Towards a peaceful poll
ELECTIONS Commissioner Dayananda
Dissanayake has struck the correct note at the beginning of a crucial
phase in the current electioneering by focusing on the need for a
violence-free poll.
Needless to say, the "ordinary people" will be with the Elections
Commissioner in his efforts to ensure a clean election, free of
intimidation, coercion, power abuse, bloodshed and the misuse of public
resources and facilities.
It is now left to the Presidential candidates - in their interests
and those of Sri Lanka - to abide by the Elections Commissioner's
regulations which are patently fair and well-intentioned.
Coinciding with these stipulated requirements by the Commissioner
comes a massive cleaning-up operation in the country with all publicly
displayed propaganda material of the Presidential hopefuls being swept
off their pedestals and quickly disposed of.
The cleaning of this mess is pre-election requirement and we hope all
Presidential contenders would cooperate with the authorities.
A clear, fairly conducted poll would be a pride of Sri Lanka and not
simply of the State and we hope there would no be resistance in any
quarter to the implementation of the polls-related requirements laid
down by the Elections Commissioner.
We also call upon the law enforcers and the Police Department in
particular, to cooperate most readily with the Elections Commission. As
we see it, this is a testing time of the integrity and efficiency of the
Police.
The challenge before the Police is to act with rigid impartiality and
absolute fearlessness. The Police should not be seen as siding with this
or that candidate or this or that party. On the contrary, the Police is
obliged to implement the due process of the law.
The Police should not consider itself an appendage of any
personalities and groups but should adhere to the word and spirit of the
law while discharging its duties.
It needs to consider the National Police Commission - whose
responsibility it is to ensure the integrity and independence of the
Police - a vital source of strength and sustenance particularly at
junctures such as these when the mettle of our law-enforcers is
stringently tested.
As for the candidates and their parties, we wish to say - as we have
often said in the past - that they should ensure that their supporters
and the rank-and-file of their parties respect the law of the land
absolutely and unreservedly.
We wish to repeat that codes of conduct need to be drawn-up for party
supporters and campaigners and scrupulously implemented. Party leaders
and the candidates themselves need to assure that these essential duties
and requirements are met.
Besides, the candidates themselves need to enter into a non-violence
compact and set the correct example by closely observing it. This too we
have often said in the past and we hope our appeal to the candidates
would not turn out to be a cry in the wilderness.
It has been Sri Lanka's unfortunate experience over the decades that
election-time has proved a time for savagery and maniacal mayhem. Such
times prove as no other that "life is nasty, brutish and short."
May this not be so this time round is our fervent wish. Those abiding
by the Dhamma are protected by the Dhamma. Likewise, we believe that a
country which abides by the law fully and absolutely is protected by it.
We are famous as a people for religious observances of numerous
kinds. This is formal or organised religion only. The essential
requirement now is to practise the core values of our religions - love,
compassion and service to others.
Tragedy in Pakistan
ASIA is still recovering from one of the biggest-ever natural
disasters - the December 26, 2004 tsunami that resulted from an undersea
quake measuring 9.3 on the Richter scale.
Pakistan was mercifully spared by the tsunami, but Saturday on-ground
7.6 magnitude earthquake is reported to have killed up to 30,000 people
there. The quake was the strongest to hit South Asia in a century.
Despite enormous advances in technology, we still cannot predict
earthquakes with any accuracy. By tracing fault lines and
inter-continental drift, we can vaguely say which areas are prone to
earthquakes. But no one still knows where and when the next quake will
strike.
With on-ground and undersea quakes occurring rather frequently,
seismically speaking, Sri Lanka cannot afford to neglect the warning
signs.
Sri Lanka and Indonesia bore the brunt of the tsunami and with
another powerful earthquake occurring in the region, we have to realise
that we are in an earthquake-prone zone. But are we really prepared for
such an eventuality ?
Almost all of our buildings, except for a few that were built after
the tsunami, are not earthquake resistant. No building will be safe from
a 9.0 or 10.0 quake, but most of our buildings will not withstand even a
moderate quake.
That has to be factored in in all building projects. Our Security
Forces, Police and Fire Brigades must also be given appropriate
post-earthquake search and rescue training.
A proper tsunami warning system that reaches the grassroots level is
also essential. International efforts are proceeding to install a
tsunami warning system for the India Ocean.
In the end, Nature will always emerge on top. We cannot defy its
might, but we may be able to minimise the damage that it causes by
adopting various technologies and strategies. |