Democracy sent to the gallows !

Monday was a black day for all Sri Lanka. The violence on an umprecedented scale that took place in the North Western Province Council polls and the near breakdown of the electoral proces raises the question: Whither Sri Lanka ?

President Chandrika Kumaratunga herself agreeing that there should be repolling in the polling stations that came under the attack of political goondas is admission that the electoral process had broken down to some extent. The Commissioner of Elections, Mr. Dayananda Dissanayake, was reported as saying that he had received reports of vote rigging, stuffing of ballot boxes and other offences. The best that could be done to save democracy is to declare this whole election null and void as requested by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. But whether the Elections Commissioner is vested with such powers under the Provincial Councils Act is not clear. The Elections Commissioner should act fearlessly because he is given a fair degree of protection by the constitution. He is an independent officer. His salary is determined by parliament and cannot be diminished during his term of office. He can be removed only on an address by the president to parliament. At the time of writing, his decisions are not known but his duty is to declare whether this was a free and fair election or not and act accordingly. Whatever he decides on, it will go down in history.

What matters is not who will control the North Western Provincial Council. What matters is that democracy in this country is at stake. Puerile attempts are being made on state TV by ministers to state that the UNP conspired with government officials to rig the elections. Such statements will provide much merriment because the election results will indicate on whose behalf the elections were rigged. How the UNP could lose an election after such mass scale rigging by them, as alleged, defies the human mind. In earlier elections, there had been thuggery, polling agents of some political parties being driven out and even voters standing in line to cast their ballots being mowed down by machine-gun fire as it happened in the 1990 elections. But this election takes the cake in the disproportionate number of votes received by certain parties where the usual difference has never been between 10 percent of the votes cast. It is clearly a case of an ‘ Overkill"

What happens next? What happens to the other provincial council elections? Are they to go down the same Wayamba way ? If so it is a case of Sri Lanka once again heading for anarchy. In 1971, 1983 and 1989-90 the country was tottering on the brink of anarchy. If this Wayamba style of elections is to prevail, then we will be reaching the same state in the near future. If the people are not permitted to decide on their representatives with the use of the secret ballot, then we will be heading for crises like in Algeria and Rwanda.

What a fall for this country - known in the fifties and early sixties as Asia’s showpiece of democracy! We were one of the few developing countries that were able to change governments through the use of the ballot and perhaps the first country to do so when it happened in 1956.

We have said time and again that the excuse of the UNP having done so for 17 long years cannot be justification for these despicable political behaviour to be repeated. The situation becomes even more dangerous when this happens under the People’s Alliance pledged to democracy and transparency and to clean elections. Maintaining law and order and conducting a free and fair election are the responsibility of the incumbent government. If it fails to do so, it has failed to protect the rights of the people and is not entitled to hold on to office.

Let the world outside know that what happened on Monday was a clear violation of practically all the fundamental rights of the people. Those who treasure democracy and such fundamental rights should tell the government what they feel about it.

Immediate action has to be taken to save Sri Lankan democracy. President Kumaratunga should hold talks with all political leaders and decide on the next step. It is clear that the immediate requirements are an independent police force and an effective and independent Elections Commission. Let the other constitutional provisions be held up. The UNP and all parties are in agreement with the proposals for an independent Police Commission and Elections Commission, made by Justice Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris. If they cannot enact these provisions soon let the people realise that all lamentations against violence are crocodile tears and pledges given to protect democracy, the rights of the people and clean government are not worth the paper they have been written on.