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The Catholic Bishops Conference in a statement on the forthcoming General Election has called for the formation of Peace Committees to ensure a climate of peace during elections. The statement signed by it's President Bishop Oswald Gomis also appealed to the leaders of political parties, candidates contesting the election and their supporters to eschew all forms of violence and illegal activity before, during and after the election.

The statement: The people of Sri Lanka will be going to the polls on the 5th of December to elect their representatives to Parliament. The immediate political, moral, social and economic welfare of the nation would depend very much on the choice the people make and the representatives they elect. Therefore, at this juncture we, as the Catholic Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka, would like to focus the attention of our people on certain aspects that pertain to the conduct of a free and fair election that would safeguard democracy and ensure the development of the country and its people.

In any democratic nation people are sovereign and that sovereignty is enshrined in the county's constitution. And this sovereignty is exercised from time to time by the free exercise of the franchise. Therefore, the solemn freedom to exercise this franchise is fundamental to the working of a democracy. It is a basic fundamental right that is enshrined in the constitution and should be safeguarded and guaranteed. Any effort to deny or hinder the exercise of this right, by whatsoever means, is a blatant denial of democracy and stands condemned.

Unfortunately, Sri Lanka has increasingly been witnessing a serious and dangerous deterioration in this regard. With every election we seem to be moving increasingly towards an anticlimax which is only making the exercise of the franchise a plain and simple travesty of the sovereignty of the people. Far from it becoming a free expression of the will of the people to select a government, either by confirming the government in power or altogether changing the existing government, it is fast becoming a fraud characterised by intimidation, mud-slinging, character assassination, operation of armed gangs, vote rigging, non-delivery or forcible snatching of poll cards, obstruction of voters, destruction of public and private property and a host of such abuses. A malignant politicisation process has affected and afflicted the vital agencies of the administration.

The preferential vote has further worsened the process with a host of distortions, rifts and clashes, both between and within, political parties.

While the nation is faced with a serious war situation, economic instability, criminality and moral decadence, with all their resultant ills, our political leadership appears to be concerned only with their personal and party victory. The utterances being made by certain party leaders and candidates are to say the least tragic-comic. Their concerns seem to converge on superficialities and trifles that do not relate to the issues that affect the welfare of the nation. This reminds us of the legendary Nero who fiddled while Rome was burning.

All those who believe in the democratic process want the election to be held in a climate of non-violence, where they can vote freely for the candidate of their choice.

And only a clean and impartial election will instil in the people a healthy respect for constitutional government and reaffirm their faith in the ballot as an acceptable instrument of political change. The loss of the people's confidence in the democratic process could augur ill for the future.

As citizens, all of us have the duty to exercise our right to vote and play an active role in the political process. We do not give people any indication as to whom they should cast their vote, but we emphasise that men and women of honesty, integrity and ability, endowed with a moral conscience, should be elected to office. This appeal is neither sectarian nor partisan but a call to revitalise democracy and a new political culture.

Vigilance is the price of freedom. Therefore, we appeal to all religious and civic leaders to educate our people to maintain law and order and not be carried away by the culture of violence which has eroded the body politic. The formation of Peace Committees could certainly play an important role to ensure a climate of peace, before, during and after the elections. Peace Committees could help non-governmental organisations to monitor and conduct a free and fair election.

We appeal to all the leaders of the Country's political parties, the candidates contesting the election and their supporters, to eschew all forms of violence and illegal activity and help conduct an honest and free election. We appeal to all men of goodwill to respect law and order and uphold democratic values.

Finally, we entrust the future of our country to Our Lady of Lanka and exhort all Christians to pray fervently and work steadfastly for the peace and prosperity of our beloved motherland.

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