People saved democracy - Minister Anura Yapa

Lakshmi DE SILVA

*Most free and fair election

*Even Ranil agreed polls free and fair

*JVP planned post-polls violence

*Opposition did not respect Polls Chief’s verdict

Although the Opposition politicians were crying out against the government, the people saved democracy that was under the greatest threat during the last Presidential election.

Had the result of the election been otherwise it would have been the end of democracy, Media, Information and Investment Promotion Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said yesterday.

Addressing the Cabinet press briefing at the Information Ministry auditorium, he said there never was a more free and fair election in the country. All polling stations worked according to the election law, he said.

Six copies of documents about the number of votes polled were made for the information of all concerned and the count was done entirely manually. Even UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe agreed that the election was free and fair, he said.

“When the Opposition later started alleging there were election malpractices we remained silent till the Elections Commissioner declared the election was held properly. But the Opposition did not respect the Election Commissioner’s verdict and were once again repeating allegations,” the Minister said.

Had the group led by Sarath Fonseka who disregards the statement of the Elections Commissioner and that of the Opposition Leader, come to power that would have spelt the end of democracy and the multi-party system in the country, the Minister asserted.

He said most Opposition political parties like the JVP attempted to create incidents of violence across the country.

They roamed the roads and villages at night pulling out the posters and hoardings at night. Their nocturnal operations were done after 2 am as they were out to create disturbances in the country and not to protect democracy.

The JVP had formed committees to create violence after the poll and the NDF candidate had rented 70 hotel rooms in star class hotels the day before the poll and people became aware of the real meaning of the SF Operation only then. He had threatened people and also said some would be jailed and the NDF candidate’s campaign could be correctly named a campaign of hatred, the Minister said.

Details about a conspiracy and those involved in it were now out and it is clear that a non democratic course of action would have been seen if the NDF candidate won even by a chance.

We were also in the Opposition for 17 years once. When we were campaigning with a single vehicle in our electorates the UNP used 99 vehicles for their campaign as the Government.

But we did not say the polls were rigged but sought legal redress when needed. The NDF candidate’s course was aimed at destroying democracy and promoting hatred and violence. However the people averted that disaster and we wish to thank the public for their verdict that saved democracy.