been a medical officer who is a psychiatrist, Dr. Jayan Mendis, who is the administrator. His appointment was before the Constitutional Council and National Commissions came into being.
In comparison I would take the Police Force. The Police Force is one of the most important if not the most important segment in the criminal justice system. Take the National Police Commission (NPC) nominated by the CC. The Chairman of the NPC is yet to clarify who is responsible and accountable for the Police function, in spite of repeated enquiries about it. It appears that he is himself not sure about it. In the meanwhile the Secretary to the NPC makes howlers in the media not knowing the difference between a fact finding mission and an investigation under the Criminal Procedure Code. In the meanwhile a killing spree and gang warfare is going on regardless of the Police.
In the recent hit-and-run accident of a jeep on February 28 in Rajagiriya where two persons on a motor cycle were injured, and Minister Champika Ranawaka’s name was implicated raising a hue and cry, Senior DIG Pujitha Jayasundera answering a media question, was reported saying that investigations will be held against the Minister if a complaint is made . What a bloomer! Here is a hit-and-run accident where two persons are injured. A basic step in the investigation is to fix the identity of the person who drove the jeep at the time of the accident, be it a minister or anyone else. In this case the Minister’s name was implicated and someone else had owned up to be the driver. Why were these persons not shown to the witnesses, at an identification parade if need be, without affording time to the culprit to interfere in the investigation?
The order of the additional Magistrate Colombo on 9 March to record the statement of Minister Ranawaka, and to arrest suspects if any – without seeking court approval, is an indictment against the Senior DIG.
Among the powers of the NPC is disciplinary control. Should not the NPC serve charges against the Senior DIG for Neglect of Duty and Cowardice under the Police Disciplinary Code?
(The writer is a retired Senior Superintendent of Police.)