Rising law, order needs necessitate expansion- Nadesan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 September 2004, 01:21 GMT]
"Our people have full confidence in Thamileelam Police and want us to maintain law and order in as many areas of NorthEast as possible. They feel safe when the law enforcement authority is in the hands of our police officers. The objective of Thamileelam Police is not only to maintain law and order but also to work for the general welfare of the Tamil people," said Mr. P.Nadesan, Head of the Thamileelam Police Service, when TamilNet spoke to him Friday.

Mr. Nadesan recalled that a Sinhala parliamentarian has complimented the dedicated service of the Thamileelam Police in Sri Lanka's parliament.

"After the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding we have been working in an environment of relative peace. Thamileelam Police have been serving the community to build an environment where people pay high respect to law and order.

"An important reason for our success is our leadership. Our leader consulted us several times before the establishment of Thamileelam Police. We formed the Thamileelam Police during the peak of our struggle when battles were intensely being fought between the security forces of Government of Sri Lanka and us.

"We recruit personnel to Thamileelam Police from the general public and give classes before deploying them in active duty. Many recruits are victims of oppression under the Sri Lankan armed forces. Dedications shown by our police officers in rendering service to our community also contributed to the success of our police service," Mr. Nadesan said.

"With the opening of A-9 highway we witness more traffic in our area with associated increases in road accidents and traffic offences. Taking proactive steps to reduce traffic accidents and to reduce traffic offences are high on our current priorities. We have also taken steps to educate our people on traffic laws.

"As advised by our leader Pirapaharan we have been conducting awareness campaigns among our people to reduce traffic offences. Vehicles coming from the south of Sri Lanka also have to adhere to our traffic laws inside our demarkated areas.

"We have been working with International organizations including UNHCR, UNICEF and ICRC in matters related to protection of human rights. Respect for human rights has always been a fundamental tenet of our liberation struggle.

Referring to the question why Tamil people in Sri Lanka government controlled Jaffna district prefer their problems to be solved by Thamileelam Police, Mr.Nadesan said that Tamil people have confidence that Thamileelam police will resolve disputes in a just and fair manner.

"Another important development is Tamil people living abroad are also increasingly using us through our international contacts to resolve matters of dispute associated with personnel living in NorthEast.

Mr.Nadesan said that in addition to stations in Karadiayanaru and Kokkadichcholai in Batticaloa district, a third Thamileelam police station in Batticaloa will be opened soon. He added that the medium-term plan is to open five stations in Batticaloa.

"One more police station will be opened in Trincomalee district in addition to the currently functioning Sampur police station. Increasing number of people from Sri Lanka army-controlled areas visit our police stations to resolve their disputes. Hence the need for additional police stations and officers," Mr.Nadesan said.

Referring to the allegation made by some Buddhist monks that the establishment of Thamileelam Police Station and Thamileelam courts are undermining the sovereignty of Sri Lanka, Mr.Nadesan said that people in the South have to accept that there are two nationalities living in Sri Lanka. Tamils started the liberation struggle to protect their fundamental rights and to create a new political configuration where Tamils can live with peace and dignity. Tamileelam police force and Courts are the result of this struggle. No one can fault us in this regard,” he said.

"We recruit persons to Thamileelam National Auxiliary Force to provide security to the border areas in support of the liberation struggle. Recruits are paid and provided benefits comparable to those given to workers doing similar jobs," said Mr.Nadesan.