Northern and Uva polls

Soon after achieving an unprecedented victory over terrorism, the Government proclaimed that it wanted to establish democracy and pluralism in all Northern areas, including the newly liberated ones. For nearly 30 years, the LTTE had stifled the democratic voices of the Northern masses, eliminating their elected representatives and quelling any form of dissent. Now that the LTTE has been eliminated from our soil, the people in the North are free again to taste democracy.

It is in this context that the Government should be lauded for initiating polls for two of the most important centres in the North - Vavuniya and Jaffna. The Vavuniya Urban Council and Jaffna Municipal Council elections will be held on August 8, according to the Polls Chief.

This will mark the revival of democracy in the North, as it is the first time that polls are being held there after the LTTE's defeat. It is also the first Northern poll to be held sans the influence of the Tigers. All Governments have held polls in the North amidst various difficulties and LTTE manipulations. The results did not truly reflect the people's will as the LTTE intimidated elections officials and voters. On several occasions, the Tigers ensured that their proxies would be elected to Parliament and local bodies. Now there would be no such inhibitions for voters to elect their representatives.

Some argue that the polls are being held in two places which have been under Government control in any case. What they should realize is that this only the first step in gradually expanding the electoral process to the entire North including Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu which were regained recently.

First, the people have to be resettled there and all other facilities provided for their welfare, before elections can be held. This process is already underway, but it cannot be completed overnight as critics demand.

Once these conditions are fulfilled, elections to all local bodies and to the Northern Provincial Council will follow in line with the Government's policy of rapid democratization of the North. The East was a good example - polls swiftly followed resettlement.

Polls will give the Northern masses to sort out their welfare and development issues with people's representatives they can trust. The local bodies and the Provincial Council will have a major role to play in the Government's Northern Spring development program. Inputs of the people at grassroots level on the Northern Spring development drive could be channelled to the Central Government through the local bodies.

It is also significant that almost all the major parties including the UPFA, UNP, TULF, and ITAK are contesting the polls, thus giving a wide choice to the voter. Many parties including EROS and TELO are contesting the election under the UPFA banner. Such enthusiasm among the political parties will hopefully translate into a better deal for the voters.

The Northern Poll will get most of the attention, but one cannot forget the other poll slated for August 8. The Uva Provincial Council poll is no less significant, because it is the first poll to be held in the South after the defeat of terrorism. This verdict will more or less reflect the Southern public response to the liberation of the North by the Security Forces. There is hardly any doubt that the Uva residents would also endorse the Government's action to end the menace of terrorism.

Apart from the North and the East, Uva remains one of the poorest provinces in the country. Development should be the number one priority for the Uva Provincial Council which will be elected in August. The Government has announced special development plans for the region and the Provincial Council will have a pivotal role to play.

It is heartening to note all political parties are nominating more women and youth for the three elections. Political parties contesting the Northern and Uva polls must also strive to maintain the highest standards during the polls campaign and on polls day itself. Violence has tainted many elections in Sri Lanka, though the last few provincial council elections saw fewer violations of electoral laws. Political parties must instruct their candidates and supporters to behave in a disciplined manner, respecting their opponents and voters. A peaceful atmosphere is essential for voters to exercise their franchise properly. It is also important for political parties to cooperate fully with the Security Forces and the Police to maintain security arrangements and law and order.

We also hope that the parties would take environmental concerns into consideration during the campaign. The electorate can live without an excess of posters, polythene decorations and noisy megaphones.

The political parties can perhaps be given more time on the electronic media to offset any propaganda losses that may result from limiting posters, handbills and decorations.

The very nature of our electoral process based on the flawed Proportional Representation system, leads to violence and excessive propaganda. The authorities should move swiftly to introduce the planned electoral reforms, so that polls such as the ones slated for August 8 would be even more indicative of the people's aspirations.