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Inspector General of Police, Chandra Fernando, Chief, National Police commission, Ranjit Abeysuriya and President Chandrika Kumaratunga |
By Frederica Jansz
That Sri Lanka's police have for eons been shackled and forced to cow down to politicians, sacrificing integrity, efficiency and discipline - is a given. This country may boast a National Police Commission and Sri Lanka has just welcomed a new police chief, but how independently they can both function despite good intentions is questionable.
When we spoke with Inspector General of Police (IGP), Chandra Fernando he admitted that some police officers may still approach politicians for transfers and promotions, but he said his door is always open for any police officer to approach him first and make such request.
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The letter from the Public Security, Law and Order Ministry |
The Letter from Anura Bandaranaike |
No political pressure
Fernando maintains he will not bend to political pressure - but this country has heard these claims before. Given the dismal track record of his predecessors in this area, the new police chief will have to prove himself before he can expect the general public to take his statement seriously. (See box for comments)
We have evidence this week which proves that from the President down, Kumaratunga and her ministerial counterparts including mere political party organisers are dictating matters to the police and continuing to interfere with the functions of the Police Department with impunity.
Whether Chandra Fernando and his counterpart Chief, National Police Commission, Ranjit Abeysuriya will have the courage to remain independent in the face of such political interference from President Kumaratunga and her ministerial cohorts, with the aim of upholding decency and integrity is a matter that both these gentlemen have yet to prove.
IGP Chandra Fernando says that certain police officers may know politicians and that is why they make their requests to the politicians or that a politician may know certain police officers "who are good and efficient" and that is why the requests are initiated.
This reasoning is certainly not good enough for us, sir - the general public. In fact, such statements are ludicrous if not downright pathetic. The new IGP will either have to get his act together fast or be content with becoming just another puppet on a string and a standard joke in society, before he has even had time to warm his chair. And here's why.
Letters
On August 12 this year, Industry, Tourism and Investment Promotion Minister, Anura Bandaranaike wrote to Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of personnel, recruitment and basic training Victor Perera stating that he wants 'Ranjit Kotattchi' who is serving at the Kayts police station to be transferred to a police station either at Kohuwela, Maharagama or Homagama. The letter has been copied to Ranjit Kotattchi as well.
Bandaranaike's letter was preceded by another sent on July 27, 2004 from the office of the President no less. This letter is signed by T. A. Sumanatissa Thabugala who identifies himself as being from the Presidential Secretariat.
He too informs DIG Victor Perera that the President would appreciate if he would ensure C. Ranjit Kotattchi serving at Kayts police station is transferred as an officer in charge to a police station in Colombo.
How Kumaratunga and her beloved brother are in the know that this particular police officer is "good and efficient" and qualifies for a transfer to Colombo is certainly a matter for the new Police Chief to investigate.
No interference?
Even more serious is why the IGP is being sidelined by his own men who have obviously concluded that the President and her brother and not the police chief are a better bet for furthering their career prospects. Surely this should be an area for Chandra Fernando to probe?
On a separate instance, President Kumaratunga has personally approved the transfer of a policeman identified to be a party supporter to take over as OIC of the Homagama police station.
In a letter written on a parliamentary letterhead to the President and signed by SLFP organiser in Homagama, Gamini Thilakasiri, informs the President that OIC Athula Weerasinghe is to receive a promotion. He has requested the President to fill Weerasinghe's vacancy with that of Chief Inspector G. J. Nandana. He says that Nandana is a party loyalist and if he is appointed to this chair it would greatly benefit the party.
Kumaratunga has personally authorised the request with instructions to forward same to the law and order minister. Despite this evidence, which is of course available at police headquarters, IGP Chandra Fernando claims "there is no political interference that I know of in the police department." Come, come, Mr. IGP, who do you believe you are kidding?
Unaware
The President's office on July 6, 2004 has separately acknowledged receipt of a letter written by the Ven. Kiridawella Somarathana on July 5, 2004. In this letter the Buddhist monk is seeking to appoint one R. M. C. J. Ratnayake to an existing vacancy for OIC at the Ampara police station.
The priest adds for good measure that Ratnayake during his 18 years of service in the police was at one time in charge of one of the closest security units to the President. This letter too, Kumaratunga has personally attested approving such appointment.
On August 13, this year, G. R. D. Sunil, from the Public Security, Law and Order Ministry, has written on behalf of the President to the IGP, who at the time was Indra de Silva, requesting police promotions.
The letter states he has included eight separate letters including one from the presidential secretariat which on behalf of the President has requested the relevant police officers to be promoted.
This letter, de Silva has forwarded to DIG Victor Perera who has officially acknowledged receipt on August 18, 2004.
National Police Commission Chief Ranjit Abeysuriya maintained he was totally unaware of these particular requests by the President, her brother Anura Bandaranaike, party organisers, the Ministry of Public Security, Law and Order and the Buddhist monk. "I am very surprised - I know nothing of these requests," he said. Interestingly however, just two days prior to Indra de Silva's retirment he sent a letter containing 30 names identified for transfer to various police stations and it so happened some of the names recommended by the President and Anura Bandaranaike came to be in that list.
Confidential information
Abeysuriya admitted that former IGP Indra de Silva on the eve of his departure from the Police Department, "sent us a whole lot of proposed transfers of OICs and ASPs, but we have kept them all on hold. I have made a minute saying we cannot act until I consult the new IGP Chandra Fernando."
When told that the President herself has personally authorised some of the letters seeking the transfer of certain police officers some of whom have been identified as those supportive of the President and her party, Abeysuriya said, "this is a problem we will always have. We do take decisions on matters originated by the IGP but why the IGP initially took action we will never know. Whether such action has been independent, taken on his own or politically motivated we will never know."
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