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Crime bomb
What’s behind the overwhelming wave of rising crime? Kumudini Hettiarachchi reports

A nation terrified, reeling under an overwhelming wave of rising crime. Murder, rape, abductions, contract killings and mayhem, not sparing any class of society -- be it the high, the middle or the low.

A gold chain is snatched as dusk falls, not before the young woman wearing it is stabbed to death. Thugs dressed like gentlemen roam around in trishaws targeting the homes of elderly couples in broad daylight. A schoolgirl walking home after classes is gang-raped and brutally murdered. A pensioner, his son and daughter are slashed to death allegedly over a land dispute. The list goes on.

What has caused this massive surge of violence in our country? The general consensus is that it has been building up over a period of time and reached a peak recently.

"There are many contributory factors," stresses criminologist Prof. Nandasena Ratnapala. "There is no immediate reaction from law enforcement officers as soon as a crime is committed and the sentencing too does not take place soon. When it does it is seen as very lenient. There should be no great time-gap between the time the crime is committed and the criminals are brought to book. There is no deterrent."

This veteran sociologist who has studied human behaviour for a long time feels that people have the notion that they can get away with crime. "A majority of the people are disgusted with the fact that the law does not take its course. There is also political interference in the law, making matters worse. A situation has arisen where people are not even motivated to report crime or give evidence for fear of threats," says Prof. Ratnapala. Yes, there is a hesitancy on the part of the public to come forward and give evidence, agrees Colombo Crime Division Director, SSP Sarath Lugoda who has got kudos for the recent busting of the infamous Walasmulla gang which is believed to have been responsible for as many as 10 or more murders and 14 armed robberies.

Assuring that the police are working out a special strategy to restrict the movements and arrest underworld gangsters he says, "We have identified 14 main underworld gangs and are taking serious steps to control them."

SSP Lugoda attributes the high crime rate to the general degeneration of values in the country. "There is a lot of money power around. So people are tempted to have a good life, like the one enjoyed by the wealthy. But for most Sri Lankans, this life of going out every night, gambling at casinos and running around in posh vehicles is beyond their means. The big-time criminals are attempting to lead this kind of life, not by earning money from normal jobs but by resorting to crime. There are also army deserters who have received a training in handling arms who are always a part of these gangs."

Petty crime is a different thing and maybe connected to the high cost of living, he adds.

This view is echoed by Colombo University's Professor of Sociology, S. Hettige. "The socio-economic situation in Sri Lanka within the last 20 years has created a serious problem. There is a sense of helplessness among many groups. Lots of things such as education and health are supposed to be free, but are they really free," queries Prof. Hettige.

"The gap between the rich and poor has widened and people are exposed to advertising creating all kinds of aspirations. There are new wants, but their incomes cannot meet them. In Sri Lanka, 60 percent earn less than Rs. 10,000 and if one has a family it is virtually impossible to survive, while meeting needs such as education, health, food and transport costs. Their salaries are static or frozen. So they are under enormous pressure and resort to certain tactics to earn a little bit more. Minor employees in the state sector don't work at their jobs but take leave and go out to find that extra money. Most middle class workers do two jobs. But many people are not geared for such a life because two-thirds have no permanent jobs. They are causal labourers, pavement workers or crop-growers."

In this scenario, he urges us to take the case of a land dispute between two neighbours. "The institutions are not performing their duties. Cases go on for 20-30 years. Once embroiled in a case, there is no escape. People then get desperate and can easily be provoked to take the law into their own hands or take drastic action like getting criminals involved. Even in other spheres a minor matter like getting a licence needs influence or a bribe."

The common man is frustrated and under a lot of pressure. The future is bleak for him. The political system is corrupt. Promises of cutting down the Cabinet and thereby the expense of extra vehicles etc., are broken by successive governments. There is no contribution on the part of the government to development or human needs, Prof. Hettige explains.

"The country is not only domestically but also internationally indebted. There is nothing in the kitty. US$ 1 billion comes in as foreign loans, US$ 1.2 billion comes in as earnings by migrant workers from the Middle East and the balance from the free trade zone where our people slave to earn a living. But we cannot be happy with any of these. These are serious problems with no choices. Given this position, the government is not able to invest in the social sector and relieve the frustration of the people. That is the real picture. Issues such as law-enforcement and legal reforms are also contributory factors," he says adding that the solution is to identify them clearly and carry out a policy analysis to right the wrongs. "What we now have as policy impinges on the lives of the people."

Another police officer who wished to remain anonymous conceded there was political interference, though not as much as before, as well as lethargy on the part of some police personnel in solving crime. Agreeing that all sectors of the criminal justice system such as the police, judiciary, Attorney-General's Department and prison officials should work together, SSP Lugoda says that links are being strengthened. He also dispels the public's fear by reiterating that under the guidance of the IGP and the DIG (Crime) strategies are being worked out to deal with the underworld. "What the police need to do is be one step ahead of the thinking of these high-level criminals."

The man, woman and child in this country do need strong reassurance about their safety by all the authorities concerned with law enforcement. If people are afraid to walk on the street because of crime or are paranoid that armed men will break into their homes, making them victims in what should be their havens, the authorities do need to get their act together.

"We don't have weapons and cannot afford to keep security guards in our homes. We cannot send our children out. Though law-abiding, we feel so vulnerable," is the fearful lament of many people The Sunday Times spoke to.

Therefore, the bounden duty of the government is not only to ensure law, order and security but also build up confidence among the people that they are not at the wrong end of the sword or the gun wielded by criminals.
(Next: Crimes against children)

Cracking down
A comprehensive plan to prevent crime is now being implemented all over the country. Already, committees with good citizens have been set up at grama sevaka level to work with police, says DIG (Crimes and Criminal Intellig-ence) Sirisena Herath.

Within the last two months, the IGP has also summoned senior police officers from the Southern and Western Provinces and asked them to devise action plans for crime prevention, after studying their respective areas. The other provinces will follow, he said. "Normally top-level police officers meet once a fortnight for discussions and now crime is one of the priorities."

The photographs of underworld criminals will also be published in the Police Gazette and rewards offered for information on them, he said, adding that the setting up of the Colombo Crime Division has helped much in the crackdown.

Each month the police put up about 2,000 heroin cases, 18,000 kasippu cases, 50-60 weapons seizures and about 400 with regard to army deserters, according to the DIG who contends that most problems are caused by unruly elements among the 12,000 deserters scattered across the country.

Hang them, says the public
Bring back the death penalty, was the plea of a majority of the men and women who were sounded out by The Sunday Times when researching this crime story. Office-workers, pavement hawkers, housewives and teachers, professionals and trishaw drivers were vehement in their call for the reintroduction of the hangman's noose, citing the horrendous triple murder in Dehiwela, the Hokandara massacre and other cases such as Rita John and the rapes of schoolchildren.

It is a must for grievous crime such as premeditated murder, contract killings and rape, the public says. Even a majority of the Letters to the Editor on this subject reflect this view. Venturing a personal opinion, Colombo Crime Division Director SSP Lugoda says the imposition of the death penalty, in cases where it can be proved beyond reasonable doubt that someone has committed a horrendous murder, will act as a deterrent to others.

Given below is a poll conducted between February 20 and March 3, 2003 in all provinces in the country except the north and the east by Survey Research Lanka Pvt. Ltd. A total of 900 males (main earners) and 1,000 females (nearly 90% of whom were housewives) had been selected at random for the purpose of the poll.

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