Daily News Editorial

Probe Police attack

Saturday 31st October 2015

 

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, following a discussion with Law and Order Minister Tilak Marapana, has ordered a full and impartial probe into the police attack on the Higher National Diploma in Accountancy (HNDA) students who were demonstrating opposite the University Grants Commission (UGC) in Colombo on Thursday. Several policemen and students were injured in this baton and tear gas attack. The police arrested 39 students, who were later granted bail by the courts.

The ball is now firmly in the IGP's court and we hope this incident will be investigated fully from several angles. The first angle is whether the protest march and demonstration was legal. So far, police have not claimed that it was illegal. In that case, Police had prior knowledge of the student demonstration and should have taken steps for traffic diversion beforehand. The probe should also ascertain whether only "minimum force" was used as claimed by the Police, specifically riot police. Videos and still pictures tell a different story, with Police seen baton charging the hapless students on top of the tear gas attack. In this scenario, the question arises as to who gave the riot personnel the authority to attack the students in this manner. This police action follows a similar incident in Hambantota recently, were the Police attacked and dispersed a gathering which clamoured for a regular water supply to the area. Human Rights watchers have condemned both these attacks.

There is no doubt that Police have an onerous task maintaining law and order and this type of activity disrupts the day-to-day lives of the ordinary people. Traffic and pedestrian movements have to be curtailed and shops, banks and other institutions surrounding the UGC are affected badly. The traffic jam created at the busy Ward Place junction unfortunately radiates to the rest of the city, making life miserable for everyone. The students should also be mindful of these facts and try to minimize the inconvenience caused to the public by their actions, however genuine their grievances and demands may be. The public can rest assured that an impartial probe will be conducted into the whole episode.

Attacks on students used to be a common feature under the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration. Worse, some of the most heinous attacks on students, trade union and political activists were carried out by pole-wielding thugs while the Police looked on nonchalantly. Demonstrators were gunned down on at least two occasions - in Katunayake and Rathupaswala. Rallies of political adversaries were mercilessly attacked. The present Government that came to power in January (reinforced by another mandate in August) promised to end this suppression of students, trade unionists and political opponents. The fact that the Police engaged in an attack on students under the watch of the Yahapalanaya Government will not win it any favours. People did expect things to change for the better under this administration and as far as this incident is concerned, their faith has been shattered by the rather high-handed action of the riot police. No effort must thus be spared in getting to the bottom of this sordid event.

Now that the National Police Commission has been re-activated, it must also be involved in investigating this matter. The Government must make it clear in no uncertain terms that there is no impunity whatsoever for Police personnel of whatever rank who overstep their boundaries in performing their duty. Recent actions of the Government and the judiciary have clearly shown that there is no impunity now for those who commit offences, regardless of rank and social stature. A few bad eggs must not be allowed to tarnish the reputation of an entire force. It is much better to punish the few wrongdoers rather than tarring an entire organisation with the same brush.

This incident also highlights the need for a more professional, highly trained police service, which has got politicised and supine under the previous regime. To its eternal credit, this Government has already initiated programmes in this direction. Organs of the police such as the riot police which have to deal with people directly should be provided more training with foreign expertise on how to handle 'hot' situations. Protesters are naturally agitated and it helps if policemen can keep 'cool' in such a tense situation instead of becoming agitated themselves. The police should have a few good 'negotiators' who can talk with protestors and calm them down, as seen in many other countries. The Police must also not interfere with any negotiations between the protestors and officials of the particular organizations against which the protest is held. Baton charging, water cannon and even tear gas must be a 'last resort' action for the police, if and when all other measures fail to elicit any response from the demonstrators.

The takeaway from this ugly incident is that the Police must be very careful in the future in dealing with demonstrations. The brutal suppression of students and others should have no place in the civilized conduct of the law enforcement arm of the State. It is a tenet that the Police have to abide by from now on.