BREAKING NEWS – Kotte Murders,Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera targeted by unidentified gang.
Posted on March 21st, 2012
Mahinda Gunasekera Toronto
We have been commenting on the breakdown of law and order, politicians being above the law, politicization of the Police Service, the non-application of the rules of law equally to all citizens, and aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ general feeling of lack of security
prevailing in the minds of the people.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Island Newspaper too carried an editorial on this subject asking the political leaders to wake up to the ugly situation and to crack down on crime, drug trafficking, and politicians riding roughshod and getting away with no penalties.
On our last visit to Sri Lanka, four of us living in the USA, Canada and Australia initiated a dialogue with other members of the World Alliance for Peace in Sri Lanka (WAPS) and submitted a confidential memorandum endorsed by 17 expat organizationsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to the President outlining our concerns on the questions of Rule of Law, Law and Order, and wide spread Corruption.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We alsoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ took upƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the 13th Amendment which we thought should be referred to the people at a National Referendum as the people have not had any input on it as it was imposed on Sri Lanka by India under threat of military intervention in 1987, and the people’s verdict obtained in order to determine its withdrawal from the Statute Book or its implementation. We opposed any devolution to a unit beyond the District, but were in favour of enhancing powers at the Grama Sabha (Village Councils) which served the majority of people residing in village areas.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
We need an independent Police Service that will act without fear or favour answerable to a Police Commission answerable to Parliament,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ removing the powers of politicians from interfering in the administration of the service. We hope that even at this late stage, Sri Lanka’s political leaders will wake up and act to correct a deeply flawedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and disturbing situation.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:24 pm
This is a tragic event.
But a better police would NOT have stopped it.
Look at countries with MORE INDEPENDENT (from politics) police forces.
e.g. USA, France, UK, Australia
There are worse crimes there.
e.g. Killing 3 children in France this week, killing 2 elite French soldiers, regular shooting incidents in USA, riots in UK/France, regular gand murders in Australia
We need an efficient police force no doubt. But more than anything we need MORAL UPLIFTMENT.
PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN POLICING.
I don’t think the target was Sobitah thero. According to people in the area, they suspect a group of construction workers belonging to a certain ethnic group who had a dispute with the monks over a nasty construction they were building next to the temple. These criminals must be punished.
Take the Bharata killing, Thangalle, Kahawattei cases involving politicians.
ALL the culprits (except one) are in jail!
Take police shooting cases in Kadunayake, Chilaw, Bambalapiddi, Ravathawattei, etc. ALL police offices who exceeded authority are punished!
So political involvement has NOT stopped law taking its course. Unfortunately the only exeptions are Mervin Silva and Duminda Silva.
We need a MORAL UPLIFTMENT more than anything else. By the time police take action, the crime has ALREADY been committed.
March 21st, 2012 at 5:15 pm
On this website I gave warning notice only week ago. I confirmed again that these crimes are part of orchestrated works against Sinhalese by a global network. It is a personal dispute or what ever. There never been this kind of disputes before in a row in a week and in a time when global conspiracies at work in 24 four day to put down Sinhalese socially and economically and morally.
Sl police and intelligence have zero knowledge to know how global spies have been promoting social crimes to fall that society or country into their hand.
To gain immediate knowledge, only one intelligent agency in the region know about type of crime is Pakistan intelligent agency.
However,if Sl govt want to get greater knowledge and make sri lanka security intelligent is powerful agency in the world, then start appointing experience officers from cid, police department, army and navy to embassies around the world. Promote them as reward for their years of service for the country. we love to see this happen and This way, sl communities can have excellent cooperation and bring benefits to SL. This excellent solution to get the best out of embassy staff rather than paying people who have no knowledge or interest this field or meeting and organizing with sl communities.
March 21st, 2012 at 5:28 pm
What Lorenzo says is factually correct.
All barring a few criminals have been arrested and punished irrespective of their political connections or rank. A very good development in a country where ministers, their henchmen and even their sons always escaped the law.
Before a few years ago it was totally unheard of any government aligned politician getting arrested let alone charged. Now it is happening frequently which is very encouraging. Today’s exceptions are ruling party aligned criminals not going to jail as opposed to the exception before of ruling party aligned criminals going to jail.
A brothel in operation for 30 years was raided by police last year. It was well known to the police and the people. It always had political patronage for all successive governments including the current one. A good move at last. But what happened? All the culprits escaped in court with a charge of just 10 rupees! The legal system needs to revamp.
However, with the end of the war there is scope for better law and order maintenence. This is where our attention should focus on.
It is a good idea to reintrduce the death panelty and increase levies and charges in line with modern realities. Legal profession has no morals today. It has been politicised with the appointent of a MP (Wijedasa Rajapaksa, MP) as head of the Bar Association for the first time. If a lawyer knows the accused committed the crime, he cannot run a positive defence. But this is totally disregarded today. Absolutely no moral policing in any profession – legal, accounting, medical, engineering, etc. All these should change. Crimes are not the traditional wrongs like murder, etc. but covers plenty more.
Also agree it is better to prevent crimes before they are committed. Killing Buddhist monks of 80 and 60 years of age is a barbaric crime.
March 21st, 2012 at 8:23 pm
Can you let us know what was the president’s response to your memorandum and whether any of concerns raised has been addressed?
March 21st, 2012 at 8:37 pm
Police corruption is at the highest level despite the police chief is reputed as an honest man.
Can anyone tell me what happened to Vass & Wife who assaulted a kid ?
Not all culprits in jail.
March 22nd, 2012 at 7:33 am
And thank you for your effort in trying to establish good governance, tackling corruption and good work ethics. It is a good way to remember more than twenty five thousand heroes who gave their lives
March 22nd, 2012 at 8:46 am
jayt: Agree with “I confirmed again that these crimes are part of orchestrated works against Sinhalese by a global network”. We think it is none other than mostly the ltte criminal elements abroad and here. Drugs, alcohol, money, etc. all play a part in hooking locals into crime.m The aim is to discredit GoSL prior to any international event such as the UNHRC hearing.
March 22nd, 2012 at 1:08 pm
Breaking news.
This dumb resolution was not the only one at UNHRC. Another resolution was passed against Israel. 39 resolutions against Israel so far. But NOTHING HAPPENED!
The United Nations’ Human Rights Council voted on Thursday to appoint a panel charged with evaluating the effects of Israeli settlement construction on Palestinian human rights in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted harshly to the decision, calling the body a “hypocritical council with an automatic majority against Israel.” He added that the council “should be ashamed of itself, and has nothing to do with human rights.”
Netanyahu added that out of 91 decisions made by the UN body to date, 39 dealt with Israel. “Only three of the decisions dealt with Syria, and only one with Iran. It was enough to hear the Syrian ambassador speaking today about human rights to understand the extent which the council is out of touch with reality.”
Thirty-six states voted in favor of the decision, while ten states abstained, including the Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Costa Rica, Italy and Spain. The United States was the only country to vote against it.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva Aharon Leshno-Yaar criticized the decision. “Despite the fact that this is my fourth year in Geneva, I am still stunned by the hypocrisy of the Human Rights Council,” he said in a speech.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/un-human-rights-body-to-probe-israel-s-settlement-activities-in-west-bank-1.420242
March 22nd, 2012 at 11:49 pm
lorenzo,
do you need to investigate who was behind this resolution?
March 23rd, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Killing Buddhist monks is an unpardonable sin. Those responsible will soon get their due karma.
March 23rd, 2012 at 8:51 pm
In the island nation Indian colonial parasites are well off compared to the locals.
These parasites have been running the country under the British and then from 1956.
There are some signs the locals will be empowered since 2006 but unfortunately parasites are much more powerfully with the support of Indian imperialists.
Homicides, suicides and crimes are high among the locals. Malnutrition and unemployment is high among the locals specially where there are higher concentration of Indian colonial parasites.
Child birth and life expectancy is low among the locals.
These are the issues the Sinhala and Muslim politicians have to take up with the government.