The people want an end to communalist politics and will vote for a candidate who will work towards resolving the major problems faced by our country.!

Panic among the campaign managers.............NOTEBOOK OFA NOBODY

by Shanie

As the date of the Presidential election draws close, indications are that the poll is going to be a tight one. Prior to nomination day, it seemed that the incumbent President was poised for a comfortable re-election. But events have moved with lightning speed and the President’s main challenger has dramatically narrowed the gap. At this moment of time, it seems difficult to say as to who has the edge. An indication of the panic setting into the campaign managers of the respective sides, is the increasing resort to violence, abuse and over-kill in the propaganda against the opponent.

Part of the reason for the narrowing of the gap between the two contenders has been a reaction among the voters against the abuse of state resources by those campaigning for the incumbent President. The public not only in urban areas but even in the rural areas are able to see for themselves the open use of official vehicles for electioneering work. Those who work within organisations where such misuse takes place, no doubt convey this to family and friends. Even those who were sympathetic to the re-election of the President feel embarrassed by such blatant misuse. Another source of embarrassment is the hosting of thousands of people to drinks and dinner at Temple Trees. The invitees are all intelligent people who understand that the event is meant for electioneering and that state resources are being misused for this purpose.

The old timers recall the period before more stringent election laws were introduced that it was legal for voters to be treated to food and drinks even on election day. The more affluent of the candidates could afford to be lavish in their treating of voters, assuming that their hospitality would be repaid with votes. The intelligent voters had no qualms about accepting the food and drinks provided and then voting for the candidate of their own choice. The story is also told of W Dahanayake who was contesting against a candidate from an affluent aristocratic family in Galle. In those days, it was also legal to transport voters to the polling booth. Dahanayake urged the voters to make use of the vehicles provided by his opponent to arrive at the polling booth and thereafter to cast their votes for him. The intelligent voters seemed to have done just that because the election was won by Dahanayake.


Politics and Sycophancy

The illegal cut-outs and banners that still stand in public places throughout the island are another disgrace and a blotch on the credibility of the President. Even before nomination day, much publicity was given to a purported directive to the Inspector General of Police by the President to have all these cut-outs and banners removed. Several weeks have passed and they still remain. To add insult to injury, the only officer who took action to implement the election laws by removing the cut-outs in Amparai is sent by the IGP on a punishment transfer to Kilinochchi. Thankfully, the Elections Commissioner intervened to have this illegal transfer cancelled in accordance with the election laws. Even if all this was purely on a Police initiative to curry political favours, President Rajapakse could not have been unaware of these illegal actions – both the unwillingness to remove the cut-outs and the transfer of SSP Jayawardene to Kilinochchi. So the public can only assume complicity by the President. The public have also not forgotten that immediately after the abductions and extra-judicial killings of journalists, prominence was given to purported directives issued by the President to the Police to investigate and apprehend the killers. The killers still remain at large. No doubt, we shall be told that, like in the case of the removal of cut-outs, it is the lack of resources that prevent the Police from following up on their investigations and apprehending the killers. It is a disgrace that the Police are only able to selectively arrest and charge journalists, Buddhist monks and others who are critical of the President Rajapakse and his government. Government politicians and their supporters who brazenly engage in violence and attack political opponents remain free to continue their intimidation and violence.

The recent Rs 1000 currency note issued by the Central Bank is another disgraceful act. The explanation offered by the Bank only convinces the public that the Governor and the Monetary Board have no sense of shame. It is a convention followed by currency issuing authorities the world over that the portraits of living politicians are not placed on currency notes. The Bank of England has the portrait of the Queen but it is because she is the ceremonial Head of State and above party politics. The Federal Reserve does not issue currency notes with the portrait of any living President, not even retired Presidents but. still living. The Central Bank refers to the portraits of Presidents Jayawardene and Premadasa that appeared in a special issue of coins. Those were commemorative issues, but even such issues were unacceptable in terms of convention. The Monetary Board, like their counterparts in other countries, must rise above politics and fiercely safeguard their independence. To make matters worse, what is featured in the currency is not a portrait of the President but a picture of him in campaign style. The currency note appears no different from the illegal election cut-outs that are erected around the country.


Issues of Corruption and Nepotism

Charges of corruption have loomed large in this election. These charges do not personally relate to either of the two main candidates; but there is a widespread feeling that some of those close to Mahinda Rajapakse have been less than transparent in their financial dealings. Sarath Fonseka is fortunate that he is new to politics and none of his associates have tasted political power.Several allegations of squandering of public funds have been made in respect of organisations headed by those close to the Rajapakse family. Whether these amount to bribery and corruption only time will tell. But it is common knowledge that colossal sums have been spent or mis-spent on ventures like Mihin Air and Wirawila International Airport. It is also known that a large number of family members of the President have obtained positions of authority in government or semi-government organisations. This may be for good reasons – all chief executives like to place persons whom they can trust in key positions. But many of those appointed by the President seem to have failed him and his government. There has been little transparency in their dealings and many of the enterprises they lead have incurred large losses for the state. In public positions, trust must go with competence, honesty and management skills.

Over the years, many of our institutions of which we were proud have gradually been politicised. In the past, our Public Services, the Judicial Services (including the Attorney General’s Department), the Central Bank Monetary Board were models of independence and impartiality. Sadly, this has been devalued today. This is a process that has come about over several years but it has to be acknowledged that it has been accentuated in the last few years. The Chandrika Kumaratunga government attempted to restore some of this dignity and independence by enacting the 17th Amendment. But sadly President Rajapakse, taking cover under the legal immunity granted to serving Presidents, has chosen to violate this part of the Constitution. It was equally sad to hear Dinesh Gunawardena, one of the more responsible and respected cabinet ministers, making excuses in Parliament this week for this constitutional violation.


The Issue of Minorities

It was wise of the major Tamil and Muslim parties to decide to make the votes of the minority communities count at this election. Leading Tamil civilian professionals and academics had already urged the Tamil community to reject the negative call for a boycott and to cast their votes responsibly at the forthcoming election. The TNA is the latest to heed this call for meaningful participation at the election. It certainly is the largest alliance of the parties of the North and Eastern Tamils and their leader R Sambandan made a statement that the parliamentary group had arrived at a unanimous decision, despite one of their erstwhile colleagues being a candidate. All parties representing the minorities have similarly urged participation. In accordance with the best democratic traditions, each of the parties have advised their supporters as to which of the candidates is the best option for the country.

As was to be expected, some of the campaigners for Mahinda Rajapakse have begun to raise racist issues in response to the TNA’s decision to support Sarath Fonseka. After the defeat of the LTTE, an opportunity arose for a process of national reconciliation to begin. That opportunity is being squandered by such senseless racism. It is this columnist’s view that any attempt now to re-ignite communal feelings in Sri Lankan politics will back-fire and be rebuffed by both the majority as well as minority communities. The people want an end to communalist politics and will vote for a candidate who will work towards resolving the major problems faced by our country - national reconciliation, reducing the cost of living and developing our economy, and eliminating corruption and lawlessness. In short, the choice that our voters on 26h January will be as to who is better equipped to develop the country’s economy in an environment where the rule of law and national harmony prevail.


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