Thursday, 1 July 2004 |
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Netting the pawn instead of the power centre Regrettably, the increase in imports of narcotics and easy access for consumption is becoming a great threat to Sri Lankan society. The media on its part has done enough and more in highlighting this issue with very little or nothing at all being done by authorities concerned whose attitude towards the issue is anything but concern. The law firmly stipulates the possession of two grams or more of heroin to be a punishable offence warranting even a jail term. Frequent media reports highlight big hauls of narcotics seized by the police. However, there is no attempt to take into custody the big names in the business. Do authorities even bother to go into the assets of many social climbers? Is it because the authorities fear their strong linkages with some power wielders? Noted as we are in plastering and tinkering social problems and issues, our failure to get to the roots has fostered evil. For instance, we take into custody the robber. In fact robbery is a crime according to law. But do we ever realize that elitism breeds crime? The religious, political, business and bureaucratic elite, out of their own behaviour create marginalization and in that sphere, crime is initiated. Sending drug addicts to jail is no problem solvent. In fact by associating with hard core criminals, the addict is moulded into one such because of the pressure and influence brought on him. Drug addiction calls for rehabilitation, certainly not imprisonment. Societal attitudes towards the addict are also far from positive. Labelling of addicts such as 'kudda' and 'kudukaaraya', has put them through much emotional trauma in addition to them being hooked on to the drug menace. In all matters, our failure to see the wider sphere and locate the issue in that framework has facilitated the existence and continuation of the root of all evil. In that wider gamut is power elitism constituting the big names in the drug world of traffickers and pushers. Not being a finger printable offence cushions the secrecy of drug dealers. As a result innocent youth today languish behind bars running the high risk of full blown criminals to be. Theft is finger printable under law. A surface analysis will reveal the thief to be the immediate offender but none would pursue the idea of what or who initiates robbery. Once again, the combination of power elitism invites deprivation and is key to theft. Arresting the robber facilitates elitism's claim. The fact that drug dealing is a non-finger printable offence also is a power elite defending exercise. So as we go along in this big game of power, politics and law enforcement we find the master crooks being adequately defended both at local and at international levels. |
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