President stresses value of the vote

by Duminda Guruge

The value of the franchise should be realised and the people have a duty to take a correct decision on the person who should be elected to power, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said yesterday.

"He should also be led on the correct path," President Kumaratugna said.

Speaking at a function held at President's House to pay compensation to families of political violence victims of 2001 and 2004 Elections, President Kumaratunga said she was pleased that she could leave the presidency having created an atmosphere where all could live without fear or suspicion.

The Government spent Rs. 171 million on compensation payments to victims of political violence during the 2001 and 2004 General Elections as recommended by the Presidential Committee appointed by President Kumaratunga.

This is in addition to the Rs. 5 million donated from the President's fund in 2002 to families of 65 persons killed by political violence. A total of 2,820 persons were affected by political violence in 2001-2004 elections.

The President said that the cult of political violence spread only after the 1977 General Election. The country lost many emerging leaders and worthy persons as a consequence of political violence.

Police lost its impartiality owing to political influence. "The JVP veered towards violence in 1971 and 1988-89, leading to the deaths of thousands of youth as a result of one man's distorted mentality. Thousands of Tamil people were affected in the Black July of 1983."

The President recalled that she received a mandate to eliminate the fear psychosis, which she accomplished soon after coming to power. The JVP's entry to mainstream politics too was facilitated.

"One reason for the violent leanings was that people had allowed the wrong persons to come to power. This is a serious matter. There are persons like this in all parties."

The committee on political violence was appointed by the President following a Cabinet decision to pay compensation to victims of political violence of 2001 and 2004 elections.

The three-member committee comprised former Sabaragamuwa Governor Saliya Mathew (Chairman) A. A. de Silva, PC and K. M. Ariyaratne, a former district secretary.