Solving abductions

ACCORDING to police reports 1700 people were abducted in Sri Lanka during the past two years. What makes this figure alarming is that these incidents took place during two years of peace. Without the conflict it was expected that law and order would be strengthened but if the official numbers are to be believed, around 70 people were abducted on average each month in Sri Lanka in 2009 and 2010.

Police records stated that in 2009, 926 persons were abducted while 774 persons were abducted during last year. The new report compiled by the police also noted that 202 suspects are yet to be identified for kidnapping. Only in respect of 225 cases have the police been able to take legal action showing a distinct gap between the number of abductions and the legal redress provided for them.

One of the main reasons for the spike in abductions is for extortion. It seems as if ransom is the criminal's latest “get rich quick scheme” and the fact that it is so popular means that they are fairly confident that it can be done with impunity. Since the war has been over for the last two years and cases of abductions are still disturbingly high it shows that kidnappings is not just a phase but a social problem that needs to be addressed urgently.

Many are familiar with abductions as part of Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict. However what these statistics show and what has been evident for sometime is that the victims come from every strata of society. Almost anyone with access to a decent income is under threat. The police have failed to adequately address this issue and therefore the time has come not only to strengthen them but also provide an alternative support structure.

The Asian Human Rights Commission in 2009 recommended that Sri Lanka establish a national authority for the prevention of abductions. Their rationale behind this was that such an authority can study all the loopholes in the law and its enforcement that makes abductions possible on such a large scale. Given the loss of confidence in the policing institution, there is no reason at all to leave the problem entirely in the hands of the police. If the police, as they are now, cannot be relied upon in this matter, there has to be some other authority that could be; at least for a period, undertake the responsibility for the elimination of abductions, particularly by examining the failures of the police in this regard and by making recommendations in order to correct the situation. Such an authority can study not only the police failures but also the failures that exist in all other institutions and create the kind of consensus within the state apparatus, as well as within society, to deal with this terrible problem of abductions.

 Equipping the national authority with the legal and moral power as well as backing it with resources will be pivotal to ensure that there are tangible results on the ground. The authority must gain the trust of the public and lobby for more awareness as well as encourage self policing such as neighbourhood watch programmes from within the community.

Not only would such an authority assist to prevent abductions it would also reduce extra-judicial killings, which are condoned by society due to the apathy of the legal and public services structure. Therefore, a national authority that can move past the institutional paralysis affecting many other important organisations would be a practical solution to this issue.