The primacy of national security

The continued terror attacks by the LTTE have necessitated the adoption of special security measures by the State and most right-thinking persons would agree that the citizenry would need to adapt itself to this new security environment in the larger national interest.

The recent LTTE-inspired bus bomb blasts in the South in particular underscore the stark criminality of the Tigers and the State has no choice but to promote the adoption of a number of security precautions for the purpose of protecting the continued well-being of the populace. Our lead story yesterday outlined some of these new measures.

There are, admittedly. considerable inconveniences in submitting to the new security precautions. Hightech body checks for train commuters, for instance, are unlikely not to prove irritating for some passengers. Likewise. Being in a constant state of vigilance is unlikely to prove very pleasurable, particularly for those engaged in pleasure trips.

Yet, if the law-abiding majority in this country are to be far ahead of the LTTE's terror masterminds, these inconveniences and irritants would have to be borne bravely. By continuously outwitting the demented minds of the LTTE, we could ensure the safety of our citizenry on a sustained basis.

In fact, the State needs to be complimented for losing no time in adopting this new security regime. For, the enemy does not sleep but is forever feverishly active and very destructively so. Accordingly, the citizenry would need to be constantly vigilant.

At this juncture, a public-spiritedness of exceptional quality and proportions is expected of all of us; the body politic of Sri Lanka. In fact there is an immense reservoir of humanity in the ordinary populace and now is the time to tap it.

During national emergencies or at times of crisis this innate humanity bubbles to the surface, producing extraordinary results and it should be the endeavour of the authorities to put these well-springs of humanity to good use. Such humanity was seen in action immediately after the recent bus blasts.

The ordinary people sprang into action to bring relief and succour to the injured and dying and this was an object lesson in public-spiritedness which should be replicated all over the country.

Unfortunately, the pubic tends to have a short memory. With the passing of an emergency or crisis a dangerous complacency and smugness seems to envelope the body politic.

The barbarous LTTE are masters at ruthlessly exploiting these lapses of the public to unleash murder and mayhem. It is the duty of the civic-conscious citizenry to deny the LTTE these opportunities. Eternal vigilance is, indeed, the need of the hour.

That having been said, it does not follow that the law enforcers would from now on take what may be seen as a back seat in the provision of internal security. Far from it. The law enforcers would be very much in the forefront of providing public security. The citizenry would be only supplementing these efforts to a degree.

The State for its part, would need to ensure that the necessary systems are in place to harness the energies of the public for the constructive tasks at hand. What is needed now is a sustained and continuous commitment on the part of all to national security.

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