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National security; SOC recommendations to be implemented-Minister Weerasekera 

04 Apr 2021

 
  • Mosques started by Zahran and Naufer to be banned 
  • No moves to amend PTA at the moment 
  • No political hand behind Wennappuwa ASP transfer   
By Lahiru Pothmulla  The Sunday Morning spoke to Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekera about several recent incidents that brought the Police Department into the limelight and key issues such as the measures that are being taken to ensure national security in the country.  Minister Weerasekera said that face coverings and Madrasas that fail to adhere to the State’s national education policy will be banned in order to ensure national security as per the recommendations of the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security that were submitted to Parliament on 19 February 2020.  Following are excerpts of the interview:  A police constable attached to the Maharagama Police assaulted a lorry driver recently. What actions are being taken to prevent such incidents from recurring?  Police officers work under tremendous pressure. There are about 89,000 officers in the Police Department, and only one behaved in this manner – which is not even 1%. We have taken action against him. The ones who criticise should know that 72 police officers have been hit on the road while on duty so far this year, and 18 of them have been killed. Last year, 253 were hit and 28 have been killed. The pressure under which the traffic officers work should be understood; having said that, it is no excuse to treat people this way. Had that traffic officer saved the lorry driver from being attacked by anyone after he hit the traffic OIC (Officer in Charge), I would have given him a promotion. However, I regret that no such thing happened. Having said that, and I assure you that we are not justifying the incident, I’d like to invite the public to understand the pressure these officers work under.  We are looking into the welfare of the officers, the hardships they have to go through, and other issues as much as possible. We invite the Police to be more cordial with the people.    There were reports that State Minister Arundika Fernando influenced the transfer of ASP Eric Perera, who was attached to Wennappuwa, to Negombo. Is this true?  That ASP (Assistant Superintendent of Police) has been stationed there for about two-and-a-half years. That is his hometown. He may be a good officer, but there were some petitions against him. That happens when someone is there for a long time in their hometown; those types of allegations normally surface. In the meantime, Arundika made a request to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) – I never received that letter. Apart from what was sent by any politician, many petitions had been submitted.  I have already started an investigation. While the investigation is ongoing, he can't be stationed there. So, it (transfer) was amicably done; in the sense that, we asked him where he wanted to go, and he said he wanted to go to Negombo. Then, we transferred him to Negombo. That was his request.  I don't know why there is such a big hue and cry when there is a transfer. Along with him, we have transferred 27 people including SPs (Superintendents of Police), an SSP (Senior Superintendent of Police), and ASPs. I can’t understand why only this fellow’s transfer is causing a scene.  Maybe because of the allegations that the State Minister was behind the transfer?  No, state ministers can’t be behind transfers – but they can complain. There were many petitions against him (Perera) in various aspects which I can't talk about because it would not be good for him. The investigation is not yet completed. When a man is being transferred after two-and-a-half years, or rather after serving more than two years in the same station, I don't know why people are making a big fuss about it.  The Government has taken measures to rehabilitate those arrested for being involved in extremist activities. How will this process take place?  The rehabilitation of those bearing radical thoughts does not refer to masterminds. There are some who have gone to the same classes where extremist ideas have been taught; they are the ones who will be rehabilitated. We can't sentence them for life. Sometimes, some people go astray due to wrong teaching methods and they could become extremists. That's why we are rehabilitating them.  A cabinet paper was drafted by the Public Security Ministry to ban the wearing of face coverings, and there was much criticism against the move.  The face covering ban will be done to ensure the national security of the country. When face veils are being banned, the burqa and niqab will also be banned automatically. There is no religious basis to this, as this is being done for national security. This has been done in other countries as well. Some argue about the wearing of facemasks. Yes, people are wearing the masks, but we can ask them to remove the mask at any time; we can’t ask someone to remove the burqa or niqab. If we did, it will be a disgrace to the religion.  When do you think the cabinet paper will be presented?  I have done my part. I have signed the cabinet paper. There are so many items in the cabinet agenda. Some are saying that these are false attempts; the JVPer (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna member), for instance, wants me to approve the banning of face coverings the day after the cabinet paper is submitted. What I want to know is that this (banning) has been first recommended by the Parliament Select Committee; so, what did (JVP Leader) Anura Kumara Dissanayake have to say about that? He didn't do anything about it. He never insisted that these recommendations should be implemented; then, the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security also recommended the banning of face coverings. Then also they (JVP) didn't do anything; the Presidential Commission also recommended, and then also they (JVP) kept their mouth shut and waited.  But after I took the initiative to submit the paper, they want it to be approved the next day.    What are the other recommendations of the Parliamentary SOC on National Security that will be implemented?  There are so many, but as far as I'm concerned, I'm interested in two or three things now. One, is the banning of face coverings and the other thing is the (banning of) Madrasa schools.  Unregistered Madrasa schools?  Yes. Unregistered in the sense that, even if they are registered, if there are children aged 5-16 in the school and if they are being taught only religion and the language, such Madrasas will be banned. Every child born in this country has to be taught according to the government education policy. Therefore, all the schools that are not adhering to that, will be closed.  There are some mosques started by Zahran (Hashim) and Naufer (Moulavi) which are giving lectures on Wahhabism and extremism. Those mosques will also be banned and we will get the views of the Muslim organisations for this. This is in view of national security.  Will the Government amend the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA)?  No, not yet. Not now. 


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