Cleaning the police force

The new Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasuriya has pledged to take disciplinary action against errant police officers.

While we welcome the IGP’s resolve to clean up the police mess we have to admit that we are a bit skeptical about the practicability of his actions. This is because we have been too familiar with similar sentiments expressed by his predecessors and seen how they were not translated into action.

This time we hope the IGP would be able to deliver. We know that his mind is too fresh with most recent incidents such as the murder in broad daylight of a mentally deranged person at the sea in Bambalapitiya, allegedly by certain police officers and the killing of two youth in Angulana who were in police custody.

He could also recall the attack on the student Nipuna Ramanayake allegedly by police personnel. The list of such incidents could be expanded more and more. However, this much would suffice for our purpose.

We would suggest that the IGP go deep into the problem and uncover the root causes that give rise to indiscipline in the ranks of the police.

It is no secret that today we have a new breed of politicos who cannot be compared with their predecessors in the first few decades after independence. We refer to the modern day politico who does not hesitate to subvert the institution of the police (or for that matter whatever institution) to suit his or her personal ambitions and portray himself or herself as a superior individual to whom others should pay obeisance.

There also exists a criminal underworld that uses sophisticated weapons and communications. It also has links with people in high positions and politicos. The thirty-year-old war had given birth to an underground weapons market and sophisticated lethal weapons had proliferated heavily.

Over the years the police force has lost its independence and has become dependent on political patronage for many of its needs.

The IGP should make a concerted effort to break the nefarious police-politico-underworld mafia network, if he is to realise his resolve to clean up the police force.

There is also yet another factor, albeit a small one. That is the tendency on the part of the police to cover up the misdeeds of members of their flock. Actually it does not augur well for the good name and dignity of the police. While saying all these we would like to echo the words of the IGP that only a small fraction of the police force are involved in misdeeds and the majority are honest and dedicated.

The IGP has also started a campaign of building police-public rapport. His decision to meet the public personally should be welcomed. We hope this rapport with the public would help him in his task of cleaning up the police force.

Since many complainants would be afraid to divulge their identity or would not risk their identity being exposed there should be means available for them to send in their complaints through a confidential channel.

An exciting time

Elections are round the corner. Political parties, big and small, popular, and not so popular are all making their preparations. From the events unfolding we could sense that exciting days are ahead.

It is a circus with diverse entertainment. We could see grand formations and grandiose coalitions in the offing. Take for example the United National Alliance with the UNP, a rudderless ship in the middle of the ocean surrounded by a motley assortment of three-wheeler parties blowing its own trumpet with a hollow voice. The GOP of the Right and the not so GOP of the Left are trying to tie a knot to the tune of a bell, the sound of which resembles more a mala bera than a wedding chime.

Then there are the acrobats that swing from one hold to another. Concealed lie the puppetiers including those across the oceans whose thin strings are hardly transparent.

Last but not least would be the independent performers promising the sun and the moon as a means of earning a quick buck by withdrawing when the polls draw near.

One should also not forget the international jesters whose duty is to oversee democracy in far off poor countries as they have no taste of it in their homelands.