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Victory for democracy setback for progressives - Vasu

The results of this election indicate a victory for the forces of Democracy as well as a defeat for the communalist politics. Yet however in view of the political and economic policies, the United National Party's victory is a setback for the progressive forces, says Vasudeva Nanayakkara in a statement issued on behalf of the Democratic Left Front.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna has been able to make some gains due to the opportunist policy of propping up the reactionary PA government that was moving towards a dictatorship. They sacrificed the emerging new People's Centre of the left and democratic forces for their narrow advantage. By reason of this betrayal, sections of democratic forces that would otherwise have been drawn towards this center ended up with the United National Front it adds.

The statement further says: "However we have to salute the commitment and determination displayed by our people even laying down their lives to save democracy and prevent the President from achieving her dictatorial ambitions. This Election was far more dreadful than earlier ones held under this government. This is very clear from the pre-election violence. This is borne out by the killing of forty six persons and causing injury to a large number of others and the extent of destruction of private and public property.

"The President used the state media and public institutions as if they were her own personal property. In addition to this it has been revealed that her Presidental security force has been used to terrify the voters and bring about a climate of severe violence and intimidation. She has used this division as if they were her domestic staff.

"The embracing of communalism to safeguard the power and position of the People's Alliance and the President has exposed to the world their moral and political degeneration. The fact that victims of murder and violence in Kandy were mostly Muslims only demonstrates the extension of it to levels of insanity.

The prevention of over eighty thousand citizens from voting in the Vanni and Batticaloa districts is another instance of downright corruption in engineering the elections by the PA government. The victory registered by the Tamil speaking people of the North and East braving the violence unleashed by the armed might of the state via the partner of the PA government is an achievement for us to rejoice.

All these only show the extent to which the President has used and abused the state machinery and her own position as President, in the most corrupt violent and intimidatory manner in this election. It is very clear that the election campaign of the People's Alliance was led by none other than the President herself. Accordingly the verdict of the people to remove her and her government from power is very clear and resounding.

Therefore it is our view that without using the fig leaves of abstract legal arguments to cover the reality of the defeat, the President and her government must forthwith resign in the best traditions of democratic morality.

"Our party faced this election under most difficult conditions. This was largely due to the abrupt turn of betrayal taken by the JVP in breaking up the Centre for the left and democratic forces that was just beginning to emerge. However we are satisfied that our party actively participated along with the masses in the movement against dictatorship for the protection of Democracy.

We rejected in principle the idea of contesting this election together with the United National Front. In these circumstances we have suffered a major setback.

"We consider that political organizations, Farmers and Fishermen's Organizations, Trade Unions, professional and other mass organizations should came together to realize the following goals by intervening in the political scene unhesitantly, with the support of forces against communalism and dictatorship.

To implement the 17th Amendment to the constitution by setting up the independent commissions and abolishing the executive presidency.

Suspend all military operations in the North and East and take all steps necessary to start negotiations very early.

To take steps to revive the motion for the impeachment of the Chief Justice and restore the independence of the Judiciary and the Rule of law in the country. To have an emergency program to alleviate the condition of poor patients suffering from the lack of essential medicines and facilities in hospitals and to address the frightening conditions of children's malnutrition.

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