THE actual performance of the Police and Army must have been a source of concern to the Commander in Chief of the armed forces President Bharrat Jagdeo. An organisation such as the military with its stated intention to transform itself into a people protection entity having as its guide the principles of the rule of law, the legal frameworks should be fair and enforced impartially particularly the laws on human rights.

The administration must continue to pay heightened interest to performance evaluation at the individual, collective and organisational levels of the disciplined forces and the selection of recruits. The obligations and demands on officers of the military and the expectations of the public should remain high with professionalism, honour and dignity. It’s the duty of the Commander in Chief and the Defence Board to monitor the performance and behaviour of these officers and new recruits whose aims are to rob, kill and harass ordinary citizens on a daily basis.

Crime fighting and prevention has two prerequisites. The first and foremost is widespread public support and the second is concerted action. But to do that the Police and Army must uphold the deeds and respect the traditions of the rule of law and commit themselves to the citizens of this country by protecting them.

To understand a particular organisational order, therefore, the administration must take into account of the nature of problems faced by the army and police in its historical formation and development and the historical processes which allowed parallel distinctions. Evidence of increasing party reliance on the military was provided by its role in the 1973 general elections there were complaints that it played a central role in electoral tampering.

Good governance requires impartial enforcement of laws and requires an independent judiciary and an impartial and incorruptible police force.
MOHAMED KHAN