Civilians
should support Police
By Asif Fuard
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IGP Chandra Fernando |
Chandra Fernando, Inspector General of Police
said, cases of unresolved crime in Sri Lanka were less than those
of other countries, and better investigations were being carried
out, than in some developed countries.
Mr. Fernando in an interview with The Sunday Times
said, "In any country there is a certain amount of unsolved
crimes. When you compare Sri Lanka with other countries we are a
bit better because our unsolved crime rate is 35% to 40% while other
countries have an unsolved crime rate of 55% to 60%."
"Even in the United Kingdom (UK), they have
a large number of unsolved crimes. Our investigations are better.
This is because the people there use insurance,” he said.
Excerpts
Q: There has been an increase in abductions and crime in
recent months. How would you describe the country's security situation
in terms of crime?
A. Crime cannot be categorised
according to statistics. There may be a thousand crimes committed
but people in the community tolerate it, so there is no fear to
offend. Of which only one crime in the community will come to the
limelight out of a thousand. Crime takes place on how the community
feels for crime. Basically depending on the fear of crime, criminals
offend. So this means a greater part of crime is tolerated.
Q:At the moment what is the police department's
greatest challenge when it comes to preventing crime?
A. Well, one cannot categorise
what the department's biggest challenge is. From an operational
point of view it is mainly petty crimes such as pickpockets, thefts,
burglaries and other petty crimes. This is a menace to our community.
Another big challenge the police face is narcotics and the brewing
of illicit liquor.
Q:Since you mentioned several challenges
and not one, what is the police doing to overcome these obstacles?
A. We have organised a programme
called "operation clean up". It started from Colombo and
now we are carrying this out throughout the island. We have conducted
raids and have been taking measures to prevent crime.
Q: How would you describe the security
situation in Colombo and areas close to Colombo since there was
a claymore mine attack in Welisara this week?
A. We are taking all precautionary
measures. There is no question about it. The police as well as the
security forces are on patrol constantly. Colombo or the Western
Province is a large area, the community also has to bear a certain
amount of responsibility.
Nothing can be done without the knowledge of the
community. In the case of the Welisara incident somebody had to
place the claymore mine. You mean to say there were no witnesses
to it? Someone must have seen it being brought, but would not have
thought it was a claymore mine.
The time has come for the community to be alert
in this context and make it a point to inform the police of any
suspicious activities. In this manner civilians should support the
police.
Q:There have been a few major attacks
during the past couple of months in Colombo, do you see an increase
in LTTE activity in Colombo?
A. Right now we are facing a
conflict situation. The LTTE has been fighting a war in the northern
area of the country. In the Eastern province they are fighting a
guerrilla war while in other parts of the country it is involved
in target hitting. When I say target hitting I mean economic targets,
political targets and also by way of vengeance.
In the meantime they have also marked civilian
targets and the LTTE can strike anytime. We must not leave room
for that. Society has a social obligation to report any suspicious
activities and the LTTE has a tendency of using members of the public
to leave parcels in areas or use them to transport such parcels.
The public must think twice before falling prey to the LTTE.
Q:With regard to the April 25 suicide
bomb attack, at the Army Headquarters has the police made any breakthrough
?
A. The investigations into the
Army Headquarter attack are progressing well. It is only a matter
of time for the police to make a breakthrough. We are also using
the latest technology to uncover details of the blast. We are using
forensic technology to uncover certain clues in the case.
Q:Is this the first time, that forensic
technology is being used by the police department?
A. No, we have used it before
on a few occasions, including Kadirgamar's assassination, Sarath
Abeypitiya's murder and the Katunayake airport attack. But in this
instance we have gone into detail to uncover the truth behind it.
Q: Regarding the Army Headquarters bombing,
have you taken anyone into custody or at least identified suspects
who could have been involved?
A.That's what I said earlier.
It is just a matter of time for us to make a breakthrough. We have
identified a few suspects.
Q:What is happening
to the investigation into the assassination of Foreign Minister
Lakshman Kadirgamar?
A.
We are progressing well in this probe too, and the main culprits
are taking cover in Killinochchi, but all the other suspects have
been arrested. We have arrested around seven or eight suspects who
are a part of the conspiracy in this case. Prabhakaran is also another
person responsible.
Q: Regarding the Kayts massacre of
13 civilians you told me earlier that the CID had compiled a report
and found evidence pointing to LTTE involvement.What was this evidence?
A. A few days before the
massacre, the LTTE's civilian movement Makkal Paddai, came to the
island of Kayts and distributed leaflets for the area people to
close their shops. Some people obeyed, while a few others didn't.
On the following day the LTTE came and burnt those shops that were
kept open. It was the navy who came and dowsed the fire. There are
people who came and gave evidence regarding this.
Q: But what about the killings?
A. The LTTE was present
in the locality the night the houses were burnt.
Q: Was there any involvement of EPDP
cadres in the massacre?
A. We have not found any
evidence linking EPDP cadres. We are doing an in-depth inquiry into
the killings. We are trying to find out the background of the people
who were killed. We are trying to find out whether they had any
EPDP or any LTTE connection.
Q:Regarding the Kayts massacre didn't
Magistrate Jeyaram Trotsky say that the CID could not conclude that
the LTTE was involved until more evidence was found? So how can
the CID come to this conclusion?
A.
We have not said anything definite regarding the killings, but we
are positive that the dowsing of fire was done by the navy. The
people in their statements said that the LTTE had distributed leaflets.
What happens is that the LTTE does not come in uniform but dressed
in civils, so even if they throw a grenade they are still civilians.
When he is armed he is a guerrilla, when he is not armed he is considered
an ordinary civilian.
The Magistrate took the statements in Tamil.
The evidence was taken by the State Counsel. So there are three
institutions that are involved in this investigation the Judiciary,
the AG's department and the police. So you can't hide anything in
this case.
Q: What happened into the investigation
on the Udayan newspaper attack in Jaffna?
A. We arrested a few people
and had an identification parade, but the Udayan staff that were
present at the parade said those were not the culprits, as such
they were released.
Q: The headless corpse found in Avissawella
remained a mystery. Have the police found anything regarding this?
A. It still remains a mystery.
We haven't been able to determine who was behind this. Also no one
has come forward to give any details.
Q: After the increase in fines has
there been a decrease in the number of traffic offences reported
to the police?
A.
The present increase in fines,
has acted as a deterrent and the offences have decreased.
Q: With an increase in fines for
traffic offences the public complains that there have been an increase
in policemen taking bribes, what can you tell me about this?
A. The point is that the
public should not encourage it. They should demand for their rights.
After committing an offence to get out of the situation they offer
money and subsequently they claim that the police are corrupt. They
should abide by the law which would also prevent the police from
taking bribes.
Q: How do you plan to combat bribes
and other types of police corruption?
A. Regarding corruption
I have set up a new special investigations unit which comes under
the Inspector General of Police. All the ranges now have Special
Investigations Units when it comes to combating police corruption.
Q: What is the position of the police
when it comes to disciplinary inquiry of police officers?
A.Disciplinary matters and
the preliminary inquiries into the interdictions come under me.
The Police Commission has devolved a few powers to the IGP such
as dismissals.
Q: Amnesty International has brought
out allegations against the Sri Lanka police that the number of
unsolved crimes surpasses the amount of crimes that have been solved.
What can you tell me about this?
A. In any country there is a certain
amount of unsolved crimes. When you compare Sri Lanka with other
countries our image is better because our unsolved crime rate is
35% to 40% while other countries have an unsolved crime rate of
55% to 60%. Even in the United Kingdom they have a large number
of unsolved crimes. Our investigations are better than in the UK.
This is because people use insurance. When a crime takes place the
insurance pays the compensation. So the police don't have to conduct
an in- depth inquiry. Here our people are pushed to do an in depth
inquiry.
When it comes to murder we are ahead of
most countries. Terrorism is the biggest drawback facing the police.
The reason for this is because there are limitations within which
the police can operate.
Q:With regard to the murder of Inspector
Douglas Nimal have the police identified any suspects?
A. The CID is handling
the investigation, I know they will make a breakthrough.
Q: Is there any involvement of the
police in the Inspector's murder as it has been reported that he
had problems with the CCD who framed him on charges of drug trafficking
but was later discharged, as the CCD had no evidence?
A. If there is a police
connection the investigators will know, this is not the first time.
In the Gerard Mervyn Perera case the police were arrested. We are
not lenient with delinquent police officers. If they are responsible
they will be arrested.
Everybody said that Wambotta had been killed
by the police. Those who talked then are now silent. The public
must help the police to get at the truth
Q: But regarding IP Douglas Nimal's
case where police officers were framed, don't you think the credibility
of the police took a downward spiral since there was no base in
the arrest?
A. I don't know the exact
details of the case, when a name is mentioned what are we to do?
We were very fair by everybody. We investigated the matter. If an
ordinary person's name comes up we go and arrest that person, but
we sought evidence in which the CCD acted.
Q:What steps have the police taken
to recruit more personnel?
A. From 2002 to 2005 police
recruitment was not carried out because there was no money to recruit
personnel. But now recruitment is being done and we already have
65,000 police men and women.
Q: What measures have you taken to
modernise the police department?
A. During the last two years we introduced a few of the
latest technologies. We are now conducting forensic investigations
that do DNA testing. We have trained our police officers to handle
criminal investigations.
There are 36 laboratories in police stations
that have been set up for investigating crime. We also hope to cover
the entire Colombo city with every junction being under CCTV cameras.
These cameras will be monitored by the Police Emergency unit.
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