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| Sunday, 20 January 2002 |
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Firearms amnesty falls on deaf ears by Anton Nonis and Don Asoka Wijewardena The government's call to all those possessing unlicensed firearms and weapons to surrender them to the nearest police station has not been fruitful at all. Hence, thousands of firearms and other dangerous weapons still continue to be retained unlawfully. According to Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (Crimes), H.N.G. B. Kotakadeniya, only a few shot guns have been surrendered so far. "They are utterly useless for anyone, leaving aside even those who possess them," he said. The Minister of Interior, John Amaratunge, has ordered the Inspector General of Police to set up special squads on divisional basis to conduct lightening raids on those possessing illegal weapons. DIGs in charge of respective divisions will be assigned to recover illegal and lincensed weapons (not renewed) from those who had possessed them and certain others believed to have used them for criminal activities. The Minister of Interior has also announced that any individual who possesses weapons in contravention of the government amnesty which expired on January 15, will be even jailed, if found guilty. There are two categories of people possessing weapons - "underworld" gangsters who had illegal weapons for criminal activities and those with licensed weapons not renewed. Minister Amaratunge, declared a two-week amnesty in a bid to bundle up all unlicensed weapons possessed by various sections of people including those in the 'underworld'. Government sources said that they expected a good response from all those who held such weapons during the grace period. However, the government amnesty was unheeded and all that was collected was about 100 shot guns. None of the dangerous firearms such as the T-56s, pistols, grenades, were recovered or handed over. The retention of such weapons by those in possession leads to the belief of using them when the need arises for any situation. Past records indicate that these had been used mostly during and after an election and this was quite evident during the recent general election and at the last presidential election. According to top ranking police sources, some of the weapons were used for contract killings and robberies. Police believe that a sizeable stock of the weapons were still in the hands of the 'underworld' gangsters. Investigations have revealed that a majority of the shooting incidents during the recent general election campaign had been carried out with illegal weapons, which mostly belonged to the forces while the rest were believed to have been smuggled into the country at some stage. Asked whether the police were going to round up those who did not surrender the illegal weapons, DIG Kotakadeniya said that it would not be done just now. "Whom are we going to arrest? Such information has to come from the general public." A person possessing a firearm without a licence from the Defence Secretary is liable for a prison term of seven years. The DIG said that so far no one has tipped off the police about anyone who possessed such weapons. Police attribute that poor public response on this was due to lack of attractive rewards for informants. It is estimated that there were at least 20,000 dangerous firearms still being held by several persons including those in the 'underworld'. |
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