The June 30 Sunday Times news items under the heading "Crime Shame of Lanka" must have sent shock waves down the spines of many a peace-loving Sri Lankan. The article reveals the latest Police statistics that at least three people are murdered every day, that a rape takes place every other day, in addition to at least seven big robberies each day. These statistics obviously garnered from reported incidents of crime in the country, even judged by Chicago standards, are staggering, if not absolutely mind-boggling. To allay any complacency the reader might entertain the said article underlines the fact that these figures exclude the criminal acts in the north and the east.
The cogency of the argument that criminalization enveloping the Sri Lankan society is primarily due to the lenient punishment given to criminals and their accomplices, is more than reflected in the above police crime statistics. A good example to prove this point is the convincingly low crime rate in the Arab States where punishments meted out to criminals is extremely severe. Arguments have been advanced that miscarriage of justice could lead to the innocent being victimized at the hangman's noose. Such a possibility, in the context of the vast strides made in the field of crime detection, with DNA tests to boot, is indeed remote. Punishments such as whipping, incarceration sans parole and above all the strict implementation of capital punishment will, I have no doubt, help to stem the high tide of crime in the country.
Today, families are being wiped out without batting an eyelid and with absolute impunity. Rape of innocent children as small as four years, incestuous rape, organized crime and contract killings are on a steady gallop. I believe that the argument is sound if one underlines the fact that the courage behind such dastardly and heinous crimes is the easy accessibility to drugs. Sometimes, it is unimaginable why certain members of the judiciary are prone to pronounce relatively lenient sentences on murderers. When a murderer who has been sentenced to seven or eight years in prison becomes entitled to parole on National Days and religious festivals, such reduced imprisonment for murder would seem a mockery.
The evidence led in the Batalanda, Athulathmudali and Kobbekaduwa assassination commissions unravels the mysteries behind the mind-boggling murders and mayhem that had been committed and their attendant ramifications leading to abduction, torture etc. It will be both interesting and enlightening for the reader to conclude if the alarming crime statistics in the country today compares favourably or not with the period under reference. However, comparisons are odious although the entire nation should bow their heads in shame that this thrice blessed land which is also called a "Dharmadweepa" should be bathed with the crimson hues of human blood. It happened yesterday and it continues to happen today with murderous gangs hacking persons to death in broad daylight before the very eyes of dumb-struck onlookers.
Can we say that the official attitude to all this carnage in the country is one of apathy and nonchalance? The Police apparently have their hands full with the spectre of terrorism threatening to unsettle what is left of the law and order in the country...The greatest obstacle the long arm of the law faces today in apprehending the criminals, is the reluctance on the part of eye witnesses to offer assistance in their investigations for the fear of the dangerous circumstances to follow. But then, the stark fact is that every citizen in this country has the right to be protected and live in peace and it is the unfailing duty of the Police to provide such protection. Towards achieving this all important requirement, the Government should enroll thousands more to the Police services, control the drug menace effectively, introduce whipping to mete out punishment, abolish parole to convicted murderers and drug barons and above all implement capital punishment in the strict sense of the word.
Ironically, most of the cases of incestuous and child rape emerge from the villages and the robberies and murders too bear a rural connection in a big way. It is unbelievable but, all the same true. The villager who had been considered as the repository of high moral values, if not a model of supreme excellence, has plunged to a paradigm of profanity and moral decadence. What then are the causes behind this unwholesome metamorphosis? As I had mentioned earlier in this article the intake of drugs that transforms man into a brutish animal, contributes to the commission of crimes in a conspicuous way. What about the noble teachings in Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam? All the well-meant discourses by the clergy of all the religious denominations have obviously failed to have a salutary effect on the minds of man. Religious teachings aimed to mould the character of humans have apparently been jettisoned overboard. So the clergy too in a way must take a fair share of the blame for the evils in the social fabric of this once-peaceful country, where Satan has been left to rule with a vengeance as never before. It is a good idea to make attending Sunday School compulsory where the young mind could be made receptive to assimilate the quintessence of all religious teachings.
Finally, it ought to be a multi-pronged attack against crime-drug eradication, capital punishment, deterrent punishment without parole backed by an active and ardent religious transfusion.
"Why should she receive so much attention? Surely there are numerous beautiful women in Sri Lanka too." This remark was made by someone who disapproved of the attention that was showered on Miss World '96 during her recent visit to Sri Lanka.
This cynical attitude is somewhat akin to the attitude displayed by a street-loafer who claimed that he would have qualified as a surgeon had he taken the trouble to pursue a medical career. In a review of life in the twilight years, only achievements matter and not mere supposition as a basis for reasoning.
Doubtless there are women in Sri Lanka more beautiful than Miss Jacqueline Aguilera, but only Ms. Rosy Senanayake has proven excellence internationally. Her successes at the Miss Asia and Mrs. World beauty pageants brought much credit to Sri Lanka. We should be gracious enough to give credit where credit is due. The sponsors of Miss Aguilera's visit to Sri Lanka and the Wijeya Group of Newspapers for providing wide publicity, deserve bouquets for appreciating her achievement in winning the coveted title - "Miss World."
Most importantly, everyone should appreciate the fact that the Miss World beauty pageants have raised over US$150 million worldwide to assist under-privileged children under the motto, "Beauty with a purpose." It takes a truly outstanding person with proven excellence and a benevolent attitude to ensure that the necessary publicity is provided to foster a noble cause.
I had already finalised all plans along with my wife and two school-going daughters to visit my brother and two sisters living in Canada when, my brother says "Hey, I have plans to drive you people over to the USA." He says that he has a holiday bungalow at his disposal over there and so we could spend a few days. My sister also chips in saying that she too had made plans to drive us across to see the "Niagara Falls' and so "come prepared" she says.
This meant that I had to obtain Visas for the USA and so, armed with all the travel documents which included valid Canadian and Swiss Visas (we were also spending a few days in Switzerland en-route with a friend) I and my wife went to the US Embassy, Colombo 3. This was on July 10, at about 9.15 in the morning. After about two and a half hours of agony, standing outside on the pavement all the time, we were ushered into the vast precincts of the Embassy. The Sri Lankan lady inside officiously warns me that I should have brought my daughters along otherwise my application will not be entertained. I told her that I don't see any reason for this as I am their legal guardian. She thereafter went inside and brought alone an American official, who very adamantly, told me the same thing. I told him that I and my wife have stood outside on the pavement for two and a half hours just to get inside this place and does he expect me to bring along my daughters and allow them to suffer the same agony? I didn't go there to get any handouts. From his set answers it was apparent that he had already decided that he was never going to listen to my reasoning. I told him that there is no way that I am going to subject my precious daughters to this type of humiliation and walked out of there.
The Canadian and Swiss Embassies made no such unreasonable demands from me, proving to me that they took each case on its own merits unlike at the American Embassy who, to them en-bloc all Sri Lankans are considered rogues unless otherwise proved to them and their snobbish officials. In this country, Americans are treated like Kings by most Sri Lankans and in return this is how they treat us.
We are exposed to a lot of American culture through the local TV stations and I find my children being influenced by this. For me, from today there is going to be a change. Every opportunity I get, I will tell my children that everything American does not have to be good. M.A.S.H. is no more going to be my favourite TV programme where, all the officials in the American Embassy in Sri Lanka try to emulate the pompous Major Winchester.
Today, 'Uncle Sam' has lost a friend in me and he can bet his last Dollar that, the day he falls from his pedestal there will be one more person laughing.
If ever our country has to move forward and restore true democracy, peace, harmony and bring about economic advancement in the country, and make it a real paradise in the South Asian Region, discipline should be the key word and enforced rigidly.
When we talk of discipline, this has to come from the top (President) down the line to all administrators of the country. We have learnt a lot in our past experience where discipline was a mere word, turned twisted and tuned to the whims and pleasures of the politicians in power, interfering and meddling in the
day to day work of Government Agencies, particularly the Police Department who are the custodians of Law and Order. Their paramount duty is maintaining the Rule of Law in the country.
Last year the President, addressing Senior Police Officers had this to say "I need not remind you that before the Law every citizen is equal". Further she said. "Do not bend forwards and backwards to anybody in power not even to the President or Prime Minister, when you could decide accordingly to rules, regulations and the Law. Do what is right and just by all the people, whatever position they hold".
Indeed these are meaningful words. What happens really? Recently, according to the print media Police Officers whilst performing their duty at Negombo and Kosgama were transferred without any inquiry to other Police Stations due to pressure from the local politicians. Under these circumstances could you expect any Government Officer to perform his duties honestly and diligently?
Discipline in our country has broken down. The wrongdoer is not punished according to the laws of the country, but encouraged and given promotions etc.
Politicians should not be involved in recommending appointments for Government jobs. The best person should be selected after a competitive examination.
It is sad to say, but true Sri Lanka (Ceylon) was well head of many countries in the South Asian Region immediately after World War II. Even countries like Singapore were far behind in nation building. We should shamefully ask ourselves what really happened? Politicians elected to Parliament were involved in corruption, bribery and nepotism.
We talk of the Private Sector as the engine of growth. What is the reason? Discipline is rigidly enforced in the Private Sector from the Chairman/Managing Director to the lowest paid employee.
It is not late. We can make Sri Lanka better than Singapore, if we make a firm determination and our politicians could observe these few great sayings:
i. To thine ownself be true.
ii. Give strength where there is weakness.
iii. The hand that gives gathers.
iv. Ingratitude is an unpardonable crime in society.
v. We must leave this world better than it was found since we are only passengers in the planet.
The intention of pointing out the double stand of the PA Government is not with an idea of ridiculing it, but to enable it to mend its ways, as the people are waiting for the goods to be delivered, as promised during the last General Election.
The people have given a clear mandate to implement the PA Government Policy of restoring true democracy, peace and harmony and bring economic advancement for a better quality of life.
The need of the hour is to act above party politics as a statesman/stateswoman.
The letter by Ms. Muthu Krishna in The Sunday Times Plus of July 14 under the heading 'Will they never learn?' is worthy of comment.
As a matter of fact Ms. Muthu Krishna is absolutely right when she says that the authorities seem to be confusing 'Race' with 'Nationality.' I for one, do not have the foggiest idea why it is so important for the state to find out the 'Race' of an individual when there is seemingly no purpose served by it. The only purposes may be to discriminate against minorities or to earmark the strongholds of the various ethnic groups, which may come in handy during a civil commotion, as in July, 1983.
As a Sinhalese, I find this to be a deplorable practice. I have never come across such a practice in any of the other countries that I have visited. Countries like Malaysia and Singapore do not require their citizens to state their 'Race' on any of the official forms. These are countries that were less developed than this so-called 'Island Paradise' of ours, not so long ago. However, two words that are alien to us Sri Lankans, especially us Sinhalese, namely, patriotism and unity have spurred these two countries on, and now they are well ahead of us.
If the state is so interested in the race of a citizen, let me point out that most of the so-called Sinhalese of today are a racial or ethnic pot-pourri of Portuguese, Dutch, British, Sinhala and Tamil blood.
Sadly, I do not foresee any changes in the outlook of the state or our people; the same prejudices will continue. Each successive Government picks up the threads from where the previous one left them.
Malik de Silva
Colombo 5
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