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Ensuring legitimacy

That every public servant of this country should discharge his or her duty to the letter is the heart cry of the majority of the people, now that election campaigning is entering a decisive and climactic phase. The campaigning thus far has been punctuated by violence and even occasional bloodshed and public concern has been high on the need to enforce law and order, in the lead-up to and during the poll.

The strict maintenance of law and order and the firm enforcement of official procedures and regulations are seen as essential conditions for the legitimising of the polls process and its final results.

Good news in this regard is emanating from the Anuradhapura district where the Anuradhapura GA and Returning Officer, W.M.R.B. Wanninayake, has been quoted as saying that he would not be deploying for polls duty any public servants who had been found guilty of committing election-related irregularities in the past. The GA had also said that he would not be appointing teachers as presiding officers at polling centres because allegations had been levelled against some teachers who worked in this capacity in past polls.

We hope the Anuradhapura GA's example will be emulated by other public servants in decision - making positions. The need of the hour is a fool-proof poll and Government servants in particular are expected to ensure its legitimacy. Towards this end, all established procedures and regulations should be upheld and one could only be glad that the Anuradhapura GA has taken note of the need to engage only those officers with unimpeachable reputations.

It wouldn't be beside the point to recollect the infamous 1982 DDC elections in Jaffna, where senior public servants, were subjected to political pressure to appoint as Returning Officers, men hand-picked by the then regime. That this rigged poll sparked off Sri Lanka's 17 year democratic decline is no secret. It is vitally important, therefore, that women and men of strong character and faultless public service records are given the responsibility of conducting the poll.

There are important lessons have for also political leaders and activists. We have time and again bemoaned the fact that political hot-heads who run amok at election time have not been reined-in by political leaders and organisers. Many persons with criminal records have also been given the opportunity to run for election. These negligent practices gave rise to the not called the "criminalization of politics". How much more peaceful polls in Sri Lanka would be if would-be contestants were screened meticulously and only those with sound reputations were allowed to run for election?

• Editorial of  The Observer - 22.11.2001:Controlling the Police
  

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