Crime, cops, leaders and preachers

The killing of a marketing director of a tourist hotel, Mr. Mohideen Sabri on Saturday night by an unidentified gang while he was getting into his car with his woman companion near the Surf Club at Mt. Lavinia, once again brings to focus the rising wave of violent crime. Mr. Sabri was killed when he was trying to protect his female companion who had been stripped of her jewellery and valuables and was being forced into the backseat of the car by the assailants.

Crimes of this nature have been reported from long years but what is frightening is the increasing frequency with which such crimes are committed. It was only a few weeks ago that an Indian national who was honeymooning here with her Sri Lankan husband was abducted and later found killed. There are undoubtedly many such crimes being committed which are reported to the police but do not reach the media. We have time and again said that the police should give a serious thought to how this rising crime wave can be curbed and not treat it merely as those crimes which occur each day about which nothing can be done.

The hard reality is that much can be done if the police and political leaders make a determined effort. One obvious remedy is intensive police patrolling both in places such as the beaches and public parks as well as in neighbourhoods. Daylight house breaking has reached frightening proportions but we do not see any daylight patrolling or hear of the arrest of criminals. What the Police Department does about it is top secret. This should not be so when people are killed on the streets and houses burgled in this age of transparency and where cooperation and dialogue between the police and public are considered very essential for the well being of the community.

The Police we will be told are pressed to the utmost limits. But so is practically everybody and every organisation in this country in these times. Protection given to VIPs and security operations should not limit or restrict the protection that the police must provide for ordinary citizens.

There are other stock answers offered such as' brutalisation as a result of the war', deserters, unemployment, security for VIPs etc. But the basic job of the police is to protect people and stop the spread of crime. If that cannot be done there is no reason why public expenditure is utilised in maintaining a police force.

While the police can physically check the spread of crime and violence there are other agents in society who must play a vital role not only in crime prevention but also in the spread of crime. If political leaders move around as thugs openly in their electorates threatening their opponents they are bound to have many followers from all political parties. The argument will be: 'If he can get away with such crimes and thuggery, why not me ?'

Today, we have very high ranking politicians being found guilty of violating fundamental rights by the highest court of this land-- the Supreme Court. But these politicians continue to be in power and carry on regardless. Those leaders who are expected to uphold high moral values, ethical standards and abide by the concept of the Rule of Law have developed political myopia and ignore the findings of the highest court of the land. In such circumstances can one expect policemen to uphold and implement the law of the land ?

Government apologists have a readymade answer for this. What did the UNP do in their time? The UNP in their time had the same answer: What did the SLFP do in their time? Like the 'egg and the hen argument', we continue to debate who did it first and finally blame it all on our colonisers!

What of the religious dignitaries to whom we all pay great respect and who are expected to advise our leaders and the nation itself ?.Does any religious leader say that this country is in chaos because law enforcers are unable or do not give a damn in enforcing the law ? Do they say the example set by our leaders promotes crime and violence. Do they upbraid our leaders for not sacking those politicians found guilty by the Supreme Court for violating fundamental rights of citizens? Perhaps they too are restrained because of some political Rasputins among themselves. Those who live in glass houses, however venerated they may be, realise that they cannot throw stones at others.

Little wonder crime is roaring at full throttle in this blessed isle.