16 November 2022 12:09 am Views - 1418
Still, how many of the president’s promises would become actual deeds and how many of even the genuine measures would satiate the insatiable fringes of the Tamil diaspora, the loudest of all, are open to question.
However, one thing is clear. Rather than addressing old or recurrent grievances, the President has so far only created fresh grievances. His government has unleashed a vindictive witch-hunt against the legitimate dissent and peaceful demonstrators. Law enforcement agencies are terrorising the public. Police are given a carte blanche. A climate of impunity pervades his government and the country.
President Wickremesinghe has no electoral debit to the Sri Lankan public - at best, he owes his political high offices to Pohottuwa strategist Basil Rajapaksa. But, he prides himself in his association with the international community, especially the West and America, who though know Mr. Wickremesinghe is an imposter in his office, have so far put up with him for he is more amenable than his predecessor.
But, devoid of political legitimacy, the president has no choice but to rely on the brute force of the coercive apparatus of the state. Alarmed by how small protests and night vigils by a few politically conscious strangers and neighbours grew into a popular movement that finally ousted powerful Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Pohottuwa regime, Ranil is cracking down on even the most innocuous of protest action.
Instead of Rajapaksa’s infamous white vans (Give the devil his due, Gotabaya did not use them during his presidency, but did use them quite liberally during his brother’s presidency), Ranil Wickremesinghe is resorting to the excessive use of police. At this rate, he would opt for a more pronounced use of the military as well to check in legitimate dissent at one point.
Sri Lankan police recently sought expertise from their Singaporean counterparts in handling demonstrations. There are many things someone can learn from Singapore, but this is not one of them. In Singapore, protests are extremely restricted by law and required a licence from the police. Sri Lankans have freely held demonstrations even during the Rajapaksa regime.
Due to their extreme sense of insecurity, President Wickremesinghe and his puppet masters in Pohottuwa have gone an extreme mile to delegitimize legitimate dissent. The freedom of assembly and free speech are guaranteed by the Constitution, however, respect for the constitutional rights of the public is not the strong point of the Sri Lankan police. This has effectively emboldened the worst of the rank and file of the police force; political acolytes who owe much to their political masters and are eyeing the next promotion.
Therefore, the repeated episodes of harassment, arrest and assault on peaceful protesters are not acts that take place in isolation, nor are they actions of a few errant officials. The police intimidation of peaceful and legitimate dissent is a political strategy of the government.
Political patronage has fostered a climate of impunity. The penal code is repeatedly abused and misused to justify police excesses further straining the public trust in the system. Police intimidation of protesters has become a predictable everyday occurrence. Each of the recent demonstrations in Colombo and elsewhere was obstructed by police with no reasonable grounds.
Even nominal displays of dissent have drawn ire from the police. The modus operandi is the arrest of protesters under fictitious charges, who if produced before a reasonable magistrate, are granted bail, and they have to go through a non-ending sequel of court appearances. The process is designed to intimidate the dissent to the breaking point and create a culture of fear in fellow activists.
It was the same strategy that was put into action when two ladies undertook a march from Kalutara to Galle Face Green during the weekend, demanding the release of the Inter-University Students Federation activists Wasantha Mudalige and Galwewa Siridhamma Thera, who are currently detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
They were manhandled by the police in Panadura and were taken into custody and later released on police bail.
The whole episode of police harassment was captured in cameras and video clips are now circulating on social media, which, in return prompted the IGP to order an investigation. The two women, who resumed their march were again harassed by the cops in Moratuwa.
The dark underbelly of the police was also captured in the video, which shows a senior police officer, identified as Panadura South Police Station Headquarter Inspector and Chief Inspector of Police (CI) Chamindra Pinto, grabbing two female cops by their neck.
If this is how police seniors treat the female cops, how they are treated inside the walls of police stations, should be a concern for all civilized people. Sri Lanka police has hallmarks of a feudal institution. It is also among the least trusted institutions by the public. Decades-long culture of impunity within its walls and outside and political interference has resulted in the erosion of professional standards and basic civility.
For instance, CI Pinto is alleged to have four previous allegations but was appointed as OIC Pandarura thanks to the good grace of Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardene.
If it is to catch up with its civilized peers, Sri Lankan police need to undergo serious reforms, retraining and perhaps retrenchment.
However, the president and the government seem to view this insalubrious status quo as a necessary evil. That effectively fosters a culture of impunity. But, there will be a point when people would run out of patience, as they did not long ago.
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