Ceylon Today Editorial

THE TASK BEFORE PROF. SIRI HETTIGE 

22nd October 2015

At last the dream for an Independent Police Commission (IPC) has turned into a reality. The much awaited IPC saw the light of the day when President Maithripala Sirisena officially approved the nominees to the Commission proposed by the Constitutional Council last Wednesday.

The country had been yearning for the establishment of this Commission since the present Constitution was introduced in 1978 with the UNP wielding a five sixth majority in Parliament. Successive President's pledged to introduce independent commissions on public, judiciary and the police, but conveniently ignored those promises and demands made by the Opposition during that period. President Sirisena needs to be commended for honouring the most important pledge to set up those commissions under his Good Governance policy.

The Police Department over the past four-and-a-half decades has come in for severe public criticism. The number of complaints against the Police has increased many folds. Corruption is reported to be rampant. Senior Police officers were charged for murder and corruption. Bribery is another charge against police officers. Police transfers were politically motivated. During elections those policemen who supported the then governments gained promotions. Seniority and competence was overlooked. Politics was the criteria for policemen to reach the peak in their career. Able, honest and disciplined police officers were sidelined or transferred to rural areas. Now the time has come to discipline the entire Police Department.

The appointment of Professor Siri Hettige who is a Professor of Sociology as Chairman of the Commission on Police is a welcome feature. Prof. Hettige has a wealth of experience in social issues that confront the society. He is practical person who could deal with any sensitive issue that concern the public and the police. He has been entrusted with the responsibility of making appointments, effecting transfers, handling promotions, control of discipline and dismissal of errant police officers.

Prof. Hettige and his members in the Commission face a tough task in giving the Police Department a new face. Politicians in this country at grass roots level and upward will not easily give up mounting pressure on the police when their cohorts are arrested for breach of law. They are used to that type of low conduct over decades. Even if a drug addict could be rehabilitated, it is difficult to rehabilitate a politician who is undisciplined and corrupt. But if the police enforce the arm of the law equally, such politicians could be put in their place with the establishment of this Police Commission.

Police should not fear to spontaneously arrest politicians who breach the law. The Commission also should monitor the conduct and activities of the police to prevent police officers from taking undue advantage of powers vested in them. Public complaints must be investigated early to ensure that the police are just and fair in its duties. The Learned Professor taken upon handling the Police at a very crucial time. Not only the lower ranks, but also the top ranks in the Police faces a variety of charges starting from bribery to murder and treasure hunting. Also policemen testifying before Court against senior police officers are reported missing.

In such a backdrop of a somewhat corrupt police service, Prof. Hettige faces a herculean task to first discipline the police to increase public confidence. Next, Prof. Hettige would have to concentrate on building better and strong police-public relations. Thirdly, he will have to build confidence in the Police to eradicate political interference in the affairs of the Police Department.

The Commission of Prof. Hettige should also hold the police responsible for a disciplined internal administration under an accountability process. It must also strike the right balance between the need for the police service to meet both local and national priorities and needs. The Commission should also ensure that the Police implement a proper management of resources and human resources in the department. Prof. Hettige's own house must be put in order first before others start to complain about the occupants in the house. To re-establish public confidence in the Police is a herculean task.

Ceylon Today Editorial

ROBBING FURNITURE AND SILVER SPOONS… 

22nd October 2015

JVP Leader and Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Tuesday made a stunning revelation in Parliament that a former Higher Education Minister has robbed valuable furniture and other items donated to the female hostel at the University of Colombo. Dissanayake did not name the minister, but pointed his finger at the bench in Parliament where that minister was now seated. At the time the JVP Leader made the charge, the minister in question was not present in the House.

Robbery of donations and gifts to State institution by politicos is not new. That dirty culture began after 1977. A number of priceless items including a priceless gem that was kept inside the Buddha Shrine at the President's House went missing after the death of President Ranasinghe Premadasa. The famous Mulkirigala Painting which was hung near the stairway at President's House too went missing. However, President Chandrika Kumaratunga managed to locate it at an auction in London and brought it back. But the robbers were not brought to book. Silver spoons and other valuable cutlery also went missing from the President's House.

During the UNP Governments from 1977-1993, the internal audit at the Health Ministry reported that a long conference table, chairs and flower pots were missing from the ministry. All fingers were pointed out at a Cabinet Minister. President Ranasinghe Premadasa personally investigated the matter and found the items lying at the personal residence of that Cabinet Minister. He immediately ordered that minister to return those items to the ministry. During the regimes of Presidents Jayewardene and Premadasa (the duo never occupied the President's House) all gifts offered to them by visiting Presidents, Prime Ministers and International Leaders were kept at the President's House and an inventory of those items were maintained. President D.B. Wijetunga and Chandrika Kumaratunga too followed suit though they occupied the President's House.

If the government checks the inventories at ministries, it would certainly find that valuable furniture and other items are missing when governments do change. Some ministers order new furniture, while the older ones are yet usable. Finally, none knows the fate of old items as they disappear from ministries. If valuable items from the President's House and Government Ministries disappear in this style, those who occupied those ministries should be held responsible. The plunder of State-owned property had increased fourfold over the past decade.

A large number of vehicles from the Presidential Secretariat and some ministries are still missing. These anti-national acts involving politicos, demonstrate the low quality of politics practised in our country and the calibre of politicians people elect to the supreme legislature. Adding insult to injury, the discipline and conduct of many politicians are at low ebb. They do not even respect the judicial precinct. A fortnight ago former Provincial Minister Upali Kodikara physically pushed a policeman and challenged the police inside the building where the Special Presidential Commission sits in session. Police feared to arrest him on the spot.

All valuable items for the State Sector are purchased through public funds and not by personal funds of ministers and politicians. If politicians rob those items, the government leadership should take them to task. Female hostels at universities lack facilities. That is why some countries and institutions donate items to meet those requirements. If the Higher Education Minister himself plunders those valuable items as claimed by Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the government should immediately probe that charge and bring that minister before the law. Cabinet Ministers are no exception before the law to allow them to plunder gifts and State-owned property. And, it's a shame to the entire country before international eyes when it is reported worldwide that Sri Lankan Cabinet Ministers rob items donated to a female hostel at a university.

Sri Lankan ministers were known to be the best comedians in the world during the past decade with ministers like Mervyn Silva proposing to marry the former UNHRC Chief Navi Pillai. Now, with ministers reported robbing items like furniture which are the property of State-owned universities, the world would say, 'Sri Lankan Ministers are the Best Robbers in the world.' MOTHER LANKA WEEPS IN SILENCE IN the FACE OF THESE DISGRACES.

Daily Mirror Editorial

It is our UN, our   

On the theme “Strong United Nations. Better World”, the main world body reaches a milestone tomorrow – its 70th anniversary. UN Day marks the anniversary of the adoption in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the Security Council’s five permanent members, the UN officially came into being. October 24 has been celebrated as UN Day since 1948 and in 1971, the UN General Assembly recommended that the day be observed by Member States as a public holiday. But with UNGA’s resolutions being non-binding, the day is a global observance but not a public holiday. Some political observers believe it might be a good idea for the day to be observed as a public holiday because it might help strengthen commitment to the UN’s values and virtues, though the world body also has many flaws, faults and failings.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon -- who this week made a surprise visit to the Middle East for crisis talks with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders -- in his UN Day message began with a symbolic flag-waving statement. He said “national flags are a mark of pride and patriotism in every country around the world.  But there is only one flag that belongs to all of us.” Mr. Ban said the UN’s blue flag was a banner of hope for him as he grew up in wartime Korea.  Seven decades after its founding, the UN remains a beacon for humanity.

The UN Chief points out that every day, UN-affiliated bodies feed the hungry and shelter those driven from their homes, as they are doing today for several lakhs of refugees in Western European countries. The UN-affiliated bodies vaccinate children who would otherwise die from preventable diseases.The UN defends human rights for all, regardless of race, religion, nationality, gender or sexual orientation, he says. UN peacekeepers are on the frontlines of conflicts, with thousands of Sri Lankan troops also likely to join them after President Maithripala Sirisena held talks with Mr. Ban and world leaders during last month’s General Assembly sessions.

According to Mr. Ban UN mediators bring warring parties to the peace table; UN relief workers brave treacherous environments to deliver life-saving assistance. “The UN works for the entire human family of [more than] seven billion people, and cares for the earth, our one and only home. The diverse and talented UN staff helps bring the Charter to life,” Mr. Ban adds.

As the UN Chief says, the world faces many crises and the limits of collective international action are painfully clear.  Yet no single country or organization can address today’s challenges alone. The UN belongs to all countries, including Sri Lanka, and it is the responsibility of all to ensure that its strengths outweigh its weaknesses.

For Sri Lanka, it is the 60th anniversary of our joining the world body and during the past six decades, we have obtained billions of dollars in aid, we have ratified and implemented many of the UN’s conventions and charters for the common good of all. Unfortunately, after 2010, the Rajapaksa regime often clashed openly with the UN and affiliated bodies with some Ministers bitterly attacking UN bodies and officials while one Minister even staged an abortive fast-unto-death. They appeared to be unaware that we belong to the UN and the UN belongs to us also. Even major powers such as Russia and China have not attacked UN bodies and officials as harshly as some Sri Lankan leaders did from 2010 to 2015, largely because of amateurish diplomatic guidance by incompetent political stooges or diplo-muts who were appointed to top posts.

Thankfully, the new Government headed by President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken strong, diplomatic initiatives to work out a new relationship with the UN and the international community. The high point of this transformation was President Sirisena’s visit last month to New York where he held talks with the UN Chief and world leaders. He was also given a place at the head table during an official reception for world leaders, symbolic of the reality that Sri Lanka is now receiving banquets and bouquets, not brickbats from the UN and the international community. To underline this, the President and the Prime Minster will be the guests of honour at the main UN Day celebrations in Colombo tomorrow.