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Policing the Police

Two stories in our Saturday’s edition highlighted just two instances when Police, the guardians of law and order, were found on the other side of the law.

As the first story revealed, the Colombo High Court has sentenced two policemen to seven years Rigorous Imprisonment for torturing a woman.

It is well known that Police had used torture as a means of getting information, in complete contravention of human rights norms and practices.

This is indeed not the first instance when a policeman was jailed for torture and if remedial measures are not taken, it may not be the last.

All policemen from top to bottom must respect human rights. The Government has made it clear that it would not protect any police officer(s) or Services personnel who abuse human rights.

This message must go through to the rank and file of the Police and the Forces. Countrywide awareness programmes must be conducted for police personnel on the importance of upholding the rights of individuals.

Every suspect should be treated as innocent until proven and declared guilty by a court of law.

The Police must not take the law into their own hands. That is best left to the judiciary, though the Police are free to present any evidence they may have against an accused.

It is true that we live in extraordinary times. The State is battling a ruthless terror outfit and Police and Security Forces have an enormous responsibility to ensure that terrorists do not cause any acts of sabotage and destruction in the South.

A state of Emergency has been declared and several provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism act have been re-activated, under which Police and Armed Forces can take certain measures which are not possible under normal laws.

As many have pointed out, a hundred per cent human rights record may not be possible in a conflict situation.

Nevertheless, Police and Armed Forces have a duty to adhere to human rights norms when arresting and questioning suspects. Torture must not figure in their list of methods of interrogation.

Police must bear in mind that they are not above the law. All are equal before the law. There cannot be one law for the ordinary citizens and another for the Police.

Unfortunately, that seems to be the attitude of the Police, right from the novice to the top.

The story we published on the Police on Saturday about a senior Police Officer who blatantly jumped a red light and the lower ranker who saluted him offers ample testimony.

The reader who sent us this story says the traffic policeman initially wanted to stop the motorist to write a ticket. Having realised that it was a senior policeman, he smartly lifted his arm in salute.

Although humorous, it is no laughing matter. This story proves that policemen think they can break the law and get away with it. And they do. The story is similar for every other motoring offence - speeding, phoning while driving, no parking, one way regulations etc.

If that motorist was an ordinary individual (i.e. not a politician, police officer or Armed Forces officer) what could have been his fate? He would have been stopped, given a stern lecture and snapped a fine. Yet, the police officer goes scot free and to add insult to injury, the traffic policeman has the audacity to salute the offender.

It is just this type of attitude that will keep us forever in the Third World. In Western countries, even Heads of State, leave alone policemen, are booked by traffic police.

Here, on the other hand, policemen do not want to get transfers to remote outposts by engaging in such unthinkable heroics.

We have observed how police vehicles and politicians’ motorcades break every rule in the book. A heightened state of security is no excuse for demonic and moronic driving on public roads. Police and lawmakers must set an example to others.

They should uphold the law so that others may follow. Only then can we create a truly law-abiding citizenry.

A landmark in Indian politics

Pratibha Patil, who has been elected India’s first woman president, was by no means a unanimous choice for the role. Long associated with India’s Gandhi dynasty, Mrs Patil was a low-profile governor of the state of Rajasthan before emerging as the favoured presidential candidate of Sonia Gandhi, leader of India’s Congress Party.

Full Story

Surfeit of holidays: A rational proposition

Sri Lanka is the country with the most number of holidays in the world. If we were to forget for a moment how so many holidays in the calendar affects the economy of the country, then this would be the lotus- eating paradise indeed.

Full Story

 

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