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| Friday, 13 February 2004 |
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Deshodaya the national awakening wing of the Sarvodaya Movement dedicated to peace and development through consensual politics and good governance, regrets the untimely dissolution of the Parliament due to inability of the leaders to come to a consensus to resolve their dissensions. However as the Parliament has been dissolved, nominations have been called for and the general elections fixed for April 2 we wish to place before the public the political leaders and their party members the Maha Sangha and other religious dignitaries, and the civic leaders, the following course of action we can together take during this period: 1. To put in our maximum effort to ensure that no violence whatsoever occurs during the pre-election and the post-election period. 2. To abstain from doing anything that could jeopardise the ceasefire agreement reached between the Government and the LTTE and all parties to honour this agreement at all costs until the stable government committed to a negotiated settlement of the dispute is elected and is capable of taking the next step in the facilitated process. 3. All political parties and independent groups contesting the election to ensure that people of ill-repute with a record of violent conduct, illegal activities, corruption and criminal records are not given nominations. 4. Media to remain above divisions and work in the interest of the nation as a whole promoting free and fair elections. 5. Deshodaya on its part will fully assist the PAFFREL in the monitoring process and appeal to party leaders, the general public and media too to cooperate. 6. Deshodaya Movement with the support of civil society leaders will campaign to educate the general public not to elect candidates who have anything to do with the underworld, the gangsters and others who are engaged in unlawful trade and business. 7. The civil society as a whole including religious leaders, business leaders and societal leaders are invited by the Deshodaya to demonstrate through their action and public positions, that they support the above call for a free and fair election devoid of violence, whilst assuring that elected candidates are "fit and proper" persons who are committed and capable of delivering sustainable peace, democracy, devolution of power to the periphery within a united Sri Lanka, ethnic and religious harmony, elimination of poverty and improvement of the standard of living and quality of life of all segments of a non-violent society. |
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