Welcome independence for Police
The public is certain to
warmly welcome Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa's pronouncement to the effect that the
Police Force is being provided the independence to enforce the
law equitably and with a firm hand. It would be superfluous to
emphasize that the Police performs a most invaluable service,
particularly from the viewpoint of the general public. The
Police and the judiciary are two state institutions that the
public invariably turns to in its hour of need and it is crucial
that these agencies of the state enjoy supreme empowerment.
It is gratifying to find, therefore, as important a state
functionary as the Defence Secretary underscoring the importance
of the independence and professional integrity of the Police.
These are indeed important requirements if law and order is to
prevail and there is no denying that internal order and calm are
prerequisites for sustained development. Besides, of course, the
Police could be the last veritable refuge for the 'small man',
from the power drunk politicians, hoodlums and other parasitic
social dregs who ride rough shod over our citizenry and bring
blight into their lives. If the Police Department does not face
up to these dregs very squarely and courageously, the lives of
the ordinary people would be gravely imperiled.
It is important that sentiments endorsing the independence of
state agencies, such as, the Police, are coming from sections of
the executive arm of government. On paper, the Police and other
important agencies and institutions of the state are independent
and free to execute their mandates or duties and
responsibilities expected of them. Over the years, however, this
has hardly been the case. Nothing new would be said by stating
that most often than not, elements among the influential and the
mighty of this country, including some blustering and bullying
politicians, have got in the way of the Police carrying out its
duties. During the conflict years, it was almost habitual for
fuming and frothing politicians to attempt to 'soften' honest
police officers with 'a transfer to Jaffna' threat, if their
demands were not met. So influential were some of these
puffed-up and paranoid politicians with the administrations of
the times.
Consequently, the Police and other vital state institutions
suffered debilitation and humiliation. They were demoralized to
the point where they could not carry out their responsibilities
with the required vigour and zeal. Besides, interference by some
politicians in the affairs of the Police Department resulted in
it being mal-administered and politicized to a considerable
degree. Hopefully, all this would end henceforth and the Police
Department allowed the independence which is due to it to carry
out its functions effectively and conscientiously.
'Independent Police Commissions' and like bodies would be
absolutely inessential if the Police Force is not tampered with
by interfering politicians and decision-makers and allowed to
perform its duties undisturbed and without let or hindrance.
With the assurances of the Defence Secretary on this score, it
is hoped that the Police would see better times in the days
ahead.
However, it is vital that the Police Force has an eye to
quality rather than mere quantity, now that law and order duties
would not prove to be as demanding as they used to in the
conflict years. Put more simply, the Police must ensure that its
staff, at all levels, while increasing to the required
proportions, acquires the necessary skills and capabilities
which are relevant to their duties. That is, quality personnel
must be brought out in increasing numbers. It is not the case
that this is not happening, but it should not be forgotten that
the ideal before the Police is to be constantly people-friendly
and very accessible to the public.
This is particularly important in these post-conflict times.
We need a bilingual Police in the North-East and it is to the
degree to which this is achieved that the people of those
regions would be ably served. Needless to say, the people of the
North-East and elsewhere must be served empathetically if they
are to lead contented lives and feel at home in this country. |
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