ELECTION CRITICISM BATTERED. DEMOCRACY INSTALLED.

A.A.M.NIZAM, MATARA.

Similar to the aversion shown by terrorist proxies to the liberation of the East the urbanite arm-chair pundits in Colombo and the UNP suffering from grave amnesia about elections held by them in the 1982-1989 period scorned holding of elections in the liberated areas of the East, and endeavoured to prevent it by whatever means possible. The UNP which is now steered by a Velvettiturai link (the nephew of a notorious VVT character) staged a boycott of the election and claimed it would not be free and fair. Several NGO gangs made desperate attempts to use the elections as a gimmick to tarnish the image of the government and project an autocratic posture of the regime. Trouncing all these anti-national and anti-social hurdles the government has successfully held the elections for the local government bodies covering the liberated areas in the East with enthusiastic participation of the voters and without a single event of violence. The government has successfully convinced the masses that their destiny lies in the ballot and not in the bullet.

One of the notorious anti-national NGOs the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) made a desperate effort to ridicule the elections and tarnish the image of the government by sending a team of its lackeys on a fact finding mission to cover all the local government areas under electioneering and failed to produce anything adverse to the government or the election related violence since the rate of violence was extremely low and had to admit that “ The overall trend of election related violence since the date of nominations have been low.” It further said thaat “The low-level of violence is a positive development, reported in both the Tamil majority and Muslim majority areas” and wondered that “The reasons for this low-level of violence are not clear.” Some political opportunists and NGO vultures even question the purpose of holding the election saying that the people of Batticaloa have not asked for an election.

The racist political opportunist who is a bane for the Muslim community appropriate to be called as Rasputin Hakeem (due to slavishly holding the fondness Russia's Rusputin held) in an interview with the rag sheet Sunday Leader predicted that Elections in the East will lead to Warfare (Sunday Leader 14.01.08). This political discard even claimed that the East not secure enough to conduct elections. In an interview with the Island this political clown claimed that the volatile security situation in Batticaloa and surrounding areas do not permit the holding of free and fair elections.

The UNP clamouring much for democracy and devolution boycotted the election for two reasons. One being the inevitable defeat making it the fourteenth election defeat and the other reason being its inability to act against the stance taken by the tiger terrorists. UNP Leader Mr. Ranil Wickremasnghe said that the East polls signals end of free and fair elections, while the leading terrorist proxy in UNP said that the election was a calculated farce by the Government.

The UNP has no moral right to speak about free and fair elections. UNP is fully responsible for vulgarising Sri Lanka 's election culture which started with the bogus referendum of 1983 in which polling agents were pulled out from the polling stations and assaulted with the tacit approval of Presiddent J.R.Jayawardene. In the elections of 1987 Provincial Council Election, 1989 Presidential Council Election and the 1989 General Election, that followed subsequently, violence was rampant. UNP candidates used certain sections of the security forces and private armies to murder several prominent SLFP candidates, area leaders and polling agents. Opposition polling agents were chased out and ballot boxes were stuffed by heavily armed UNP candidates. For instance, in the 1987 Provincial Council Election, one UNP candidate got declared by stuffing just 200 odd votes in 4 polling booths in Matara Town . In the 1989 Presidential Election people in the rural areas were not allowed to vote and it was the UNP's election strategy to terrorise the rural voters and prevent them from casting their votes. The overall polling in this election was only 55%.

A BBC Video clip showed the TMVP Leader Mr. Pillaiyan visiting a polling both with several others totally unarmed and casting his vote. This was totally different from the elections held in 1983, 1987 and 1989. During these elections candidates and a score of others known as bodyguards were fully armed with T-56 and AK-47 guns and terrorised the masses in and around the polling booths. Even the Police and the Sections of the Security forces were used for pasting the posters of the UNP candidates.

Mr. Pillaiyan commenting about the elections has said that it was the first time he voted in an election. It was after 14 years elections have been held in the areas in which the polling held. Many people interviewed by news reporters have expressed their extreme joy for being able to vote for the first time in their life time. This factor is confirmed by the highest turnout of 70% in the Vakarai area which suffered heavily under the terrorist occupation. It is reported that there are several hundreds of unschooled children in this area.

The turnout has been very satisfactory in many areas. It is pertinent to quote the figures given TamilNet website in this regard. It said “ voting booths at Ki'n'niyadi, Chungkaankea'ni, Meeravoadai and Aaraiyampathi were reasonably busy with voter turnout, sources there said. 69% turnout was registered in Aaraiyampathi, 52% in Vaazhaichcheanai, 55% in Ea'raavoorpattu, 52% in Vaakarai, 53% in Ka'luvaagnchchikkudi, 49% in Vavu'natheevu and 47% in Paddippa'lai. However, there were reports of votes being cast fraudulently at the voting booths in Vanthaa'rumooalai, Chiththaandi, Peaththaa'lai, Kalmadu, Kumpu'rumoolai and Kalkudaa.” [TamilNet, Monday, 10 March 2008, 11:10 GMT]

Without the usual violence people have volunteered to cast their votes and have elected their representatives. It was great a success for the government's relentless effort to eradicate the gun culture and terrorism throughout the country and establish democratic institutions. Many people have trekked several miles to cast their votes, and the turnout of over 56% under the present circumstances is a remarkable achievement. The government should take early action to hold the provincial council elections and expedite work on the development projects in the area, and retain these liberated masses under the democratic political stream.

A.A.M.NIZAM

MATARA.