The battle against violent crime - EDITORIAL

A total of 23 persons have been killed in shooting incidents reported in the country since the 30th of May this year. Media reports showed, that of the 34 shooting incidents in the first six months of the year, 20 died of their injuries and 13 were seriously injured.

Police Spokesman said members of organised crime gangs linked to drug trafficking were involved in the shootings.
Last year a total of 60 shooting incidents were reported. Of the 559 murders reported Police were able to resolve 493 incidents and apprehend the suspects involved.
The Spokesman added that 225 murders had been reported between January and June this year. Of these 34 were related to drug peddling and organised crime. 

Between 30 May and August this year, 23 people died in shooting incidents which Police blamed on members of organised crime gangs linked to drug trafficking. 
Amid the fast-rising crime rate, two days ago Public Security Minister Tiran Alles warned, that security forces would be permitted to open fire to curb underworld activities.
The Minister was shooting from the hip so to say, without giving much thought to what he was saying, or to the fact that during 2022 Police were able to successfully bring a majority of culprits to book.

This country is not part of the ‘Wild West’ in America where one shoots first and asks questions after the event. Lankans are cultured people with over 2,000-year civilisation. We will remember the aberration of the past when Police and the security forces were given such powers.
In the 1989 to 1991 era -in an effort to curb the JVP uprising- the security forces laid waste thousands of Sinhalese young men and women whose half-burnt bodies littered the streets of Colombo and the main cities of the country. The use of similar tactics in the north and east of the country led to the nearly 30-year-long ethnic war.
Among those who were killed or simply disappeared during that bygone era, were thousands of innocents who had nothing to do with that insurgency. We do not want a repetition of those crimes.

Without giving a thought to the cause that is driving people to commit crimes, the Minister speaks of giving the security forces the right to shoot.
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the financial crisis, a large section of the population is starving and malnourished.
Hundreds of thousands have lost employment. These people have no means to feed their families and are driven into the clutches of drug dealers, who use them as small-time distributors.
Meanwhile, ordinary people take drugs as a result of social pressures.

The answer, therefore, is to understand the causes leading the young and old alike who fall victim to drugs, as well those who or are inveigled into the distribution of the same.
Rounding up victims of drugs and drug peddlers who are mere cogs in the wheels of big-time drug cartels does not solve the problem. The answer is to work towards the elimination of the social pressures leading to drug addiction and the lack of opportunity that force men and women into drug peddling.

Not too long ago in the Philippines under President Duterte, thousands of Filipinos were savagely killed in Duterte’s attempted drive to do away with organised crime and the drug menace in that country. Today Duterte has been dumped as President but the drug menace continues.
The present violence and shootings as revealed by the Police, are linked to underworld figures who monopolise the illegal drug trade. More often than not these individuals have close connections with the rich and powerful in society which grants them immunity.

Police have also shown during 2022 they can bring to book those involved in murder and serious crime.
The biggest drawback Police face today is that of political interference.
What the law enforcement authorities need is for politicians to stop meddling in law enforcement processes.
Tourism is our biggest foreign exchange earner, and tourist numbers are just beginning to pick up. A new round of killings will only ensure the death of the goose that lays the golden eggs.