Democracy, cops and violence

Friday 14th August, 2020

The US has evinced a keen interest in promoting ethnic reconciliation and national integration in Sri Lanka and never misses an opportunity to proffer advice to the governments here. It also generously funds some local NGOs that promote democratic ideals. Issuing a statement on the outcome of the recently-concluded general election, the US has urged the newly elected government to renew its commitments to building an inclusive economic recovery and uphold human rights and the rule of law. Some pro-government elements have taken exception to this unsolicited advice, as evident from their social media posts, but there is nothing wrong with it. Sri Lankan governments and politicians should be kept reminded of the need to uphold democracy, which they are allergic to, but shouldn’t the US put its own house in order first?

Social integration eludes the US, which pontificates to others, as can be seen from the Black Lives Matter movement, which has been the African Americans’ response to racially motivated brutal police attacks on the member of their community. Their long-standing grievances have also found expression in their protest campaign, which has rippled out to some other countries as well. Perhaps, it was only in Sri Lanka that the police set upon a group that took part in a Black Lives Matter protest. America’s failure to achieve national integration fully and the attendant issues seem to have led to a serious problem.

Homicide rates in some large US cities such as New York, Philadelphia and Chicago have increased by double-digit percentages amidst police officers resigning and retiring across the country, Newsweek reports. The beginning of the rise in crimes coincided with the death of George Floyd at the hands of a group of police officers, on 25 May, Newsweek says. The diminished police legitimacy, following the killing of Floyd, is thought to be one of the reasons for the increase in the crime rate.

The murder of Floyd led to a resurgence of the Black rights campaign and calls, in the US, for deep fund cuts for the police force and downsizing it. These measures have been adopted in US states, making many police officers quit or opt for premature retirement. The Seattle city council recently voted for reducing the police force by 100 officers and decreasing the salaries of its high ranking officers. Seattle Police Chief Carman Best has resigned in protest. Fund cuts have reportedly affected the New York Police Department as well. It has had to cancel a recruitment drive and is experiencing a high retirement rate. A decrease in the number of police officers leads to an increase in the crime rate anywhere in the world. This situation would not have arisen if the US had practised what it preaches to others and achieved national integration and social cohesion.

One can only hope that the Sri Lanka police will learn from what has befallen their US counterparts and mend their ways. Their legitimacy is also diminishing rapidly. They have become a mere appendage of the ruling party and earned notoriety for their selective efficiency and brutality. Unless urgent action is taken to straighten up the Police Department, the day may not be far off when the people take to the streets, calling for fund cuts or even the abolition of it, as in the US.

It has now been revealed that the Police Narcotic Bureau was the biggest distributor of dangerous drugs in the country. The Attorney General’s Department, disappointed at the failure of the guardians of the law to carry out court orders, has said it can enlist the assistance of the military to have suspects arrested. The Military Police has already been deployed to help the traffic cops, who have failed to carry out their duties and functions properly. It looks as if the situation could not get any worse.