Democracy on trial

The curtain has come down on the election campaigns in the North Western Provincial Council elections and now comes the most important day of all, elections day on Monday. The vital question still remains: Will there be free and fair elections? Certainly an election campaign is a part of the election itself and if we are to go by the mayhem and carnage that went on after nominations day, it could not be called a free and fair election.

What was the purpose of unleashing all this violence during the campaign? It is quite obvious that the political bosses of those hirelings wanted to scare the voter from casting his ballot . Thus it is incumbent that not only should the voter not be intimidated by this violence and that he or she cast their vote but also that the police should provide them protection to do so. A government in power is responsible for conducting a fair election and if it fails to do so it has failed in one of its primary duties. However much President Kumaratunga may accuse other political parties of being responsible for violence, it is her duty to see that law and order is maintained. Her advise to Nikerveratiya voters: 'Tie the offenders to a tree and give me a call to the Presidential Secretariat', simply will not work for very obvious reasons, particuarly if the offender happens to be a government politician or supporter.

The police on election day have a special task to perform. They should not act as political stooges of governments in power as it has happened at times in the past. Policemen should bear in mind that under the present constitution they are not immune from the consequences of illegal acts. They are accountable and be taken to courts and even asked to pay compensation to victims. They could even he hauled up before special presidential commissions for illegal acts done during the time of previous governments.

The Commissioner of Elections and his staff must not only be scrupulously fair and forthright but be strong and brave enough to use the powers vested in them for the conduct of a free and fair election. There will be attempts made to intimidate voters even in the precincts of polling stations. In the past attempts have been made to drive out polling agents of rival political parties. There have been instances when powerful politicians walk into polling booths and ask the staff of the elections department and politicians to walk out and return only after some time had elapsed! Great care must be taken to prevent switching of ballot boxes. All polling agents must accompany ballot boxes to counting centres and they should not be taken to other places such as police stations as it has happened in the past.

If elections laws are violated then the Elections Department should record and report such violations instead of waiting years to present a report on the elections

We do not have much confidence in the new phenomenon of election monitors who have made their appearance in the electoral scene. It is extremely hard to be impartial in this country where politics divide people. Some of the well known election monitors are known to be partisan in their politics and have expressed their political opinions publicly. Besides an immense number of such monitors are required to spread throughout the electorate if a fair assessment is to be made. Can thousands of such impartial monitors be found, even though they may have academic qualifications? The impartiality of some of these monitors could be gauged from their performances. One such group who call themselves 'media monitors' singled out The Island for racism on very stupid grounds such as the juxtaposition of stories! But these same monitors are blind to the blatantly partisan way in which the state media has been abused in this provincial election campaign The use of such powerful propaganda organs on behalf of the governing party itself makes the election an unfair election. We do hope that these monitors' will be able to bring out the abuse of state machinery in this election. The elections commissioner should not permit the dilution of his functions or authorities to these organisations, some of which are being funded by foreign sources.

Let the voters of the North Western Province realise that democracy is on trial in their province on Monday and cast their votes whatever intimidation they face from political goons.