President’s victory remarkable, unprecedented - CPSL

M.P. Muttiah

President Mahinda Rajapaksa securing a high percentage votes of nearly 58 percent at the Presidential Election and winning a second term is remarkable and unprecedented.

It reflected the political maturity and confidence placed in him by masses, says a statement issued by the Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CPSL).

President Rajapaksa’s victory is strikingly significant in the context of high-tech election campaign of the combined opposition which represented all forces of national and international reactionaries.

The Opposition’s strategy in bringing an ex-General for the Presidential race was clearly motivated not only by their class need but also by the concealed political agenda to foist an Asian model of Bonapartist regime on the country, the statement said.

The CPSL further recalled that in December last year at the Emergency debate in Parliament it warned the country and the people of an impending danger of a militarized political conspiracy.

This had been proved correct by the revelations so far made during pre and post poll events, it pointed out.

The CPSL also warned the potential danger of the two processes namely politicization of military and militarization of politics with the entry of the ex-General to politics. The Party has now demanded an end to these processes and the restoration of professional apolitical standards in the Security Forces.

The CPSL has rejected the contention of some leaders of Tamil parties that the result had brought about a polarization of the Electorate on ethnic and religious lines. In the North President Rajapaksa secured 26 percent and 39 percent in the East over and above what he received in 2005. In the plantation sector, particularly in the Nuwara Eliya District, the President obtained 43 percent much above what he received in 2005. The Opposition candidate received only 52 percent when Ranil Wickremesinghe secured 70 per cent in 2005. Though it may correct to suggest that the majority of Tamils and Muslims voted in favour of the ex-General, it is totally incorrect to say that the result had brought about a polarization of the Electorate on ethnic and religious lines.

This is an over exaggeration with ulterior motives. On the contrary the result has in fact opened a political space for reconciliation and national integration, the statement noted.

The CPSL said the dominant role of money in this election was once again proved outrageous. Payments in respect of news coverage and bribing voters in various forms had become widespread and alarming. These are serious trends which should receive urgent attention by the next Parliament, the statement pointed out.