Tuesday, 30 December 2014 00:48
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AS polling date nears, the tensely-contested presidential election is predictably also breaking records on the violations front. Election monitor in Sri Lanka, People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) says abuse of State resources for election purposes in the 2015 presidential election has increased dramatically compared to the 2010 election.
A total of 150 violations relating to the abuse of State power, resources and misuse of State sector employees for election purposes have been reported to PAFFREL during the first 35 days of the pre-election period. In contrast, during the entirety of the 68 day pre-election period of the 2010 presidential election, only 53 incidents relating to the misuse of State resources for campaign purposes were recorded.
The election monitor says the abuse of State resources for election purposes in this election is well-organised and systematic with little or no regard for electoral laws. During the run up to the 2010 presidential election, a total of 757 cases of Electoral Law/General Law violations (both confirmed and unconfirmed) were recorded for the entirety of the pre-election period of 68 days. In the 2015 election, with nearly two weeks to actual election day, over 500 (both confirmed and unconfirmed) incidents have already been recorded by PAFFREL in the first 35 days of the pre-election period.
PAFFREL has called on Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya to establish a special Police unit that answers directly to him, pointing out it would assist in enforcing election law. There are signs this could happen but Deshapriya has been content with feet-dragging that could have serious repercussions in the weeks ahead as the Rajapaksa election juggernaut spares no effort in ramping up its campaign.
Joining in the chorus, in a letter addressed to all secretaries of Government ministries, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has requested that adequate arrangements be made for the safe custody and preservation of public resources belonging to the Government during the presidential election. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka is another organisation striving to bolster the law, at least to some extent.
At first glance it may already be too late to safeguard public assets. Having failed to empower the Elections Commissioner on numerous previous instances, it could well be that local voters will have to deal with a bumper harvest of violations from that oversight.
It certainly is time for Sri Lanka’s voters to take matters into their own hands and think deeply with an enhanced political conciseness about the choice before them. For during these elections they are being given a choice, albeit a hard one. Yet, at the end of the day, for Sri Lanka to move forward, there has to be a genuine desire to evolve and adapt to the changed and changing circumstances faced by the country and the world at large.
For Sri Lanka, the war is over and it is time to decide what structure the future should take. If the voters demand a better brand of politician, then they will receive it. The alternative looks pretty hopeless.
