Mahinda has now stepped in to the presidential battle for the third time with his rising authoritarian power. Though the presidential election has not formally notified few posters a day is being pasted in the walls of Colombo. Wimal Weerawansa who got an unimaginable defeat has rushed to the temple tress to render his support to the regime chief. Thondaman too has told that he would be giving his support to Mahinda. Leading nationalistic party leaders (Jaathi Hithaishee) such as Gunadasa Amarasekara, Bengamuwe Nalaka has given their consent to Mahinda Rajapaksa and Athuruliye Rathna has discharged his anger. Muruththatuwe ananda has taken his nurses and gone to the temple trees to start his refectory for the elections.
Maithree Gunarathna who is an eminent Sajith patron who was supposed to be the UNP General Secretary during a media communiqué made an opportunity to praise the attributes of Mahinda who ended the 30 year old war by criticizing the opposition leader Ranil Wicramasinhe. I wish to render my sincere benevolence to Maithree Gunarathna for exposing his open nudity for standing in support for his master when The UNP deputy general secretary Akila Viraj during a debate in the TV once told that the Rajapaksa`s are an undiplomatic and unqualified set of goons.
Various political forces have now started to polarize for the upcoming presidential elections. Though Ven Athuruliye Rathna has given oaths to defeat Mahinda in the presence of his leaders of Hela Ururumaya, Champika Ranawaka during the annual convention of the Hela urumaya implied that they would render their support to their old master after a bargain.
The Tamil National Alliance who is another major force of the main two parties has said that they would render their support to the opposition candidate who would abolish the post of executive presidency. There is credible news that few ministers of the regime are reported to join the opposition. There are productive discussions carried forward between the main opposition and other political parties, civil society groups, trade unions to reach for a common consensus before the elections. Already signs have shown that this coming president election is going to be a massive campaign of protecting or removal of the Rajapaksa regime in power. The Rajapaksa`s has started to appropriate ministers for monetary value. A provincial council minister is auctioned for Rs. 30 million and a parliamentary minister would be bought for Rs. 100 million. This coming election can be the most corrupt and abusive elections in the future. Under this context it is important to look at the activities and the behaviours of the main political parties.
One of the main parties in the opposition who can make a greater impact in the election campaign, the role of the JVP is seems to be uncertain at this time. JVP became the sole propagandist to carry out the argument that Mahinda cannot contest for the third time. With the existing legal and constitutional provisions it was the JVP who brought a strong argument that Mahinda cannot contest for a third successive term. At this time the lawyers committee and the former chief justice should take the necessary steps to challenge president Rajapaksa preventing him to contest for a third term. The chairman of the lawyers collective Upul Jayasooriya too has made his inquires from international legal experts and given an official notice. According to him the 18th amendment bill passed is affected only for the future amendments and not to the past, therefore Mahinda is not eligible to contest for a third term. However what is significance here is that this slogan only has an interim importance. If the Supreme Court gives a verdict in favour of Mahinda there is no validity for any political party to carry this forward.
By the way Mahinda is not giving much consideration for this chaotic legal controversy. He is aware that this legal hurdle can be easily passed. Mahinda has a very good rapport with Mohan Pieris & Co. Mohan Pieris who made a trip with the gang of Sajin Vaas at the Vatican has an innumerable pleasure, by now would have made a readymade verdict for this legal inefficacy. There is no doubt the person accountable for the state for the desired case that is the Elections Commissioner too has been given the required instruction. The Elections Commissioner who is trying his best to show his independency too would oblige these instructions up to date. By the way it is impossible to shake Mahinda`s agenda and his roadmap through a legal procedure. When Mohan Pieris & Company changes the ineligibility of the Rajapaksa, the Rajapaksa would become illegible to contest from which the inability to contest for a third term cannot be taken forward. Following this there is no legal provision available to challenge a verdict given by the Supreme Court.
The true challenge rises once Mahinda jumps this legal hurdle. We have to wait and see what decisions the JVP would plan to take when the Supreme Court gives its verdict that Mahinada could contest for a third term.
Before this controversy came to the platform, JVP made certain statements favoring the regime. Lalkantha once told that their party would go for an alternative mechanism against Mahinda and Ranil. Anura Kumara said abolishing the executive presidency is one of the core factors in the future and the JVP would wholly appear on behalf of a change in the current system. Lalakantha said there is no more a common candidate agenda once Ranil is enters the confrontation. Besides this the breakaway faction of the JVP, the Peratugami party too had a division from the mainstream opposition trying to represent a different candidate, where that decision would make an impact for the JVP. Meanwhile it is reported the JVP is not patronizing its interest to any of this discussions conducted by the mainstream opposition`s joint mechanism structure. But we can make few assumptions of the JVP`s agenda.
• Placing an alternative candidate against Mahinda and Ranil
• Placing a candidate from the JVP
• Boycotting the election stating that it is unlawful
• Placing a candidate from the JVP
• Boycotting the election stating that it is unlawful
What happens if a third candidate is placed?
Placing a third candidate thereby helping Mahinda indirectly is a great favor committed by JVP during this election. Mahinda needs an election with more candidates thereby creating conflicts among opposition parties. In the coming elections along with the government in power there would be a maximum abuse of power used by the ruling regime. We have already seen a trailer in Monaragala during the UVA elections. If contested separate it would be very difficult to face the abuse of power and the small parties would become a victim of the government lead goons and terror. A trust can only be rebuilt among anti government forces, if contested under an alliance. Therefore if JVP is going to place a third candidate it would be indirectly executing the most fundamental desire for Mahinda. On this context if Mahinda wins his third term, the JVP cannot escape from accusations for betraying the people interest as a whole.
Placing a third candidate thereby helping Mahinda indirectly is a great favor committed by JVP during this election. Mahinda needs an election with more candidates thereby creating conflicts among opposition parties. In the coming elections along with the government in power there would be a maximum abuse of power used by the ruling regime. We have already seen a trailer in Monaragala during the UVA elections. If contested separate it would be very difficult to face the abuse of power and the small parties would become a victim of the government lead goons and terror. A trust can only be rebuilt among anti government forces, if contested under an alliance. Therefore if JVP is going to place a third candidate it would be indirectly executing the most fundamental desire for Mahinda. On this context if Mahinda wins his third term, the JVP cannot escape from accusations for betraying the people interest as a whole.
If JVP decides to contest independently it would be difficult for them to retain their 5% vote bank. If contested a group would cast their vote for the mainstream parties. If it is so JVP`s full and total strength would be exposed which would be a disadvantage for them in future.
What happens if JVP boycotts.
We have two such experiences of boycotting elections in the past. First is the election in 1988 where Premadasa and sirimavo Bandaranaike contested and the second in 2005 when Mahinda and Ranil contested. First one was boycotted by the JVP and the second by the LTTE. On this two occasions extreme violence was exercised and in both occasions physical injuries were caused to the people who casted the ballot. What is important here is the disadvantage of this boycott is suffered only by the opposition. On the other side the advantages of these total boycotts were enjoyed by the ruling party candidates once it was Premadasa and second it was Mahinda. In 1988 the boycott was strongly implemented in many areas dominated by the opposition candidate and in 2005 a total province possessed by the opposition was boycotted. On this context if any political party try to boycott the coming election Mahinda would cleverly manage the boycott and gain the advantage of the non casted votes. Mahinda would create violence in opposition dominated areas, prevent them from voting, credit the votes to his account and debit the violence to the opposition representatives in polling booths. He would identify opposition supporters and chase them from casting the votes, collect polling cards, He would deploy his thugs and goons to prevent opposition supporters voting, attack and assault opposition supporters and even don’t hesitate to kill.
We have two such experiences of boycotting elections in the past. First is the election in 1988 where Premadasa and sirimavo Bandaranaike contested and the second in 2005 when Mahinda and Ranil contested. First one was boycotted by the JVP and the second by the LTTE. On this two occasions extreme violence was exercised and in both occasions physical injuries were caused to the people who casted the ballot. What is important here is the disadvantage of this boycott is suffered only by the opposition. On the other side the advantages of these total boycotts were enjoyed by the ruling party candidates once it was Premadasa and second it was Mahinda. In 1988 the boycott was strongly implemented in many areas dominated by the opposition candidate and in 2005 a total province possessed by the opposition was boycotted. On this context if any political party try to boycott the coming election Mahinda would cleverly manage the boycott and gain the advantage of the non casted votes. Mahinda would create violence in opposition dominated areas, prevent them from voting, credit the votes to his account and debit the violence to the opposition representatives in polling booths. He would identify opposition supporters and chase them from casting the votes, collect polling cards, He would deploy his thugs and goons to prevent opposition supporters voting, attack and assault opposition supporters and even don’t hesitate to kill.
Whoever boycotts the election should bear in mind following coming to power with the support of the boycott both the presidents, mass murdered the boycotters. Both Prabakaran and Wijeweera has compensated with their lives
JVP has a historical milestone.
If the opposition candidate wins the election it would not be a win by a single party but a result of a joint exercise of the whole opposition. Upon this obligation and accountability, after defeating Mahinda the democratic space created can be used to create good governance in the country. Within this space, important democratic provisions such as abolishing the executive presidency, implementing the independent commissions, changing the election system, certifying the right to information can be established. JVP who always raise their voice in support of these rights has a special role to play in this event.
If the opposition candidate wins the election it would not be a win by a single party but a result of a joint exercise of the whole opposition. Upon this obligation and accountability, after defeating Mahinda the democratic space created can be used to create good governance in the country. Within this space, important democratic provisions such as abolishing the executive presidency, implementing the independent commissions, changing the election system, certifying the right to information can be established. JVP who always raise their voice in support of these rights has a special role to play in this event.
If Mahinda wins this election it would be definite that the country would be dragged to an authoritarian regime denying the simple and basic democratic rights of the citizens. This was confirmed, how UNP MP Ranajan Ramanayake faced violence when he tried to criticize the president in the private TV channel and how UNP MP Harin Fernando was bitten by Dayasiri Jayasekara. If Mahinda wins a situation would arise, anybody would be taken out of their house if he criticizes the Rajapaksas.
Therefore, JVP has two choices; one is to be a partner and favour Mahinda thereby further drag the country into chaotic abyss or to be a shareholder for the historic role, help to establish the basic democratic provisions behalf of the deprived people.
Robinhood
Defending the rights of all Sri Lankans.
Defending the rights of all Sri Lankans.
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