Enhanced security needed for leading opposition politicians

The assassination attempt on the former president of the USA and the Republican Party’s nominee for November’s presidential election Donald Trump has led to calls for better security for Sri Lankan opposition politicians.

Hours after the news of the assassination attempt, SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne called for better security for his party leader Sajith Premadasa who is a frontrunner in Sri Lanka’s Presidential poll scheduled for October.

“The Government is responsible for the security of Sajith Premadasa. Therefore, I request the Government to enhance his security,” the MP said, indicating that a US style attack on candidates could take place in the lead up to the election here.

Meanwhile the General Secretary of the National Bhikkhu Front (NFF) Ven. Wakamulle Uditha Thera said that the leader of the National People’s Party (NPP) Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is also a strong contender for the Presidential election, must be protected, saying the assassination attempt on Trump has awakened fears of similar incidents in Sri Lanka.

“He (the NPP Leader) must be protected. These corrupt politicians could commit any heinous crime for power,” the Thera said. 

Concerns over security of public representatives is genuine given Sri Lanka’s past experiences where political violence has been used to get rid of many promising politicians. Instead of the ballot, too often the bullet has been used to silence the voices of many who had the potential to lead the county in the right direction.

Parties across the board have lost senior members, many killed by the LTTE, some eliminated by the JVP, and some killed by those linked to the State apparatus but in almost all instances the killers remain unknown and escaped punishment.

Sri Lanka’s list of political assassination is too long to list but the names that come to mind include S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Lalith Athulathmudali, Gamini Dissanayake, Vijaya Kumaratunga, R. Premadasa, Appapillai Amirthalingam, Lakshman Kadirgamar, Bharatha Lakshman Premachandran, and T. Maheswaran. Many politicians have fallen victims while on the campaign trail. Former president Chandrika Kumaratunga narrowly escaped death in a suicide bomb attack while campaigning for her second term in office in December 1999. Scores of others have been targeted at election rallies with bombs and guns.

Which is why  security of politicians, be they in Government or Opposition, must be taken seriously.

Recently there was an uproar on social media over the security detail assigned to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Chief of Staff and National Security Advisor Sagala Ratnayake. The strength of the security detail is decided on intelligence reports and hence there could be justifiable reasons for Ratnayake’s enhanced speciality. In the same way that the likes of Ratnayake are given extra protection, opposition calls for more security for their leading members also need to be given serious thought.

The growing clout of underworld figures in Sri Lankan society is evident from the high-profile killings that have taken place in recent months. There are contract killers on the prowl that will kill for money and a ticket out of the country. Some public representatives too have come under their control willingly while some have been forced into silence due to threats of harm to them and their families. Public Security Minister Tiran Alles has publicly stated there are threats to his life from the underworld as he spearheads the ‘yukthiya’ operation targeting drug leaders and others engaged in organised crime. Other politicians have also voiced concerns for their personal safety from time to time.

There may be no active terrorist movement in the country at present but for people who have lived with violence for decades, the rise in gang violence is highly disturbing.

Politicians are among the least loved segment in the country, but they face the greatest threats of violence given their high profiles. They are easy targets for those who want them out of the way.

Hence a great responsibility rests with the Government and the intelligence services to ensure that proper security appraisals are undertaken, particularly for those who face threats, and they should be provided with enhanced security. Being complacent has cost the country heavily as was seen by the dastardly Easter Sunday terror attacks. Don’t wait for the next calamity to occur to increase security to both deserving individuals and institutions.