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| Wednesday, 11 February 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| On the Campaign Trail..... A cross-section of highly respected religious dignitaries and civil society leaders, who addressed a presidential secretariat gathering including the police top brass on Monday evening on the growing crime rate in the country, commended President Kumaratunga for her consistent and firm follow-up actions to deal with this dangerous menace. IGP Indra de Silva, who made a detailed presentation to the religious and civil society leaders, on strategies to arrest the escalating crime rate said, the President had nearly 25 meetings with the police since taking over the Ministry of Internal Security, particularly following up on reports of attacks on certain religious institutions and activities. Political patronage, uncensored media coverage of crime and violence, provocative and sexually explicit presentations in the media and films, lack of knowledge of history and respect for culture were highlighted by a number of speakers, as causes contributing to the increasing crime. Speakers complimented the President for nipping in the bud, the incidents of attacks directed against certain Christian NGOs by mischief makers. Meanwhile, Freedom Alliance sources expressed surprise that Prof. G.L. Pieris had referred to the forthcoming General Election as an undemocratic move by the President. A government which refused to carry forward the peace process and brought governance of the country to a halt, has only one option-of obtaining the people's mandate afresh at elections, the only democratic way of a government knowing how discredited they stand in the country, the Freedom Alliance source said. Dr. Sarath Amunugama responding to G.L. Peiris said that what Pieris, Rauff Hakeem and others did in 2001 by crossing over to the Opposition was a "recklessly undemocratic" method of rocking an elected government unlike going for elections. GL had become "reckless" in his talks as he was when talking to the LTTE, he said. Mangala Samaraweera told party supporters at Darley Road headquarters yesterday that President Kumaratunga had the power under Article 49 of the Constitution to dissolve the Cabinet of Ministers, and then to dissolve Parliament. She was well aware of the provisions in the Constitution. Could have lawfully packed the Government home, taken charge of all the Ministries, the staff and the vehicles compelling them to face the polls on equitable terms with the Opposition. That would have been perfectly legal and democratic. She did not do that, he said. Instead, UNF Ministers have been asked to voluntarily limit the Ministries to 15 and stop the abuse of government vehicles for election purposes. Those who talk of ensuring democracy must immediately respond by returning all government vehicles to a central pool, until elections are over, Mr. Samaraweera said. By the Watcher |
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