Arrest this thug!

This is not the first time that the son of Mervin Silva, Minister of Public Relations and Public Affairs, has thrown his weight around. It is not the first time that Malaka Silva has violated the law.  It is not the first time he’s played cops-n-robbers with real weapons.  It is not the first time he has earned the wrath of all law-abiding citizens in this country.  This is not the first time the son of a politician took the law into his hands.  Not the first time that common thugs operated as though political connections have them special powers to browbeat those who crossed their path.  It is no wonder that cartoonists regularly lampoon the generic political figure with pistol, club, knife or other weapon tucked into belt even as the brute is clothed in spotless white. 

Malaks is not out of order.  He is way out of order.  And if he moved from out-of-order to way-out-of-order it is not he but those who treated him with kids’ gloves the first time he erred that are to blame.  First and foremost his father.

Mervin Silva is a colorful politician and even though parents play a massive role in turning children into who they are, they cannot be held responsible for the wrongs they do ('Arrest this thug' is the title of an article I wrote several months ago).  In this case, however, Malaka is his father’s son in word and deed.  Mervin is a known brawler and Mervin is a brawler who has got off scot-free each time he pummeled someone.  ‘Can get away’ is a lesson that Mervin has been able to teach his son because those who had the power to put a stop to such lessons chose to look the other way.  They were in fact providing a classroom for Mervin to teach his son the finer points of thuggery. 

We have to understand, also, that among those who gave the all-clear to Mervin are those who voted for the man at the last Parliamentary Election.  That was endorsement.   This was the harvest that society reaped, but the bitter fruit had to be tasted by some innocent bystander who in all probability did not even vote for Mervin. 

Forget Mervin.  What’s Malaka’s track record?   In 2005, Malaka and his thugs attacked officers on a drug raid at a night club.  In September 2007 he hit Chaminda Senasinghe in his was hit with a pistol butt at the Bistro Latino Restaurant, before his gang of friends kicked and manhandled the fallen man.  His name, moreover, has come up, along with his father’s when big time drug traffickers and drug trafficking is discussed.

These multiple offences would have earned any other person long prison terms.  In comparison, Malaka has been treated like a king or at least a law-abiding citizen who was the victim of circumstances.  If that is the case, then every citizen should be allowed to carry guns. Every citizen should be able to walk into any place with friends and throw their weight around.  If all this is ok, we can get rid of the constitution, the President can resign and a general declaration made public: ‘Everyone for him/herself, good luck all: Anarchy Reigns!’ 

It is no laughing matter.  About ten years ago, Mervin stormed into the Divaina editorial office and threatened everyone, prompting an editorial titled ‘Me ballath bendala damanu!’ (Tie this dog up as well!).  His antics at Rupavahini are well documented, as are his theatrics when he tied a public servant to a tree.  He has raised the bar for thuggery and obnoxious flouting of power.  His son has taken the cue, it seems.  Those who suffer Mervin must now suffer his son.  And these ‘sufferers’ must be made to pay the price.  

Long before that, this thug has to be put behind bars.  He is a threat to peace.  There is no telling what he might do next.  The ordinary citizen cannot be put at risk.  Malaka Silva must be arrested forthwith and punished as would any other person who perpetrates the same infringements would be punished. Anything less will add up to a massive buck that will float up the political ladder and stop where it must.  

Written by Malinda Seneviratne