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| Escape
from death We are unaware of how precious life is until death stares us in the face. I faced death in the midst of my robust, healthy young life and it left me stunned, shaken and deeply grateful for the beauty and simplicity of an ordinary life. At 24, my life was full and interesting — my husband and I had just moved into our new home in Ratmalana, we had a nine-month-old baby, and I was on my way to completing a Master’s in English. Yet, like so many others, I often had a vaguely dissatisfied feeling about life, a yearning for the greener pastures on the other side. The day that changed everything began like any other. My husband left for work as usual and I began my daily routine of caring for our baby. We had a maid who arrived daily to help with the housework and when there was a knock at the gate, I assumed it to be her. Standing there, was a young, casually dressed man, who smiled in a friendly manner, and asked if my husband was at home. He was a plumber, he said, and my husband had asked him to install a water tank in our house. Could he just come in and take the measurements? I politely told him that my husband had left for work and could he please come during the weekend? After some thought, he agreed and went away. Wondering why he hadn't told me about the tank, I went in, leaving the front door open. By this time my baby was awake and whimpering for his breakfast. Tucking him under one arm, I called my mother, as I did almost everyday. As I was chatting with her, I heard a slight sound, and turned to see a shadow pass by the bedroom door. Hardly hearing what my mother was saying, I wondered why the maid had gone in without speaking to me. With a chill of fear, I remembered that I had locked the gate; therefore, it couldn't have been her. Moving slowly as though in a dream, I said goodbye to my mother, hung up and walked into the hall. By now I could hear someone moving about in the kitchen, the clink of pots and pans. Clutching the baby, who was also quiet now, I walked quickly to the door, only to find it locked and the key missing! From that moment, everything happened at once, a terrifying medley of horrors. I turned around to see the same young man that I had spoken to come rushing at me with a knife. My voice stuck in my throat and my arms gripped my baby frantically. With no word of warning he stabbed me, and as I turned away to protect the baby, the knife landed on my forehead. Only one thought rang clearly in my mind — I had to protect my baby. Flinging him, now screaming at the top of his tiny lungs, onto the ground, I turned and began to grapple with the man, who continued to aim stabs at me. Shouting for help, I grabbed at the pointed end of the knife, slicing my fingers... amazingly, the knife came into my hands! Still yelling, I tried to stab my attacker, who now seemed possessed by a demonic fury. Still not saying a word, he grabbed me by the neck and slammed my bleeding head into the wall. Again and again, punching and pummelling me, he threw me against the wall. Still, I screamed, when suddenly he closed his fingers around my neck and began to squeeze. Despairing of human aid, I gasped, "Oh God, God!" An amazing thing then happened. Amid the chaos, I felt a sudden surge of strength and peace. I felt a calming presence, and the thought that death was after all, not such a terrible thing. At that moment, the man suddenly let go and ran inside the house. I became aware of the neighbours knocking and shouting at the gate. Several men had jumped over the wall and were banging on the door. Terrified that he would return, I grabbed the baby and tried to hand him through the narrow window grills to the men outside, but he was too big to pass through. Panicking I turned and looked about, only to see the keys lying on the floor. With trembling hands I unlocked the door and stumbled outside, gasping out my story. Several people ran into the house, only to find that my attacker had escaped through the back door. I felt something warm dripping down my face. As I wiped it, my hand came away wet with blood. The neighbours immediately rushed me to the Kalubowila Hospital, where, thanks to the prompt treatment at the accident ward, my life was saved. Miraculously, the baby came through the ordeal unhurt. My husband and the rest of my family arrived at the hospital within minutes, unable to believe that such an unimaginable thing had really happened. I spent over two weeks in hospital recovering from my injuries, several stab wounds on my neck and back. In the midst of my agony, I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from family and friends. It was my strength in those long, painful days. My mother and sister took care of my baby, while others took it in turns to stay with me. The police were unable and perhaps uninterested in tracing my attacker, which still gives me many dark moments. I wish I could at least know the reason behind his mad attack. What could prompt someone to attack a young woman, with a baby in her arms? Perhaps I shall never know. So often we complain of petty, little things, spoiling the joy in life for ourselves and for those around us. It often takes a calamity to bring us to our senses, to make us realize that the truly great things in life are those that we already possess. When I now spend those incredibly sweet moments with my baby, I wonder how I could have ever taken them for granted. Now I face life with a completely different perspective. If we were to die tomorrow, what would matter most today? It is this choice that will determine the quality of your life. Crime
fighting report shelved? Perhaps realizing the urgent need for action and reform of the key law enforcement agencies, in May 2003 the then Cabinet appointed a committee to advise the government and the police on formulating a plan to curb crime and ensure the effective implementation of that plan. In October 2003, this high-level committee which comprised M.N. Junaid, Secretary, Ministry of Interior and Christian Affairs, Rudra Rajasingham, Retd. Inspector General of Police, Dhara Wijayatilake, Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Law Reform and National Integration, T. E. Anandaraja, Inspector General of Police, Jayantha Gunasekera, P.C. (nominee of the Organisation of Professional Associations) and Deva Rodrigo, Senior Partner, Pricewaterhouse Coopers of Sri Lanka (nominee of the Joint Business Council) presented its findings to the then government. President's Counsel Jayantha Gunasekera also presented an additional report on a Co-ordinated Action Plan to Curb Crime. Among those who assisted the committee were present IGP Chandra Fernando, D.S.C. Kombalavithana, DIG and Sirisena Herath, DIG. Additional Secretary, Ministry of Interior and Christian Affairs S. Wirithamulla, now Secretary, Ministry of Trade functioned as the secretary to the committee. Many months have lapsed and the government has changed but the Report of The Committee Appointed by Cabinet to formulate an Action Plan to Curb incidence of Crime remains in cold storage. What were the recommendations contained in this 13-page report? The Sunday Times learns the Committee identified the following areas of concern as being the primary causes leading to the current situation:
Pointing out the violence in crime and the impunity with which such crimes are committed, the report recorded that the Inspector General of Police himself had stated that there are about 30 organized crime groups. "Urgent and immediate action should be taken to locate offenders and bring them to justice. The high priority targets should be organized gangs, hired assassins, masterminds of hired assassins and deserters from the armed forces. Police officers and the general public may be offered attractive rewards for information leading to arrests…," the report stated. The report highlighted that since deserters from the armed services are suspected of playing a key role in the commission of serious and organized crime, the issue of apprehending them should be accorded the highest priority. "The recovery of unauthorized firearms said to be in the possession of deserters is absolutely essential." Underworld crime has proliferated, the report said, stressing the urgent need to capture wanted criminals "….lest unscrupulous elements make use of the environment of lawlessness to unleash violence and crime in the guise of other causes. A situation such as that which resulted in 1971 and 1989 may result and be exploited by activists. Recent reports of robberies, collection of firearms and attacks on religious institutions are all seen as possible pointers to such an attempt”. Turning the searchlight on the Police Force, the report recognised that Police officers should be intelligent, motivated and independent in order to provide an efficient service. Adequate training and skills enhancement, provision of adequate resources, exposure to advanced methodologies, improving their professionalism and language proficiency were recommended. It also pointed out that police officers should have:
The report also mentioned the general perception that the political leadership is largely responsible for the lawlessness in the country by its support and encouragement of criminals and criminal activities and called for the immediate removal of all political interference and zero tolerance of any such attempts. Another section of the report dealt with the Criminal Justice process and pointed out the weaknesses in the system such as delays in investigations, abuse of procedure, slow court process, lack of adequate equipment in courts and police stations and corruption in courts and the Police. Pointing out that a large number of crimes remain unsolved, the report recommended the appointment of a District Attorney to each district. "District Attorneys should be recruited from lawyers of a high degree of intelligence, who are persons of independent financial background. Salaries commensurate with their skills should be paid to attract suitable candidates. These appointments will be in addition to State Counsel and Non Summary Counsel. DAs themselves will participate at every stage of the investigation, including the arrest and detention of the culprits and will direct the manner in which investigations are conducted. The DAs will direct the investigations from the point of commission of the crime to the filing of plaint, Mr. Gunasekera explains in his report. A recommendation was also made that new laws and amendments dealing with issues such as serious crime, organized crime, cyber crime, domestic violence and child abuse etc be proceeded with expeditiously. Drawing attention to the growing problem of indiscipline in society as a serious trend that needs to be arrested, the report stated that there is a need to inspire a greater respect for religious teachings and for a more meaningful role to be played by religious bodies. Special mention is made of the need to discipline motorists and road users with deterrent punishment advocated for errant under age drivers as well as their parents who should be held vicariously responsible and for drunk and negligent drivers. “The reforming of man is the first step towards the making of a Nation,” the report stated, commending this thinking to the political leadership. The wide-ranging report ends with specific recommendations on the various issues that have a bearing on crime and violence; combating serious crime, de-motivation in the Police Force, the inefficient criminal justice process, crime prevention strategy, rehabilitation of convicts and indiscipline in society. Plenty of food for thought and grounds for action? Why then is nothing being done, more than 1 ½ years after? |
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