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Democracy and polls
irregularities
Elections
Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya’s recent statement to the effect
that every precaution is being taken to guard against
irregularities at the forthcoming Provincial Council polls would
have been warmly welcomed by those having the national interest
at heart. We take this position because polls conducted cleanly
and in terms of the law would be in everyone’s interest.
Nevertheless, it should be a matter for happiness that the
democratic process is continuing without hindrance, although
there are sections which are even looking askance at the holding
of these provincial elections, claiming, among things, that the
state is overly interested in elections. This comes as a
surprise because the Opposition ought to welcome these
opportunities to assess its standing with the country’s
electors. Crying foul at the very holding of elections is most
astounding because it is delayed elections or decisions to do
away with the conduct of polls which should have the Opposition
worried and not a continuation of the democratic process by the
holding of elections.
Be that as it may, we believe we are obliged to call on all
political parties in the fray and other relevant sections to
cooperate fully with the election authorities in carrying out
the upcoming polls in a peaceful manner, entirely on the basis
of the law. In fact, we are informed that the present
electioneering in the provinces is comparatively trouble-free
and this is indeed the way to proceed in conducting the polls.
The simple truth is that the announcement of the PC polls
took the main Opposition party completely off guard, since the
UNP is coming apart due to its widening internal divisions. The
party concerned has only itself to blame for the sorry state it
is in and it is only deepening the sense of pathos most sections
of the public invest it with by not approaching the polls in the
most positive manner.
However, it is the responsibility of the state to keep the
democratic process ticking and this it is doing. The citizen,
nevertheless, would be looking forward in these last few days
before the polls, to a qualitative advancement in the current
electioneering. President Mahinda Rajapaksa himself is in the
provinces campaigning for his party and he has drawn attention
to what needs to be done by the Provincial Councils if they are
to justify their existence.
The public of this country would be affected badly if what is
expected of the Provincial Councils and their members is not
highlighted during the polls campaign by the contestants
themselves. The public interest would in no way be served, if
the democratic process is mechanically and insouciantly gone
ahead with. What is most vitally needed is a public discourse on
how the interests of the people could be served by the PCs. This
must be a principal theme of the current polls campaign.
While the conduct of polls of any kind on a regular basis
ought to be welcomed, what the so-called ordinary citizen would
be looking forward to most is a full-fledged discourse on how
his best interests could be served by the governing institutions
of this country, at the central, provincial and Local Government
levels. If one is honest, it cannot be held that this happens to
the desired degree.
It is for this and other relevant reasons that polls
irregularities must be guarded against and with the cooperation
of all concerned sections. What is at stake in these polls is
democracy itself and all parties in the fray should, ideally,
arrive at the consensus that it is the people’s empowerment
through the democratic process which should be aimed at.
Finally, democracy, understood as people’s empowerment, must
emerge the winner. |
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SL Armed Forces driven by humanitarian spirit -
Part III :
‘Togetherness, absolutely essential’
However important and relevant economic
considerations may be, it would be quite futile to imagine that it
is the sole cause of terrorism in the world today. University
professors, engineers, doctors, lawyers, all these people have
become terrorists in different parts of the world, not through
economic deprivation, but the causes in those cases have to be
sought elsewhere. That is why a sense of togetherness and
inclusivity in the body politic is absolutely essential to ensure
that our country never goes through the travails and tribulations
that afflicted us during the last quarter of a century.
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NAM and changing global power relations
East Asia, which is currently the scene to a
multiplicity of regional tensions, besides being an arena of
unprecedented economic dynamism and productivity, is also part of
what is considered the ‘energy demand heartland’ of the world. That
is, the region has an abundance of oil and gas deposits which many a
major power may be seeking to exercise control over.
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How the Gemunu Watch does SL proud
The pioneer Battalions of the Gemunu Watch were
first awarded President’s and Regimental Colours by President JR
Jayewardene on August 15,1980 at the Galle esplanade. The historic
ramparts of the Galle Fort provided a fitting backdrop to the
ceremony which was well attended by a large and appreciative Ruhuna
citizenry. It is a unique honour that three Gemunu Watch battalions
have been awarded colours on one occasion. The Gemunu Watch today
consists of 23 battalions.
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The Right to a fair trial
I have been deeply disturbed by some reactions
to what seems a spate of criminality relating to the abuse of
children. The argument is that we should respond to this by
reintroducing capital punishment. This is absurd, and not only
because punishment should always fit the crime. Capital punishment
for murder is another question, but that we already have, and the
simple fact that it has not been implemented indicates the deep
disquiet felt in general about the process.
Full Story
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