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An 85 million Rupee question

Curioser and curioser. This cliche increasingly forces itself on us when we contemplate the pronouncements and conduct of our "independent" polls monitors. Equally thought-provoking is the claim that funds to the tune of Rs. 85 million are being pumped into organisations such as Paffrel and CMEV, from abroad.

While most of these funding sources are Western countries, the role of a US-based funding organisation called National Domestic Institute for International Affairs, has come in for critical scrutiny among UPFA observers, prompting the comment that this phenomenal funding operation makes foreign policy an important issue in the polls.

The prime question is: why do these local monitors need funds in these proportions? Has election monitoring too become a green backs-churning industry which enables monitoring personnel to lead luxurious, indulgent lives with accountability to none?

Couldn't some of these funds be diverted by the parties concerned for poverty alleviation in the more impoverished regions?

Paffrel has gone on record as claiming that it has received only Rs. 13.5 million thus far in this funding exercise but where are the transparent procedures that would enable the impartial observer to assess the reliability of this claim?

These are matters for the Elections Commissioner, who bears prime responsibility for the conduct of a fair and free poll. We hope he would impose the necessary accountability procedures on these parties and ensure that they carry out their monitoring function in the least controversial manner.

In fact a duty is cast on all foreign parties too, which are taking an interest in this poll, to adopt a clinically neutral role and to desist from getting embroiled in partisan politics. For instance, it was most unfortunate for the World Bank Representative in Sri Lanka to make an observation recently, which proved partisan and controversial, in the current context.

Is it forgotten - we wonder - that Sri Lanka has been a functional democracy for several decades with a proud history of a number of parliamentary and presidential elections, which we have conducted with a huge measure of success by ourselves? We would like to place on record that Sri Lanka can conduct such democratic exercises with hardly any foreign tutelage.

While all these foreign and local parties are most welcome in our midst, they need to ensure that strict neutrality is maintained in the discharge of their functions.

We also note that Paffrel with the National Peace Council throwing its two bits in has suddenly grown so sensitive to voting rights that they feel the poll could be conducted in LTTE-controlled areas.

Why this inordinate interest in polls in these areas when the Elections Commissioner himself has ruled that such a poll could take place in only areas where the Lankan police could exercise supervisory control? Couldn't this be construed as open partiality for the Tiger-backed Tamil alliance, which is expected to be popularly elected in those areas?

Thus these polls monitors open themselves to the charge of open political partisanship, whereas it is only President Kumaratunga who has proved a worthy ally of the minorities thus far.

The public is bound to have fond remembrances of how the President stretched out a hand of friendship to the Tamils and everyone in the land - even the UNP - when she was wounded in an LTTE bomb blast just prior to the last presidential poll.

The severity of her agony didn't prevent her from adopting a magnanimous, selfless attitude. Alas, we are yet to see such benevolence in most other politicians.

Ending the discord in Thailand

Thailand, which was an oasis of peace in a volatile region, is now grappling with unrest in the Muslim-majority South. In the latest incident, a bomb exploded on Tuesday close to a hall where the new Defence and Interior Ministers were holding a meeting.

More than 50 lives have been lost in the violence, which has targeted public servants, local officials, soldiers, police and Buddhist monks.

Analysts say that clashes between military and police in the South over operational command created a vacuum that was exploited by assailants tied to the separatist movement Barisan Revolusi Nasional.

There is no doubt that this is the most serious crisis faced by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who removed his defence and interior ministers after they failed to stop the violence. The national Police Chief and the Fourth Army Regional Commander were also sacked.

Shinawatra must take urgent action to quell the violence which has tarnished the image of Thailand, one of Asia's most popular tourist destinations. Some have urged him to adopt a new approach, which does not necessarily include brute force, in bringing peace to the troubled region.

He must also probe allegations that politicians from his Thai Rak party were involved in the attack on an Army base in the South, which triggered the strife in January. Thai authorities must also not allow any regional terror group to operate from its borders. Fears have been expressed that these could form alliances with militant groups within Thailand, further destabilising the country.

Thailand could do without these impediments at a time when it is emerging from an economic downturn and assuming an increasingly high profile in regional affairs. Thailand plays a major role in the region as a member of ASEAN.

It is actively involved in efforts to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and is spearheading the multi-nation "Bangkok Process" aimed at encouraging democratic reforms in Myanmar.

It also assists the development of its immediate neighbours - Thai and Lao leaders concluded their first joint Cabinet meeting on Sunday by laying the foundation stone for the second road bridge across the Mekong. Thailand also pledged US$ 50 million to Laos.

The world is keenly watching developments in Thailand as it attempts to deal with the discord in the South. Lasting peace in the South will add impetus to Thailand's impressive socio-economic growth.

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