VIPs and ‘Hell’s Angels’
Posted on December 6th, 2010
Dr. Tilak Fernando
Thesaurus describes the word ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”PrivilegeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ as a special entitlement to immunity granted by the State or another authority to a restricted group, either by birth or on a conditional basis. Etymologically a privilege means a private law to a specific individual(s).
In a broader sense, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”privilegeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ could be refer to special powers or de facto immunities held as a consequence of political power or wealth.
One of the objectives of the French Revolution was the abolition of privilege.
Members of the diplomatic guild may flout the civil or criminal codes of their host country with the knowledge that their diplomatic immunity protects them from prosecution. Why were diplomats granted privileges and immunities?
Diplomatic relations
Formal appointments to the Diplomatic Core could be traced back to ancient Greek epoch when ambassadors were exchanged between the members of the Amphictyonic League, regarded as inviolable.
These practices, established on a customary basis, were codified in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Countries which recognise the Convention believe that such practices contribute to the development of friendly relations among nations, irrespective of their differing Constitutional and social systems.
Diplomatic privileges, immunities and exemptions, as described in the Convention, were not to benefit individuals themselves but to ensure the efficient performance and functions of diplomatic missions. 
Sri Lankan perspective
Within Sri Lanka we have established a more powerful clique of even superior officials as VIPs, elected by the people democratically, to uplift the whole nation to prosperity with commitment.
One may turn a blind eye to their ineffectiveness or test their mettle for performance, but one that could not be ignored was the repugnance felt by society today on the gross abuse of power by some rotten eggs in the VIP mixed bag, who seem to be oblivious to the fact that they were representatives of the very people who appointed and elevated them to such heights!
Undertaking responsibility to build a nation would be an arduous task which requires a total commitment. Contemporary VIPs were ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”well burnt bricks in Sri Lankan political ovens,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ chosen cautiously by the President to ensure that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”The Nation BuildingƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ was properly constructed according to PresidentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s blueprint.
Major players
In this regard, the blue eyed boys become a privileged lot with duty free luxury 4 x 4 vehicles and an ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”armyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ of guardian angels to protect them. Any rational minded citizen would not have any qualms about VIPs having security if the country was still in a reactionary grip and precious lives were in danger. Today Sri Lanka is a free country, thanks to a steadfast President and indomitable Defence Secretary who have paved the way for people to move about freely without any phobia.
Yet what still appears undignified is when some of the VIPs, with their security, behave in an abhorrent manner causing concern and trepidation among the general public.
Naturally, ordinary pedestrians are disturbed when these major players behave selfishly, as if the public highways were their inherited domain, flashing lights, blaring horns and allowing them to be chauffeured at break neck speed on congested roads with a convoy of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”HellƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Angels ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…” pushing everyone off the road virtually to drains and ditches purely to give the VIP access to a rocket movement without an iota of concern of other traffic, inconveniencing everyone else and intimidating the rest. If we are to believe that no one was above the Law in this country, then this kind of behaviour was indeed a downright breach of regulations.
Road rage means getting into a frenzy and battling with other motorists and being nasty to everybody else. But this tyrannical behaviour by some of the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Hells AngelsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ of VIPs was far from road rage, but highly overbearing and life threatening.
Security checkpoints
After 30 years of being involved in a terrorist war, with security checkpoints and road blocks being removed seemingly, what triggers these privileged lot to behave in such a pompous manner, throughout the country, on roads not suitable for such use? It may stand to reason at times that it was due to a life-and-death situation or even an emergency just to be present at a voting session in Parliament on a crucial Bill, but placing high security convoys at the disposal of varying degree of VIPs in the form of Provincial Councillors, ordinary MPs, and even Ministers who had not played a single role in the war, would only make a mockery of Parliamentary affairs and cost the government in deploying additional security, staff wages and overtime pay, supplementary vehicles, fuel expenses, etc., all of which boil down to a monetary drain from the Treasury.
If there were any identified security threats to a particular personality then protection becomes legitimate and compulsory, but there should be a sense of proportion in the fortification offered and the allotment of Police time and resources.
There was no justification for any MP or Minister to have a convoy even to take his family to a restaurant or a weekend ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”jollificationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ in cooler climes? The general public would like to plead with the President, who is down to earth on these matters, to investigate this gross abuse of power and privilege extended to VIPs and ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Hells Angel BrigadesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and bring some sanity to those who flout the law, being totally narcissistic.
Attorney GeneralƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s version
Attorney General Mohan Peiris was once quoted as stating that: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Being a Parliamentary Minister does not make anyone above the law.
They were only called to Parliament to exercise their right to vote during a voting, so that Parliament affairs could be carried out efficientlyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ – ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-As elected officials, Ministers should not hide in the Parliament and thereby abuse the privileges given to them.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
December 6th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
This article touches on a sesitive topic. The country was unified by the sacrifices made by our armed forces and support paramilitary and police forces, together with civil servants who worked along side with the military. The war lords who are gallavanting in 4×4 luxury vehicles were then puny puppies fearful of Prabhakaran’s wrath. Now the hard won peace has arrived, the puny puppies have usurped the role of our true war heroes. Sadly, our President too had forgotten the role played by the dutiful citizens and heroes. They have been sidelined and Hells Angels are alllowed to carry the President, rushing here and there and everywhere. It is about time the President takes care of the poor and the needy, cut wasting money on unncessary publicity and playing the westerners games and stick with uplifting the life of the poor. Dump or tether the gallavanting Hells Angels and care for the people who put the President in power.
December 7th, 2010 at 7:53 am
President Rajapakse must look after the ordinary citizens – that is his prime role, now that the war is over. We hope he does just that, and gently tells the ‘pompous’ folk to tame their ego trips. Anyone who truly cares for our President will advice him so.