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The police and crime-busting

The news that two security officers attached to a provincial branch of the People's Bank were killed in cold blood by thieves while the former were discharging their duties, compels us to refocus on the country's rising crime wave.

The tragedy occurred at the Giribawa branch of the People's Bank in the early hours of Monday morning. The thieves had ransacked the bank building for the safe of the bank but were interrupted by the security officers in their search. Naked violence was unleashed on the security personnel when the latter attempted to apprehend the thieves.

If an honest analysis is to be made of the crime wave, it should be admitted that any single government could not be held responsible for it although it falls to the lot of the present government to declare an all out war on crime and to spare no pains to bring the problem under control. Crime is the cumulative outcome of a number of factors, including the failure of successive governments and their agencies, down the decades, to enforce the law and render inviolable the Rule of Law. In the latter tasks, most governments of recent times, failed the people. On this score, therefore, no political party which has had a hand in governance could afford to adopt what is called, a holier-than-thou attitude.

Nevertheless, fresh efforts need to be made on an urgent basis to stem the crime rot. The Government could begin by truly enthroning the Rule of Law. We believe that the current lawlessness has its roots in continually failed attempts to enforce the Rule of Law. It is gladdening to note, however, that a concerted attempt is being made to bring into being the series of Independent Commissions which were once promised us.

The Police Department and other important law enforcement agencies of the State not only need to be independent but should also be manned by competent and professional personnel for whom duty would come first. That the due process of law should be attached primacy is also an important public concern. Many a crime went 'unsolved' and many an injustice went unrectified because the due process of law went unobserved.

Now that the pressures on the military authorities are decreasing on account of the peace process, much thought should be given to ways and means of rehabilitating army deserters. It is common knowledge that these deserters account for many of the violent crimes which are being committed. If these deserters are incorporated into a settled way of life, their inclination for crime could be dented.

It is also clear that proliferating small arms are an important factor in crime. The Government needs to revive its effort to round up these arms and bring to book those who are in possession of them.

Besides, since the availability of small arms is almost an international problem, cooperative efforts among states are needed to contain the crisis. Perhaps, Lanka could join hands with other SAARC countries, as an initial step, to address and tackle this problem of increasing small arms.

The police, we are compelled to observe, also needs to build better relations with the public. An increasing confidence among the public, that their complaints are being probed by the police is bound to lead to better police-public relations. This would help in incorporating the support of the public in crime-busting and enhance the prestige of the police as a people-oriented force.

Vel

The sight of the Vel Rath in the streets of Colombo after a lapse of eight years should bring back memories of this wonderful and sacred festival to all the citizens of the country's capital. It is also an indication that we as a people are getting back the freedom to exhibit the cultural diversity that is so uniquely our right.

July is also the time we remember that terrifying period in 1983 when mobs rampaged through this self-same city murdering, burning and looting, targeting the members of the Tamil community who lived here.

That sad and misguided spree launched the war that has killed tens of thousands of our citizens and tore at the fabric of our society.

These few months of peace have given us another chance, to rebuild our nation and put back together our different components and make us whole again.

We hope that the freedom that the Vel has in the metropolis will translate into a permanent peace our future generations can enjoy in the times to come.

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