PM plea to cops

However, fine words are not enough. Concrete steps are needed in order to ensure law and order, and many of the measures that need to be put in place to maintain domestic peace and security can only be initiated by the government. It is the government that has the ability and the responsibility to enact the reforms necessary to ensure the smooth functioning of law enforcement in the country. The PM must back up her words by making police reform a top priority, otherwise the needed improvement will never occur.

The first problem with the nation's police force stems from the fact that they receive inadequate salaries, which facilitates corruption. Training and equipment are also far behind what is needed. The first step, therefore, is to allocate the funds without which a turn-around will not be possible.

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The next step is to seriously tackle the issue of the politicisation of the police force which has had such a negative impact on law enforcement in recent years. The police force must be a meritocracy to function effectively, with transfers, advancement, and promotion dependent on merit and not politics.

The final reform that the PM must initiate if she is serious about reform is to end the partisan use of the police for political purposes. How can the police do their job if they are unable to take action against criminals with ties to the government?

The PM has urged the police to not mistreat the public. All well and good. But in this regard one must note the government's recent crackdown on the general public on suspicion of being opposition party activists at the end of April. If directives such as these are given by the government, then abuse by the police is certain to follow.

Police reform is a good idea, but if the PM is serious, then she must recognise that the means to enact such reform remain in her hands, and act accordingly.