Unhappy over FCID progress
Sri Lanka’s controversial Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) received mixed reviews from the public in a joint new poll by the Business Times and Research Consultancy Bureau this week with one street critic saying the drama during arrests is “like a Tamil film in South India with a different script everyday”. The unnamed respondent said: “All actors belong to the same category. Same people come in and go out. We are the spectators. We are the fools. The whole country had become a joke.” He was responding to four questions in the now-respected BT-RCB polls, in this case examining the FCID and its performance; whether it should be disbanded and the perception of jail as accused persons seem to enjoy being led in handcuffs and locked up in remand jail (claiming to be political prisoners). With the Government completing its first term in office, the negative public perception of the
FCID from the poll was contrary to what the Government would have hoped. The poll was conducted by the BT on email and by the RCB through street interviews in Colombo and Galle. Interestingly, while both the polls reflected common positions, the question as to whether the FCID should be disbanded drew a totally opposite response. In the RCB poll, 61 per cent of the respondents ‘agreed’ that the FCID should be disbanded while the BT email response showed only 10 per cent agreeing while 77 per cent said the FCID should continue. The slow process in bringing the criminals to book was succicently explained by one RCB respondent who said: “It is the progress of the FCID that determines the future of this Government. What has it done so far? While the Prime Minister is systematically rounding up the culprits, by five years all the Rajapaksas’ would be rounded up (but that is also the time when the government’s term ends).”
The results of the polls are shown on page 1 graphic. While street respondents were clear in their answer to the first question as to whether the FCID was doing a good job with 64 per cent saying “no (disagree)”, BT respondents were mixed with 43 per cent saying “yes (agree)”, 33 per cent saying “no” and 23 per cent, undecided (unable to comment). Both polls were critical over the manner of arrests (trooped into court, showing off handcuffs, drama enacted outside with statements to the media, special benefits in jail, etc), with 60 per cent of street respondents saying this had caused a ‘negative’ impact while 82 per cent of BT respondents also said ‘negative’.
Strong comments emerged in the RCB street poll, among them being:
- The rogues are not taken in for the real crimes they have committed.
- The FCID should not be dissolved. We need an institution like this to maintain discipline in a country. Their activities should be further expanded but made more efficient. Although things do not materialise now, it will improve in the future.
- Both sides are corrupt. The side in power has the edge of benefits.
- The real scene will happen when the other side comes to power. We will be the spectators. We have no confidence in this system since no one will get a proper punishment. We get fooled every time.
- This idea (FCID) is good since it can bring out a real change in the country. Now they will fear to rob in the future.
- This is a joke. It serves no purpose and we have no confidence in it. Those who are taken in will return as ministers one day. It is like a tele drama. The JVP is playing a part in this.
- The FCID has helped to instill discipline. Rules are strong and in future robbers will think twice before rsorting to crime
- Only allegations against the opposition are investigated. What about (former Central Bank Governor) Arjuna Mahendran who has allegedly robbed millions. Why hasn’t his statement been recorded by the FCID?
