Another call for justice

Friday, 30 March 2012 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka’s crime waves have ascended another level with the murder of the two Buddhist monks and brought fresh shock and horror to the people whose sensibilities have been anesthetised by the growing numbers of violent crimes.

The alleged killer, a purported Basnayake Nilame, the motive of avarice, the choice of weapon – a 14 inch spike, the place – a hallowed temple precinct, all contributed to the transforming of this double homicide into a sacrilegious crime that broke the taboo against violence in a temple. A sum of Rs. 500,000 in addition to the symbolically significant jewelled sword of the warrior prince Sapumal Kumaraya were said to be the motives for the killings.

Some reports treated the murders as an isolated incident, but it must be pointed out that the issue is far more widespread than that. This claim is bolstered by a further disturbing incident that happened in relation to the murders, the assault on the lawyer appearing for a defendant in the case outside the courthouse.

Lawyers at the Colombo Chief Magistrate Court refrained from court proceedings in protest calling for the arrest of the attackers, but the incident itself failed to gain much discussion in the media. The legal principle of the presumption of innocence or that a suspect is innocent until proven guilty no longer seems to hold much currency in Sri Lankan society, where anarchic mob justice is becoming increasingly popular.

There is little concern among the general public about the disrespect of the law in attacking the lawyer or understanding the true weight of this event. If the law continues to be undermined, then it is a danger for everyone concerned. As independence of the judiciary, respect for law and order and timely dissemination of justice increasingly erodes, so does the people’s inclination to follow the law.

The powerful prefer to be above the law and care not whether it is undermined. Yet the problem is that when the law is neglected, it is the powerless in a society that become victimised and the same public will rise up and dispense justice without any consideration of evidence or rehabilitating the wrongdoers. Eventually this anarchy will reach the powerful and by then it is usually too late.

The end of the war was heralded as a time of peace and wellbeing. But as democracy dwindles in this country, so does law and order. The recent request by the court to arrest MP Duminda Silva and demand why he has not yet been arrested is another example of how justice is being played with.

The double murders in Kahawatta and a host of other incidents can be quoted where the law was dismissed in favour of street justice. Murdering priests is another indication that things are becoming very bad very fast.

Therefore, it remains to be seen whether justice will be served to the perpetrators of the two crimes and contribute towards the restoration of public confidence in the legal system. Given the previous instances, it would be best if the public did not hold its breath.