Sri Lanka Presidential Poll: A resounding but fractured verdict
January 28th, 2010
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj
The electoral verdict, stunning and conclusive on the whole, has some cracks in parts. As the President of the whole country, Mahinda Rajapaksa must take the initiative and reach out to those sections of the people who have been alienated in terms of ethnicity, class, and the urban-rural divide.
Young supporters of Sri Lanka’s People’s Alliance run down the street draped in party flags during celebrations of the announcement of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s re-election on January 27-Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images-see more-Times UK
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has scored a stunning victory in Sri Lanka’s presidential election. While the winning margin of 17.73 per cent is remarkable, the opposition candidate, retired Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka, has asked for an annulment of the election, alleging intimidatory violence, misuse of the government machinery, especially the state-owned media, and ‘vote rigging.’ These accusations have been strongly denied by government circles. Had the result been close, these allegations may have been treated more seriously, but the huge majority garnered by President Rajapaksa has deprived them of potency.
Elected executive President on November 17, 2005, Mr. Rajapaksa had two more years to complete his first six-year term. The decision to cut short the first term and advance the next presidential contest by two years-which the Sri Lankan Constitution allows-was a shrewd political move. The idea was to cash in on the popularity gained from the total military victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in May 2009.
Bringing forward the election seemed a very bright idea until the emergence of the Fonseka factor. The former Army chief, who was widely regarded as a brilliant commander, began nursing ambitions of becoming President on the strength of the military triumph, for which he claimed sole credit.
His entry electrified the 2010 presidential campaign. What was seen as a one-horse race turned into a real contest. With a cross-section of opposition parties ranging from the right-of-centre United National Party (UNP) to the ultra-left Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and minority community parties like the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) backing the general, the race was perceived as being neck-and-neck.
Initially, the electoral battle was all about who deserved the greater share of laurels for the magnificent military victory. With the backing of opposition parties, General Fonseka then repositioned himself as a candidate for ‘believable change.’ His campaign aimed at exploiting subterranean resentment against the Rajapaksa regime on account of alleged corruption, nepotism, and abuse of power. With unprecedented crowds flocking to see and hear the challenger, his camp was optimistic about edging out the incumbent.
The Rajapaksa campaign countered this by reiterating the need for continuity and stability and spotlighting the incumbent’s political experience and accomplishments. The landslide for the President has shocked the pro-Fonseka forces and shattered illusions of an achievable regime change. The election was certainly not perfect. But not even the opposition parties have so far challenged the legitimacy of the outcome or suggested that the several flaws the process suffered from sufficed to negate the people’s verdict.
What should not be lost sight of, however, in the euphoric aftermath of Mahinda’s magnificent triumph is the mixed nature of the result. Quantitatively, the mandate seems overwhelming but qualitatively it appears fractured. The ethnic divide in the voting is impossible to overlook. Both candidates received support from the three main ethnic groups-the Sinhalese, the Tamils, and the Muslims. But there was ethnic polarisation, with the Sinhala majority preponderantly voting for the incumbent and the Tamils and Muslims for the challenger.
The five electoral districts of Jaffna, Wanni, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Amparai (Digamadulla) in the Northern and Eastern Provinces polled in favour of General Fonseka. Sri Lankan Tamils and Muslims comprise more than 95 per cent of the North and 75 per cent of the East. In the hill country, Nuwara-Eliya district, with its large population of Tamils of recent Indian origin, was also taken by the general. In addition, several electoral divisions in the highlands and Colombo with substantial concentrations of Tamils and Muslims recorded majorities for him.
The President’s electoral district-wise successes were in the 16 districts with a Sinhala majority. In a sense, it was a replay of 2005 when Mahinda Rajapaksa’s victory was enabled by greater support from the Sinhala majority while the minority ethnicities backed opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe. It was estimated that in that close contest, roughly 60 per cent of the Sinhala votes went to Mr. Rajapaksa and the rest to Mr. Wickramasinghe. This time the preliminary assessment is that about 70 per cent of Sinhala votes were cast in favour of Mr. Rajapaksa.
Such a sharp ethnic divide in the pattern of voting does raise anxiety about the country’s future. It is imperative that President Rajapaksa address the legitimate aspirations and redress the real grievances of the Tamil and Muslim people. The total military defeat inflicted on the LTTE and the re-capture of territory retained by it does not automatically or even necessarily mean the extinction of ethnic estrangement. A political settlement rather than a military solution would help conquer hearts and minds.
Another facet of the fractured verdict is the urban-rural divide. It will take some time before a detailed analysis is available. But preliminary assessments indicate overwhelming support for President Rajapaksa in Sinhala rural regions while General Fonseka performed better in urban and semi-urban areas. There is little doubt that Mr. Rajapaksa, with his strong rural roots and an aura of rustic simplicity, exercises far greater appeal in the villages.
But there is also the class dimension. A hallmark of the upper and upper-middle classes, as opposed to those drawn from the less privileged strata, is the usage of the English language. Although a comprehensive demarcation cannot be made on these lines, there has been a tendency to categorise class through this linguistic definition. The election campaign revealed a hiatus between the Sinhala- and English-speaking sections of the electorate. It can at least be surmised that the English-speaking classes rooted heavily for the general while the astute politician projected himself successfully as a man of the Sinhala-speaking masses.
Against such a backdrop, some observers feel that the election outcome revealed a difference in support along class lines too. The sharp urban-rural divide adds credence to this belief.
All this demonstrates that the electoral verdict, although conclusive on the whole, has some cracks in parts. As the President of the whole country, Mahinda Rajapaksa must take the initiative and reach out to those sections of the people who have been alienated in terms of ethnicity, class, and the urban-rural divide.
Aside from these issues, the country is afflicted with a deep-seated malaise, the symptom of which was unambiguously revealed by the Sarath Fonseka phenomenon. It is extraordinarily rare for an erstwhile Army chief to challenge his Commander-in-Chief in an electoral contest held in the aftermath of an impressive military victory.
It is as improbable as Bernard Montgomery taking on Winston Churchill immediately after the Second World War ended or Sam Maneckshaw contesting against Indira Gandhi in the wake of the Bangladesh triumph. But this extraordinary development, however controversial it may be, cannot and should not be viewed in isolation. Rather it has to be seen as the logical culmination of a long process.
There have been two processes under way in Sri Lanka during the past few decades. On the one hand, there has been a politicisation of the military and, on the other, a militarisation of politics and society (albeit to a lesser extent). Both processes have been complementary; they were not mutually exclusive. Although these processes began in the 1950s, the prolonged savage conflict with the LTTE enlarged and hastened them.
Both processes gathered tremendous momentum under the current dispensation because of its all-encompassing, total commitment to the goal of eradicating terrorism by annihilating the Tigers. Despite the military success gained through this single-minded pursuit, an undesirable consequence has been the acceleration and expansion of the process of the military being politicised. This process reached new heights in the shape of ex-Army chief Sarath Fonseka aiming at the presidency.
By throwing his beret in the arena of the contest for the presidency, the general caused tremors in both the political and military establishments. In consequence, the Army was embroiled in politics in a way never seen before. A vivid example of this was the spectacle of troops surrounding the hotel where the general was staying after the presidential poll. Earlier, the country witnessed distasteful scenes of serving military officers participating in election propaganda.
In this context, the political defeat of General Fonseka could usher in an end to the process of politicisation of the military. Reversing this process and restoring highly professional, apolitical standards should be taken up as an urgent institutional task.
Several unfinished tasks and imperatives are on the table of the newly re-elected executive President. The great hope is that Mahinda Rajapaksa, the amiable leader with a kurakkan-coloured shawl, will face up to those tasks with political skill, responsibility, and sincerity.
(This article with a limited word count was written exclusively for “The Hindu” on Jan 27th shortly after the elections. It was posted on “The Hindu” web edition on Jan 28th and will be available on the print edition on Jan 29th 2010. The article is reproduced on this blog without any revising or updating. The heading given by “The Hindu” has been slightly changed – DBSJ)
DBS Jeyaraj can be reached at dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com
Entry Filed under: Current affairs
157 Comments Add your own
1. Sellamuttu | January 28th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Excellent analysis.Precise and concise
2. Lankan Thinker | January 28th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Great analysis as always.
I hope that the president takes note of the result from the northern and eastern districts and starts making some concrete proposals on how his administration is going to address the underlying issues that led to the 30-year war that caused so much suffering for everyone.
Like some other commentators, I have serious problems with the governments rhetoric about citizens voting for them out of gratitude. Unless they make some genuine efforts to building a lasting peace and address the economic issues that are causing cost of living to continue rising – it is the government that should be grateful that the people don’t revolt enmasse!
3. Wimal | January 28th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
The Sinhala – Tamil polarisation is cause for concern. Let’s hope Mahinda addresses it seriously and sincerely
4. Eugene M | January 28th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
good one DBS. Covered all salient aspects of result
5. Alex Eravi | January 28th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
World Agenda: troop movements ruined Sri Lanka’s reputation, observers claim:
The head of a Commonwealth observer mission to Sri Lanka said that the government had damaged its international reputation by deploying troops around the main opposition candidate’s hotel headquarters during vote-counting for a presidential election.
K D Night, the former Jamaican Foreign Minister who led the mission, expressed concern about the abuse of state media and other government resources in the pre-election period by Mahinda Rajapaksa, the incumbent who was declared the winner yesterday.
He told The Times that the abuses did not “substantially affect” the results of the first presidential election since the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in May but did affect its freeness and fairness, as well as Sri Lanka’s reputation inside and outside the Commonwealth.
For more: Times UK
6. Hema | January 28th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
If Mahinda ready to do the right. He should have done that without an election even. Do not keep hope.
7. Rana | January 28th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
I think this election denominate two things.Firstly SL people can choose a President without minority votes. So there no more need of King-Makers.
Secondly, Sinhalese feel that minorities always trying to surpress Sinhalese and win their demands. So until we all respect each other and think as a nation this trend going on. So to change this attitude politicians and religious,social leaders and intellectuals must get together and start constructive dialogue.The more the minorities think as their own ethnic point of view,the Sinhalese too think more about their own race.
So TNA and Muslim Congress must change their policies, And then the Sinhalese will show their tendency to get together and go ahead as a nation. Otherwise somebody think by supress Sinhalese and win their rights it is only a dream.
8. Roshan | January 28th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
The master analizer and writer has written a great peice of information.But Mahinda being Mahinda and his family now will plunder Srilankas wealth left and right as people have given him another mandate.
9. Ruwan | January 28th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
While the speculations going on regarding major fraud during Sri Lanka Presidential poll result processing, I realize that most news articles coming in to dilute the strength of this allegation. Steeling public vote, if happened is one of the major deficits and a violation of people’s rights.
From the way the poll results were coming through news I could see a major pattern of the result. Within this pattern it was made obvious that Tamil nationality had a soft spot Gen. SF that could have been used to prove that he has a link with pro LTTE and Tamils.
This suspicion was proved to be truer following the election commissioner’s speech.
The other trend was that India and Indian news writers showed grater enthusiasm to report the victory in question to solidify the news, which I see as some pay back situation from India to Mr. MR.
With many violence and violations prier to poll when everything went normal on the polling day, which was very abnormal to me which shows the people who were involved in violence and fraud were the same group.
The truth should come out because the voting right of a citizen is his biggest right and it should not be robbed.
Free Thinker
10. Sri Lankan-American | January 28th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
Rajapksha won this election by a record margin. There is also no doubt about the legitimacy despite cries from western media (who think that western countries and systems are perfect), disgruntled losers, and LTTE lovers. Polarization to some degree on ethnic lines are also not surprising considering the fact the one side had all the LTTE supporters and the politicians who still prefer to divide this beautiful country. LTTE took care of most of the minority leaders who had a balanced view and did not wear the ethnic-racist badge. Anyway, the elections are over and Rajapakshe is the leader.
The next question is the approach Rajapaksa should take to address the “legitimate aspirations and redress the real grievances of the Tamil and Muslim people”. Would you mind listing some of those for everyone to see because we keep hearing the above sentence all the time.
In addition to providing a honest list of grievances so that others can understand the problem, second need is several individuals/leaders from minority groups who prefers to be Sri Lankan first to come forward, since they will have an easier time convincing the majority any problems they have. Realistic demands would also help. I was looking at the registered voters (SL Daily News, Jan 26) and in that 73.8% are Sinhala, 3.8% SL Tamils, 4.6% Indian Tamils, 7.2% Moors.
I love to see a day all Sri Lankans love and work as true Sri Lankans (w/o Ethnic tags), without asking (or need for) special favors based on ethnicity.
DBSJ RESPONDS:
I myself have written so many times about the Tamil problem. I am sick of pompous “posterior-apertures`like you querying sarcastically whether I could list them.One species I shun are racially prejudiced ignoramuses who pretend to be above èthnicity`and preach to victims of etho -centric oppression
11. Jayantha De Mel | January 28th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
The RURAL POOR from the Sinhala dominated areas have voted in MR. They have endorsed his policies. Well, I fear for them. The country is in for a major corruption and economic melt down. They will reap what they sowed!!
For the minorities island wide they as majority voted for SF. They are obviously in for a hard time too. In the whole the country would be for a very hard time for the next 6 (8??) years.
Good luck countrymen, you need abundantly.
12. Rain Bow | January 28th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
It is hard to believe that MR would genuinely address the minority concerns. At the rate they are colonising and building Buddhist temples in the North and East and the MR statement saying that he can speak Tamil so there is no problem etc points otherwise. Nevertheless we live in hope!
I just returned from a three week trip to Sri Lanka. The ordinary people of North and East wants to be left alone to rebuild there lives and live peacefully. The so called diaspora activists should accept reality and goons like Vaiko should shut-up.
We hope and pray that the clouds would shift, those who faced uncertainty and death for decades would live in peace and prosperity.
13. Anthony | January 28th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
It is very clear that President needs to get Tamil parties in the government and Tamil parties should resist from making undue demands. I hope TNA would join the government and work for Tamil people.
14. ljlanka | January 28th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Mahinda got large majority. Now BBC and Others puppets who are working under the name of free media ( but solely established to destabilize small countries who are not dancing to western tune) are crying about the election results. When George bush comes to the power there was protest against the legitimacy of his election results. Those days BBC and those puppets were sleeping. The truth behind these accusations is very clear. British lead western countries do not want to miss this important location, Sri Lanka. This country is a strategically and economically important place for them. They can use this country as a tool to divide India. You guys can hide the head. But your back is open. Unfortunately the western puppet in Sri Lanka, Mr. Ranil Wikramasinghe, is not capable to do the job. Even after purchasing Sarath Fonseka and JVP leaders and providing consultants to this election campaign, it was not successful. You have to realize the reasons. To achieve your goals, We, Sri Lankan citizens suffered a lot. We can’t allow this anymore. If the west needs Sri Lanka to be in their side, they must help our country to become a prosperous country and a peas full nation. Not creating useless problems and trying to split the country. This game is enough now. You, west, have funded this 30 year war without any effort. Poor Sri Lankan Tamils worked in your countries under minimum conditions and they send that money to LTTE. In addition to that you destroy our higher education system. Make money out of higher education. Make money out of marine insurances. Make money out of all other services. Enough is enough. People now know the truth behind all these dramas.
15. Sanjeewa | January 28th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
“the Army was embroiled in politics in a way never seen before. A vivid example of this was the spectacle of troops surrounding the hotel where the general was staying after the presidential poll. Earlier, the country witnessed distasteful scenes of serving military officers participating in election propaganda.”
Hope not to see a such a distasteful seen ever.!
Thanks DBS,
16. Awas | January 28th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Great analysis DBSJ..!
Few more things that drove the country to the election hype and those results are
political overconfidence of MR and the government,
miscalculated popularity of SF,
Wrong timing for the election and a change,
both sides rely on their own lies and thuggery; opposition had more the first and the government more the second,
as per Tamils, seemed little opportunistic sensing a revenge, and Muslims though hard to understand,
majority seemed looking for a stability not instability
hence MR won comfortably but not with two thirds as wished before SF drama.
Though MR got fewer votes in North, East and Central, interestingly, people voted more for national (not ethnic) level candidates. Therefore, the government needs to do something believable and meaningful to these peace-loving people politically as well as economically; may need to find new allies to do that.
If SF retains in (the opposition) electoral politics as reported in some media, it will be a threat to the seasoned leader/s in the main opposition parties, but perhaps good for the balance of power and a change in our type of petty party politics.
17. Sunil | January 28th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
I Agree 100% for comments No. 8 Rana’s view. Thanks.
18. Dananjaya Bandara Dissanayake | January 28th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Very good analysis, well done David.
The history is repeating, the same trend as 1956.
SLFP is not there any more but the support of middle class Sinhalese is still there. It was blue then and now maroon!
The polarity is quite evident as always.
Though VP is not there, the polling trend is exactly what he would have wanted.
The Sinhalese are also divide along most probably in economic lines.
UNP is mostly made of upper class and the lower class,though there is some middle class support.
I thing postal votes depicts this.
MR amasses approx 70% in postal votes, mainly consisted of middle and lower middle class government servants.
Hope MR and the clan does not take Srilanka down stream,as their predecessors did.
19. Sunil | January 28th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
I Agree 100% for comments No. 7, Rana’s view.
Thanks.
20. Don Kiri | January 28th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Very good piece by DBSJ. Please write more and more articals like this. Wonderful analysis
21. Sri Lankan-American | January 28th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Dear DBSJ,
You got upset for some reason after reading my comments. I am not a regular reader of this column but I am a average person who loves to see a better Sri Lanka for all. Most average Sri Lankans do not know the real grievances you talk about, although minorities keep bringing it up and everyone talks about this and minority politicians live on it. Minorities may have had real issues in the past. However, presently, I do not know anything a minority person cannot do or not allowed to do in Sri Lanka. Language is not an issue anymore. If it is getting a job without connections, this is also a problem for the majority, especially for anyone without connections. If it is the treatment one gets in a government office, just talk to a poor Sri Lankan from the majority side. You often see disproportionate number of minorities when minorities are leading a place (with hiring authority). That is reverse discrimination. There is nothing perfect anywhere. Bottom line is that ultra-rich and politically connected get preferential treatment, and it is not along ethnic lines. However, based on the discussions, I am sure there are many issues a minority could list. Therefore, I was asking you (or anyone) to list a few items of major concern to minorities (or provide a link), just to educate the average person. If you have no time, I understand.
In this era of `google`just press search. `Seek and ye shall find it`……DBSJ
22. Lal Jayalath | January 28th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Tamils and Muslims in North & East vote en mass to an unknown general who in record reiterated that this country belongs to Sinhalese and the damn minorities are living at the mercy of them. Who has again and again demonstrated that he is an ultra racist and whose solution for the ethnic problem was to increase the military in to 500,000 and colonize the entire North & East with large military cantonments. This is the general who refused to stop using heavy artillery to prevent Tamil civilian casualties.
Good old Tamil politicians in the TNA endorsed him and reiterated that he famously questioned that why a Tamil or a Muslim can’t become the president of Sri Lanka. Did they want us to believe that a shrewd politician like Sampandan did swallow the hook, line and sinker of Fonseka’s bait? Did they believe that Fonseka would have shed all his life long beliefs overnight and embrace all minorities with loving kindness? Absolutely not. They wanted to punish the guy who defeated the LTTE which was the trophy for the Sri Lankan Tamils.This was at the cost of their very own existence in the 21st century holocaust in the hands of Hitler like Fonseka .
It made at least one thing clear. Irrespective of all empty rhetoric by Fonseka of winning the war all by himself, the Tamils know that it was Mahinda and Mahinda alone who did that. That is why they were behind his blood.
Anyway there is one clear massage for them in this election results. If the people in North & East are thinking of a peaceful coexistence within a reasonable political solution to their true grievances in this country, they have to work with a politician who demands trust and respect of the south. They will never see the light at the end of the tunnel by making underhand deals with political opportunists like Fonseka or Wickramasinhe for that matter because they will be rejected outright by the South. This has been proven beyond doubt time and time again.
23. Sachi | January 28th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Mahinda made advantages of the popular sentiments of masses as the winner of the war. The people paid him the gratitude despite all other odds in the society, no matter how hard the their livelihoods are in the high curruption, political thugary, and high cost of living. As a shrewd politician he knew it very well.
He and his clan including fellow ministers will take the maximum advantage out of the situation to destroy what is remain in the country within next 6 years. Very sad to see this tragedy unfolding in front of our eyes.
24. Sachi | January 28th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
To Rana and others;
Why can’t we see beyond ethnicity? Tamils and Muslims are our people, fellow Sri Lankans. Everyone’s vote is important. The president has to serve to all, to meet the aspirations of all the communities. We all know that we have problems to address URGENTLY. We can’t postpone them anymore.
25. Justice | January 28th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
For a starter one hopes MR’s speech writers will be little more diligent when he gives his presidential address after he takes oath for the second term.
Can MR and brothers rise above selfish needs, to be statesman and use this mandate he got, to solve some of the major problems including ethnic problem remains to be seen.
One thing is for sure if MR wants to go on history as the great SL politician who truly united the country ,he has to do a lot more than lip service to the national question.
Wish him all the best.
26. Cedric | January 28th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
To Sri Lankan American
I urge you to pull your head out of the sand and take a look around !
27. Nethmi | January 28th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
All above is correct as the fraud and manipulation of vote counting was not in the equation. If you were to take all these with some equanimity, you analysis could not be the final one.
What is the rational behind the political defeat of General Fonseka could usher in an end to the process of politicisation of the military? No the defeat was due to that SF ruled out all military process and followed the democratic process. That is where he failed. When the current regime followed all processes which was heavily breaching democracy with a dictatorship he won. Overall it was not a fair election. If you were to listen to the Election commissioners speech it is well delivered.
28. Raj Karu | January 28th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
Good article generally, but i think you dont realise what is coming !! If you are from a certain faith you will know the rules….until the end of time those rules will apply…
29. shankar | January 28th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
Good one DBSJ.
I always felt you were a notch above others.
Don’t forget to get on to that book one day.
30. concerned | January 28th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
Dear Jeyaraj,
Do you really think this voting was done according to the democracy? Did you listen to the elections commissioner’s speech prior to announcing the results? If you can, please get a copy of it (I hope that someone can upload it to YouTube) and see what was said to all of Sri Lanka. I beg you please review the video and then decide if SF actually lost or that it was “fixed” so MR can stay in power.
I have not said the voting was `done according to democracy`…………..DBSJ
31. Shivantha | January 28th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Very well written . I wish to add that one of the take home messages form the entire election is that , Karuna, Pillayan and Devananda are empty vessels. Thats something to be happy about.
32. shankar | January 28th, 2010 at 7:05 pm
#21- Srilankan American
Therefore, I was asking you (or anyone) to list a few items of major concern to minorities (or provide a link), just to educate the average person
—————————————————————————–
Here are just a few. No point in educating and knowing about the problem.. That is the easiest part and everyone knows about it , though they pretend not to. Please give the solution. After that i will give you another batch of problems we have for you to solve.
1. Sense of insecurity. Since independence the tamils have been at the receiving end of violence at the hands of sinhala thugs and hooligans, Armed forces, police and the state. Can you tell me what is the solution to this. Please don’t tell it won’t happen again etc. How can the Tamils be sure that violence will not be unleashed on them let us say during this century.
2. Sinhala only Act of 1956. Is this country for the Sinhalese only. Please repeal this act. And what is the guarantee that such an Act once repealed will not be brought again.
3. Devolution. The Tamils before the British invaded the country had their own kingdom and homeland. Isn’t devolution a reasonable request in lieu of a request to bring back to the status quo that existed at the time the British invaded. This request for devolution has been denied since independence by sinhalese rulers. Hence the tamils embarking on a course to bring it back to what it was 200 years ago.
33. Kalu Albert | January 28th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
The conservative politicians headed by Ranil is the one to blame for pliticising the Military and the writer has forgotten to mention it
Ranil traveled the world talking to his conservative supporters world wide, collecting funds and mustering support for this campaign while, Fonseka was still a serving military officer.
Without the UNP and Ranil, Fonseka wouldn’t have got even ten percent.
Tamils voted for Fonseka because their masters asked them to do so.The result is, they got on the wrong horse twice, sorry two wrong horses.
The writer got one thing right,which is the division between the Colombo elite and the Rural poor.
Now that the rural folk has given their hero a resounding mandate, I think the Colombo elite have to take a good look at themselves and think about the poor masses.They must acknowledge that the Kurrakkan President has provided them security and wealth through the current development programs.The poor house maids and other workers in export industries top up the coffers for them to enjoy their imported luxuries.
Based on the performance of the last four years ,the Kurrakan President definetly will lift the living standards of the rural poor in the North ,East, West and South.
Increasing the wealth of the country and ensuring a fare share to everyone who put in the efforts, is the best way to solve the Ethnic grievances ,I am sure the President is determined to achieve this goal.
My main concern is the agenda of the losers and their foreign backers who may embark on a campaign to destablize the country,
34. nish / los angeles | January 28th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
lankan thinker says “….Like some other commentators, I have serious problems with the governments rhetoric about citizens voting for them out of gratitude….”
does not this and the other narrow minded GET IT? the gratitude is that people were soo freaking FEARFUL to get into a bus or train to go on their day to day lives…and now they can (atleast SO FAR!)
the irony is that urbans who had the biggest fear and risk of bombs being blown off VOTED FOR GENERAL and did not pay gratitude to the President.
wheres the gratitude from the tamils and the muslims from north east or where ever?? Should not they celebrate the end of terrorism like the rest of the country?!
this election is a verdict that people specially from north and east who voted for the General and the TNA camp either have a grudge against the President and his govt OR they were hoping to elect a leader who entertains the LTTE political face TNA!
by the way mr jeyaraj, i enjoy your writes, but u may have produced this peice Bfore President said that he will be the president of ALL people whether they voted for him or not!
35. Saman de Silva | January 28th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
DBJ,
A good analysis as one would expects from you. As the results start to emerge I also felt the polarisation aspect of Tamil and Sinhalese votes as a general trend (Not so sure about Muslim factor)
However, I read in to the PE results with some caution and wish to keep my temptations to pre-mature conclusions at bay. The reason is the backdrop to this PE – namely, the conclusion of a 30 year civil war, 280000 citizens of the country becoming homeless, emotional aspect of the campaign and TNA being the dominant factor in Tamil dominant areas (who did not have a chance in exercising their democratic rights over last 30 years).
I would also be careful in interpreting outcomes of Tamil areas where voter participation seems relatively very low – in North, less than 20% and in East, around 30%. Those who did not vote are the majority in Tamil areas, i.e. winners are neither TNA (SF) nor UPA (MR). Obviously this could be due to many factors, but there is nothing to suggest that majority who did not vote exercised a grievance vote.
I agree with you and many colleagues here that next 6 years is absolutely vital for the country and its people. However, I do not believe we must leave the re-conciliation responsibility on the ethnically biased politicians of our country. That could be a disaster. We must have peoples reconciliation movements reaching each other.
In my opinion that is where the hope is.
36. Surane | January 28th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
His victory and tenure of office will remain tainted with many things including the inaction relating to the killing of Lasantha.
37. Safa | January 28th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Quite obviously the electoral process is heavily flawed, right from the non-implementation of the independent elections commission, misuse of state resources and media as well as alleged problems in the counting etc. Hence the legality of the election is open to challenge ie if we have an independent judiciary. Even if the president is above the law, legal action could be taken against the elections commissioner, police chief, heads of media institutions etc. The opposition should do this so that the culture of impunity is challenged and some change is forthcoming.
As stated by DBSJ, Rajapakse has benefitted mainly by the rural sinhala vote. This may be due to the immaturity of rural people when it comes to questions of democracy, good governance etc. Also the racist card played by stooges like Weerawansa and Ranwaka after the TNA announced support for the General seems to have had an impact.
38. Stephen Jones | January 28th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
I’m can’t see why you call the election result ’stunning’. We’ve got an opposition candidate with no political track record and no discernible program supported by two mutually antagonistic opposition parties who have spent the last two years in total disarray.
I`m stunned by your stunning objection to the use of the adjective stunning………..DBSJ
39. shankar | January 28th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
# 35-Saman De Silva
I would also be careful in interpreting outcomes of Tamil areas where voter participation seems relatively very low – in North, less than 20% and in East, around 30%
—————————————————————————–
here are the voter participation
Jaffna district-25%
vanni District-40%
Trincomalee district-68%
Batticaloa-65 %
digamadulla{Ampara)- 73%
I read of one fellow in the vanni walking 4 KM to vote. will you do that?
40. Nadeep Silva | January 28th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Good analysis. But, i do not agree with you over the ethinic influence of the election. It is not the Tamil people voted against MR. It is incact, Tamil Politicians who instigate inocent tamil voter against the sinhala president. Poor tami voter follow their leaders. This is the time to stop it and Tamils should take advantage of MR.
Thanks,
Of course.But the Tamil voters who voted against MR at the behest of Tamil leaders were Tamils…….DBSJ
41. aratai | January 28th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
.
As I said in my previous posts, Mahinda won… Why?
In Srilanka is for Sinhalese.
People with following names cannot win:
- Fonseka
- Fernando
- Kadirgamar
- Muralidharan
- Abdullah
- you know the rest….
These peolpe are visitors to the island, and can live with equal rights but should not expect more.
42. nish / los angeles | January 28th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
i dont agree with ARATAI (#41) AT ALL?!?! SL has a very vibrant, 20/ 20 style exciting sexy democracy that we should all EMBRACE!!
if OBAMA can do it in USA anyone can do it anywhere!
do u agree mr jeyraj?!
43. mahen | January 28th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
The Master Robber (MR) and his brothers manupilated the computer results. The entire system is now handled by shiranthi Rajapaksas nephew. Its a shame they messed with peoples vote. Dont worry Rajapakses KARMA IS A BITCH
44. Thamby VP | January 28th, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Can someone tell me that how many votes Sivajilingam got or tell me where can I find this.
It is very difficult to get information from here.
45. Kaz | January 28th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Good analysis of the election outcome.
Everyone is calling for MR to now reach out to the minorities, the minorities who clearly didn’t vote for him. His past record says he won’t. Why should he and why would he? The election results show that the Sinhala nationalists can win elections on the national level on their own right. The less he does for the minorities, more votes he will get from the Sinhala masses. The end result of this would be more Tamils fleeing the country. We might see the Muslims joining the exodus too. But that would suit MR fine. It will only increase his majority at the national level.
MR appears to have picked up a few strategies from former Australian Prime Minister John Howard who was a clever but very divisive leader. The divisiveness was deliberate. In taking a position that divided Australian society, he knew the majority would be on his side. That helped him to stay in government for over 11 years. MR seems to be following the same strategy, except in implementation, he resembles Saddam Hussein than John Howard. So his plans for the Tamils will not change after the election.
I have said it before and will say it again, MR’s plans for the Tamils are to keep them as an oppressed, terrorised and silent minority. Nothing more.
Rana, in a country governed by the Sinhalese, of the Sinhalese and for the Sinhalese for over 60 years, the Sinhalese feel they will be suppressed? Amazing logic.
46. Mano Manoharan | January 28th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Well done DBS.
The Sinhala population have sent a clear message. Tamils (and the minorities) are not wanted in the island.
Prez MR confirmed this in two 1-on-1 interviews immediately prior and immediately after the elections. He believes tamils have no problems and are happy to live in the camps.
Western values will be totally extinguished in SL in the coming 8 years. It’s time CBK, RW and the likes take a backstage.
The opposition can survive and play a vital role if it is in the hands of people similar to those in power.
Gen SF will make a good opposition leader. He has the potential to marshall grass roots support. he should divorce himself from the UNP; but the JVP can provide a good base.
47. Nadarajah | January 28th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
Did not the TNA aggravate the ethnic dividie by backing Fonseka?
We Tamils are more responsible for the ethnic divide than the Sinhalese. All the metropolitan centers, Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Negambo are multicultural and have shown a less polarized behavior. In the rest of the country
The Tamils votes for the tamils (as ordered by the TNA – Tamils have for 4 decades given up thinking, and instead folloed the leader), i.e.,without further thinking, and the voted foe their hero.
48. Tharaka | January 28th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
I think there is another fact emerged out of this election is most of the northern tamils abstained from voting this time also. which I think show TNA too were rejected by tamil masses. That means there is huge political vacuum not filled by any of the current tamil political parties. Do you think if this can be filled by remaining elements of LTTE coming into mainstream politics?
49. shankar | January 28th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
44. Thamby VP | January 28th, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Can someone tell me that how many votes Sivajilingam got or tell me where can I find this.
——————————————————————————-
Sivajilingam got about 9500 votes
50. N Fernando | January 28th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Dear DBS,
You article is well written and thought provoking but balanced reporting tend to hide the truth.
I think all Sri Lankan must read Comrade Rohana Wijeweera’s Our Solution to Sri Lanka’s National Question.
It is not very difficult to analyse and come up with a verdict or few suggestions palatable to all parties after electoral post mortem. The difficult and courageous thing to do is telling the truth.
If somebody says there are no problems for minorities. That person is either an utter liar or an opportunist. All Sri Lankans are denied of democracy, equality and freedom unless you a capitalist.
We need a leader who not only say hence forth we don’t have any minorities but show that in good deeds by finding just solutions to eliminate Sinhala majority communalism and Tamil/Muslim minority communalism. We lost one great opportunity and a great human being due to the killing of Mr. Luxman Kadiragamar by LTTE. How many good men who had the potential to change our Sri Lankan society for the better no longer with us?
We must place class struggle above all struggles.
51. Siva. | January 28th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
#10,#21:
Hello Sri Lankan-American,
Imbecilic comments won’t work.
Please try some thing else.
Have you read Emergency’58 by Tarzie Vittachi?
High time you did it.
Cheers,
Siva
52. ashok | January 28th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
to #40. According your theory..
Vanni ettho
Tisa hami
Kuweni
should become presidents..
53. Mahesh | January 28th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
One thing this election has highlighted is that there are atleast two different ethnicities in Sri Lanka. They are Sinhalese and the Tamils.
The Sinhalese have voted preponderantly in this election and they have elected their incumbent president once again.
The Tamils had two choices one between the MR and the SF. Both said they have no animosity towards the Tamils.
One before contesting said that the Tamils are minorities and they should learn to live like that in the Sinhala country. That was the General.
Then came the MR. Who gave the political leadership to combat the Tamil resistance and broke the resistance using forces disregarding the human rights and other issues.
For him winning is what mattered.
Naturally the Tamils had to choose between the Devil and the deep sea.
Whichever person comes to the office they will not be treated as equals.
They have suffered immense agony during the war.
The whole world was watching how these people who have nothing to call their own excepting their lives will respond to the call of this election.
Then some said vote for a Tamil in the name of the Sivajilingam.
The TNA said vote for the SF.
In this medley the Tamils have chosen not to vote at all.
Whatever little vote has been polled were due to the compulsions of the Douglas, Karuna and Pillayan.
The Tamils have rejected the Douglas, Karuna and the Pillayan groups.
It would be interesting to note that a vehement anti LTTE journalist like Cho Ramasamy used to say that we have to feel the real pulse of the Tamils devoid of the influence of the Sri Lankan armed forces and the LTTE.
People were of the view that the support garnered by the LTTe was more due to the arm twisting tactics of the ltte.
Now with the ltte eliminated the people could vote without the fear of ltte.
The people have rejected the entire electoral process, thereby telling loudly that they don’t believe in the State.
When read in tandem with the reaffirmation of the Vadukkodai resolution being done in western countries this could be considered to be an extension of the same reaffirmation done in the land discord.
This is the silence of the lambs and this silence has shattered the conscience of the world.
MR had said that he would give military solution to LTTE and after that he would give political solution to the Tamils.
So it would be interesting to note how he is going to give a political solution to this dispute.
If he succeeds in this then nothing is like that. He will be remembered throughout the history of the Sri Lanka.
Wish him well in this endeavour. I pray that he succeeds.
54. Ranjan from Toronto | January 28th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Hi DBS,
I have given my 2cts worth on the election and the results on comments to blogs previous to this and I don’t want to repeat everything again. I want to state two points.
Fonseka is not the proper opposition candidate. His post election “show” very clearly indicated that. Some fresh face like Sajith Premadasa might do the trick. Young UNPers should give Ranil the boot immediately and build the party from bottom up.
Mahinda has some house cleaning to do also. Reduce the size of the cabinet. Ask idiots like Mervin Silva to take a hike and reach out to the local Tamils. As far as Sri Lanka is concerned, the Diaspora is a lost cause.
The economic message got lost in the election, but country’s GDP has gone above $2000.00, stock market is one of the best performing in the world and even IMF had to move the country from the poor to middle income status. There is a lot of investments coming into the country. So MR only has to exercise some common sense and show some good governance, this country will boom.
55. ranka devid | January 28th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
MR has strengthened his base, and made significant overtures into minorities if you go by the numbers.
It is obvious Mahinda has lost a large chunk of muslim voters.
Northern tamil voters showed their anxiety and distrust of both the major candidates and denounced TNA by abstaining to vote.
Tamils of Indian origin has shown that they are no longer puppets of their trade union leaders , opting to use their franchise on their own accord.
Urban elite would have been very happy to vote for Obama had they given the option. It is only their body that occupy this land, souls are very much a transatlantic affair.
The real threat to Sri Lankas stability in aftermath of this election is the rather dangerous combination of dejected and disgruntled JVP and the military personnel who may seek to avenge the loss of pride.The president must do enough to diffuse tension, and reestablish the honor of sri lankas armed forces. The independence day would provide a good platform to cool down the vanquished, and repair some of his lost status.If this threat is not mended we are in for some rough times.
it is imperative Tamils should choose their leaders in the present post war scenario. I wonder weather the old guard of TNA ,or the ex-militants have enough credentials on this regard, as they have openly traded their souls in the past for favors. The average tamil citizen has much more immediate grievances like rebuilding and reconstructing their lives and society,for which they have to have a proper exchange with the sitting government. Could this be achieved with a group that shy away whenever the president ask for a meeting or the others who only consent those that they benefit.
56. Rana | January 28th, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Kaz, From Amirthalingam era to Prabakaran era all tamil politicians taught common tamil people that we must “kill all sinhalese and make shoes from their skin” theory. And in the East too some extremist Muslim politicians brain washing muslim youth the same way. So Sinhalese need a strong leader to protect this country and the majority. Because for the Tamils there is India and West to protect them. If there is no way to protect them, these countries might take all the tamil comunity into their countries.
For the Muslims the rich Islamic nations never let them down. So if a threat arise from anybody or any country Sinhalese have nobody to help. And they have nowhere to go. That is why this country must rule by a Sinhalese. I mean true Sinhalese like MR. Although Ranil is a Sinhalese but he has imperialist blood.
Finally Kaz I did not see any leader except MR who dedicate to minorities and try to fulfill their grievences.
I don’t see any specific problems tamils facing in this country.
57. GN | January 28th, 2010 at 10:19 pm
OK, minorities keep on saying they have grievances.
But what is this grievance really? It is just that they dont have the right to suppress the majority.
Minorities will not be satisfied until they get this ability. The do not wont a cosmopolitan and secular environment.
Tell them how people live in relative harmony in urban areas; they will have none of it.
They will complain and complain, without realising that the poor people in the majority have the same problems.
“Let us suppress you” is the “new pound of flesh”.
Long live the self-created shame eh?
OOh ,its all the fault of the darned minorities eh…….. we the majority are always blameless aah ….DBSJ
58. dharma | January 28th, 2010 at 10:20 pm
The president is a dictator. and brothers the election is fake. and control the country. the commissioner of election falied in duties he is in jepadicese.
59. Sutha | January 28th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
With the backing of UNP, JVP, TNA, SLMC, SLFP(Mangala), and CBK, -with all these backing the General came up with less than 40% of the votes.
Tamils supported the candidate alinged with JVP- who opposed to any sort of power sharing wtih the Tamils. So, Tamils who voted for Fonseka, doesnt want any type of power sharing-
60. Mohd | January 28th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
There is a general doubt about the results when you analyze it. The big margin of 1.8 million casts more doubt when you compare with 2005 election. I am quite sure SF is not worse than Ranil who himself narrowed the gab to nearly 200 thousand. Voting percentage too almost same as this year. Secondly, for an example the majority vote in Gampaha is more than 50 thousand, I wonder how this could be, even Chandirka could not polled. The ground realities are different than the people observe on net. No remedy can be expected from anywhere. Lets forget about as we do for many things.
There is a general feeling among minorities that President Rajapakse and his comrades never recognize minorities and their political rights. Its very much clear not only this election but the last provincial council elections too proved the same. Merely feeding and giving some peanut amount or haphazard logistical arrangements to IDP issues never win their hearts and minds. The classic example of Mannar result is more than enough. The Muslim IDPs who are living in Puttalam for more than a decade and few of them are being recently settled in Mannar, are well looked after none other than Minister Rishard. But that does not reflect their social security for which they are waiting for a Messaiah in the form of SF or Ranil sans MR whom they have least hope. Its not because of MR personality but the clans sorrounded by him.
Even President Rajapakse himself told during an interview to weekend newspare during the final days of election that tamils dont have problems, all what they want is job, resettlement etc and all these are administrative than political issues. If so, what about the promise he gave to Indian government with regard to the implementation of 13 amendment and plus, for what reason and whose sake the APRC and its resolution. All these are not sincere efforts, which created doubt on the conduct of the government.
But,in this part of world, politics is merely an art of survival than giving due respect to the opponent view.
61. upfernando | January 28th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
it’s nice to read your articles, I think you need a good break reg. to political writing. I’m sick of political stuff ( specially in SL) and eager to know something else. atleast, let us know what’s happening in your life? hope you are doing good and in good health? T.K.
62. Kalu Albert | January 28th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
# 54 It is the Per Capita Income Ranjan.I am not being smart. I just want to correct a very pertinent point that you have come up with..
By the way you are absolutely correct. Srilanka is heading in the right direction Per Capita Income from $ 1000 to $ 2200 in four years.If you extrapolate that, the potential is unbelievable.
How sad ? Even Ranil the guardian of all e capitalists big and small did not mention anything about the economy let alone the GDP or PCI.
I only hope the losers and their backers won’t put the spanner in the works.by dragging the country to the bad old days.
63. sjoseph | January 28th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
# 57. GN
The only grievance Srilankan Tamils have is to live together Sinhalese.
Srilankan Tamils are after all from another country and they need a place of their own.
Is it ok?
64. sjoseph | January 28th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
# 56. Rana
“Finally Kaz I did not see any leader except MR who dedicate to minorities and try to fulfill their grievences.
I don’t see any specific problems tamils facing in this country”
———————————————
You dont see any specific problems Srilankan Tamils face now.
What then your great leader MR is going to do to fulfil Tamil people’s grievances. Is he a Joker to do something for non-existing grievances ?
65. sjoseph | January 28th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
# 53. Mahesh
The pulse of the people is clear.
The ground reality is this:
Sinhalese voted for the Sinhalese leader who would protect their rights without compromise..
Tamils did not vote to any (except by compulsion) , since there is no one to even care their plight..
This election, more than anything has proved one thing to the world. Thats the racial mentality of the majority & minority alike.
Race division in election results is clearly written on the wall.
One Nation , One people rhetoric is only a slogan uttered by the majority people. Atleast Tamils do not utter that Slogan and hence they are better.
66. Arunan | January 28th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
I am not a SF supporter.
But Sri Lanka has no track record to follow democratic elections in a dignified manner.
However, portraying the principal opponent, as a “Traitor” thru vast state apparatus makes this whole exercise a joke.
67. sjoseph | January 28th, 2010 at 11:53 pm
# 47. Nadarajah
Did not the TNA aggravate the ethnic dividie by backing Fonseka?
—————————————————-
When Fonseka has become a Tamil?
Your conclusion is, if a Tamil political Party join hands with a Sinhalese leader , then he must be a betrayer and not a sinhalese any more?
FYI, Srilankan Tamil voters did not follow what TNA or Pillayan asked them to do. They did not vote for a Tamil Mr Sivajilingam also.
I could only see the racial mindset in Sinhalese voters.
68. Marcus Marianayagam | January 29th, 2010 at 12:02 am
10 and 21 # Sri Lankan-American
I am surprised that after 50 years of blood shedding, people like Sri Lankan-American questions what the grievances of the Tamils are. It is understandable that DBSJ is frustrated (however, the response could have been milder!). I believe this is one of the fundamental problems that we face today. Even at this stage there are many out there who do not see that there is a problem. Hence finding a solution would be extremely difficult.
This is similar to the bribery and corruption situation that prevails in Sri Lanka. If one queries the government, often the response is there isn’t any or give us the evidence (or provide a link) so that we could set up a “committee” or “commission” to investigate. There have been many “committees” and “commissions” came and gone without showing much to solve the ethnic problem, therefore, there must be one.
Primary Tamil grievance is the unequal treatment meted out on them by the successive governments resulting in that the Tamils feel as they are second class citizens. To demonstrate the point I ask the Sri Lankan-American only two (to save space) questions:
1. The people of KKS and the surrounding areas (about 40,000 people I think) were forced out overnight by the Sri Lankan armed forces about 20 years ago. Their properties were either occupied or destroyed. There were no compensations, no relocation plans; basically the government does not care even now. Could this ever happen to the people of Galle?
2. What would happen if a bunch of Sri Lankan Tamil policemen burn the Matara library?
regards,
Sri Lankan-Norwegian
69. opposit view | January 29th, 2010 at 12:26 am
if the election was rigged as accused by certain quarters, god help the country and the pple, as we would have to face 8 long years of nepotism, corruption etc at the hands of MR & co
70. RMM | January 29th, 2010 at 12:35 am
Very good analysis. However, this regime was extremely worried about a military putsch. This time the US backed the wrong candidate. As for polling participation, an audit of the rolls will help allay fears. Jaffna tamils only voted at 20% ; that is worrisome. On my trip too everyone just wanted to be left alone to farm and be in peace after the war; At Pasekudah two tamil men said “biyam illey, karchchal illey thanks to MR” but I doubt if they had a vote.
If anyone wants to look at data on past elections, it is available at the Election commission website. We can all recall how the 1988 election was declared “free” when all the traditional high polling left leaning districts were polling at abysmal rates too.
Examples ,
in 1988 in Hakmana seat, ONLY 4.45% votes were polled! In Kamburupitiya a mere 7.45% and in Matara 47.9% for example. All seats went to Mrs. B
I can go on and on with REAL DATA …Now they say only 20% of tamils voted?
UNP must be reminded of the FACTS about the 1988 election.
Overall Matara district “Declared” a free election with 23% voter participation of Sinhalese,
other districts suffering from class envious JVP and UNP murderers who not only killed each other but killed innocent SLFPers who dared to go to the polls; LTTE and JVP are both murderers but here are some other numbers for Mrs B leaning Districts from 1988 data found on the website.
Hambantota with 29% overall
Polonnaruwa with 29.73%
Anuradhapura with 40%
Matale 30%
Galle with 53%
So that election was the most fraught with violence and intimidation. Not this election. I wish both sinhala racists and tamil racists not pretend that they don’t exist. Those asking for a racially exclusive homeland for a small minority while living in the entire nation are methinks racists; that is like the Afrikaners. And Sinhalese who do not want to acknowledge, lop sided development work (MR is doing a lot of it now to compensate for 60 yrs of neglect but has a way to go) ignoring poor south and Jaffna, silly rules, and exclusion of minorities from the political process, JR’s dumb decision to expel the TULF from Parliament, the ugly violence of 1983 all are good reasons for tamils to feel marginalized.
71. Sri | January 29th, 2010 at 12:42 am
Dear DBSJ,
An excellent article, but I very much like to look at it from another angle.
Remember 1970 Elections, somewhat similar situation to 2010 as far as Tamils are concerned.
It was widely believed in 1970 that the elections would result in a hung parliament-neither party would gain absolute majority.
The main parties contesting the 1970 elections were UNP led by Mr Dudley Senanaike and the United Front led by Mrs Babdaranaike.
Dudley Senanaike was the Prime Minister before the elections and was confidently facing the electorate for a fresh mandate.
The UNP assumed office in 1965 with the support of Federal party having failed to get majority in the 1965 elections.
Federal Party thought that history would repeat in 1970 and both parties-UNP and UF would seek the support of the Federal party to come to power.
For this to happen, two events should occur
Firstly,Federal party should obtain as many seats as possible and secondly neither UNP nor UF should get absolute majority.
SJV Chelvanayagam and other Federal Party stalwarts being Colombo based and being aware of massive support UNP was enjoying in Colombo thought that it was an islandwide phenomena and consequently were frightened that the UNP is going to get an unprecedented mandate from the south and therefore Mr Chelvanayagam cautioned the Tamils in the South to ensure that that neither party got absolute majority meaning the Tamils should back UF to prevent UNP forming a government on their own without their support.
They were blind to the wave building up in the rural south in support of the UF -very similar to the situation that prevailed today.
1970 election results were a huge disappointment to Mr Chelvanagam and the Federal Party and the frustration made Mr Chelanayagam to exclaim that
“Only God Can save the Tamils”
And then gradually the Tamil leaders gave way for militancy and the rest is history as they say!
Now in the year 2010 the Tamil leaders made another miscalculation and blunder! The results are as frustrating as in the year 1970!
Now the year 2010?
Now Does the Tamils have a way out ?
What is the way out?
-Note the path traversed for the last 40 years!
Could the Tamil leadership capable of thinking out of the box?
Not along the beaten track,
but!
Does the Tamil leadership has the foresight and innovative mindset to travel along a new path travelled so far only by Tamil traitors?
I suggest the Tamils to consider supporting Mahinda Rajapakse, not as traitors, not for perks and privileges, not to gain favours for themselves, not to win elections but as a winning strategy to achieve the Tamil nationalistic ambitions in a pragmatic, realistic and prudent manner!
DBSJ RESPONDS:
Pragmatism and common sense decrees i `responsive cooperation“but then Tamils who display much common sense and pragmatism in their personal life bid farewell to those when it comes to politics. So the politics of confrontation along with the politics of traitorisation will continue.That has been our sad story for ages.
As for Tamil leadership the reality is that there is none. The current crop ranging from the EPDP to TNA are all discredited lame ducks. A new leadership has to evolve . Hopefully let that happen first.
72. Prabath | January 29th, 2010 at 12:44 am
good article.
73. Nalaka | January 29th, 2010 at 1:02 am
MR cannot be called the Sri Lankan president. He is only the Shinlaese president. The Tamil and Muslim communities in Sri Lanka have completely rejected him.
74. kuma | January 29th, 2010 at 1:06 am
The Tamils want their country back from the invaders.They tried and failed misearbly because it was an arms struggle.The next time they will try through “Ahimsa” like Mahatma Gandhi and will sure to succeed.There will be hundreds of Thilleepans will be born shortly.So it depends on the Sinhalese if you want the country to be divided or not.Not on tamils.Please do not overjoy about the election results and ask what are the griviences of Tamils.
75. Alex Eravi | January 29th, 2010 at 1:17 am
Beaten Sri Lankan presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka says he could consider seeking asylum in Australia.
He says he would also consider seeking asylum in Australia, but Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith says there has been no official request as yet.
The Sri Lankan Government is accusing General Fonseka of planning to assassinate the President Mahinda Rajapakse.
Government spokesman Lakshman Hullugale says General Fonseka and several former army officers were involved in the plot “to assassinate his excellency the President Mahinda Rajapakse and his family members, and also to enter into the defence ministry and assassinate the defence secretary”.
General Fonseka has rejected the allegation, which came only a day after he labelled members of the government as murderers and said they were trying to assassinate him.
Centre for Policy Alternatives executive director Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu says it is unclear whether General Fonseka should stay and fight or flee abroad.
“I suppose General Fonseka has to consider whether he wants to continue in a political career and if he’s going to do that, the general election is the next sort of watershed event,” he said.
“Is he going to come forward as a candidate and if so, on which party’s platform?”
“He lost for a variety of reasons – he lost because of the abuse of government resources, he lost because of voter fraud and intimidation, and he lost because the Tamils in the north were unable to vote,” he said.
For in full:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/29/2804434.htm?section=world
76. P_Mahen | January 29th, 2010 at 1:20 am
Sri Lankans are emotional voters. They showed that they are willing to sacrifice almost everything to elect a leader who spoke nothing but anti-Tamil.
Yes the war is won, but the model is simple: kill as many civilians as possible, ground zero everything, don’t spare church, schools, orphanage, even hospitals. Keep the media away and finally put the community in the so called makeshift camps.
Everyone says that we must think as Sri Lankans. Do you think the people are going to forget the past by just building roads, bridges and high rise buildings? This election results clearly state that the Sri Lankans are divided ethnically. Welcome to the real world. Until the people elect a leader based on his policies, the county is divided ethnically.
77. Alex Eravi | January 29th, 2010 at 1:21 am
“Enormous humanitarian cost, and the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka remains a serious concern,” says the Danish foreign minister.
We regret to note that the campaign was marred by violence and irregularities. In addition to the crucial political reconciliation process, Sri Lanka is facing a huge challenge to solve the humanitarian crisis in the country after many years of civil war, says the Danish foreign minister.
He thinks it is essential that the election Tuesday set in motion a process towards building lasting peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.
I would urge the president and all other political forces in Sri Lanka to address this important task, Moller said.
It was the incumbent president, Mahinda Rajapakse, who was victorious out of the first president elected in Sri Lanka after more than 25 years long civil war.
Hovedudfordreren, former army chief Sarath Fonseka, was seen as the man who eventually broke the Tamil rebels, who had the stated objective that would create a Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka.
The military suppression of the rebel movement the Tamil Tigers has had “enormous humanitarian cost, and the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka remains a serious concern,” says the Danish foreign minister.
After the civil war ended Sri Lanka is facing a situation where no minimum account of the Tamil minority would be essential to achieve lasting stability and peace in the country, Points Per Stig Moller.
Source:
http://jp.dk/udland/asien/article1962845.ece
And more about Srilanka in Danish media:
http://jp.dk/arkiv/?nyheder=on&q=sri+lanka&x=22&y=7
78. charaka dharmarathne | January 29th, 2010 at 1:38 am
i want to say something abt the comment 41 aratai. i think your list is incomplete without ” Ranil Wickramasinghe”
And i would like to remind you that “Kadirgamar” made it to the Vice Presidency of Srilanka. He even would have been able to become the president of srilanka, if he wasnt killed by the LTTE.
79. Sam | January 29th, 2010 at 1:52 am
“At the rate they are colonising and building Buddhist temples in the North and East and the MR statement saying that he can speak Tamil so there is no problem etc points otherwise.”
Please get used to multiculturalism. Buddhist temples WILL be coming up in the Vanni and Jaffna and the East, just as Hindu Kovils have popped up all over southern Sri ka over the last 20 odd years. The North should be as multireligious as the South.
80. Alex Eravi | January 29th, 2010 at 2:10 am
HAD Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka’s war-winning leader, lost his island-state’s presidential election on January 26th, it would have been described as a Churchillian defeat. But that would have underdone the drama. Imagine Britain’s wartime prime minister falling out with his feted general, Montgomery, removing him, then losing to him in the 1945 general election. That is how victory for General Sarath Fonseka, Mr Rajapaksa’s main challenger, would have seemed.
Many predicted this. As army chief, General Fonseka oversaw the rout of Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels in a sweeping offensive that ended a 26-year war in a seaside bloodbath last May. When he announced his candidature in November, opposition parties rallied behind him, including the biggest, Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP). In campaigning, the rather wooden general and his backers gave voice to the serious gripes that Sri Lankans have with their government: economic hardship, after years of high inflation; rampant top-level corruption; and cronyism in a government that includes 109 ministers and allegedly hundreds of Mr Rajapaksa’s neighbours and relatives. But it mattered naught. Mr Rajapaksa won with 58% of the vote.
81. Abey | January 29th, 2010 at 2:29 am
For anyone who believes in Karmik reaction of own deeds. It can be argued that SarathF got back within 40 days. In 6 to 8 years we will see the merits or demerits of Mahinda’s actions.
82. unbias | January 29th, 2010 at 2:43 am
Now, the ethnic divisiion in the polls is visble. As a sinhalese, I hope MR recognises this. He is the best person to do it too. He speaks in tamil, for a start. Secondly, he freed tamils from 30 yr long war. War ruined tamils more than any one and he saved them, is implemnting naganahira navodaya and uthuru wasanthaya. No one else didnt do this.
while recongnising there were issues and the start of the war was due to those issues, tamils should recognise that all the issues are not due to ethnicity. The average sihalese whose not connected has issues as well. This has been pointed out here before.
The root of this problem is more an economic issue an MR is trying resolve it. However there are some needs of poweer devoution too, everyone needs to work with MR on it. I doubt he has a plan for this part. But TNA shouldnt be of LTTE menatality anymore if they are to aciehve this for tamils. They need to recognise by 2009, LTTE and tamils didnt mean the same thing.
Points given by someone above in reply to Amreican-SriLankan are follows. I have given my intepretation
1. Sense of insecurity. Since independence the tamils have been at the receiving end of violence at the hands of sinhala thugs and hooligans, Armed forces, police and the state. Can you tell me what is the solution to this. Please don’t tell it won’t happen again etc. How can the Tamils be sure that violence will not be unleashed on them let us say during this century.
Agreed. Ware created most of it exept for 1983. So, LTTE should be blamed for and they r now out, so we have hope. Today tamils move freely and this question is already becoming irrelvant
2. Sinhala only Act of 1956. Is this country for the Sinhalese only. Please repeal this act. And what is the guarantee that such an Act once repealed will not be brought again.
This happned 50yrs ago. Its not in action any more. Why go back to 50 yrs after we have had war over these things and also cancelled those petty political movements?
3. Devolution. The Tamils before the British invaded the country had their own kingdom and homeland. Isn’t devolution a reasonable request in lieu of a request to bring back to the status quo that existed at the time the British invaded. This request for devolution has been denied since independence by sinhalese rulers. Hence the tamils embarking on a course to bring it back to what it was 200 years ago.
When britises came, it was one country, tamils lived in north with many sinhalese and muslims there. So, its everyones country. My homeland is Sri Lanka, not South. Ur homeland is Sri Lanka not North. There was no separate kigdom and there is no need for one. Why going back to 200yrs again when we should live in the present moment and plan for a better future?
What all 3 points indicate is unfortunately some tamils specailly diaspora are hanging on irrevant, expried points to say something. Ordianry tamils lives happily and will be taken care of by govt. LTTE runied them, we are trying to rebuild it for them, please join in that endavour!
83. Indika Jayanath | January 29th, 2010 at 2:46 am
Comment #22
Comment 22 is interesting. And I would like to see what my Tamil brotheren has to say about that.
84. Diyasena | January 29th, 2010 at 2:58 am
The Sinhalese despite being the majority have a defensive mindset..Like the jews of Israel who are surrounded by Arab nations who want to wipe them off the map, The 60 million tamils across the palk strait make them uncomfortable (the numerous invasions from the chola kingdoms being the likely reason)..I don’t condone it but it’s just a fact..
How fair is to accuse comments such as ‘Sri Lanka is for Sinhalese only’ whilst saying the ‘North and East is for Tamils only’ ? Why cannot Sinhalese live in the North, while Tamils live in the South? In 1985 there were 25,000 Sinhalse living in Jaffna alone and today there are none ..
Why cant Sinhalese visiting or renovating, the ancient temples in the North and East which have been standing for thousands of years (you can deny the Mahavansa, But you cannot deny the stone inscriptions)..Are the Sinhalese against Tamil hindus from visiting the Muruga temple in Hambanthota??
Both sides need to drop racial politics and embrace their similarities whist respecting their differences..I believe the tamil speaking Sinhala king from Giruwapattuwa is the one to do start this process..I so wish Lakshman Kadiragamar was here to be his Prime minister..Hopefully another National tamil leader will emerge soon?
85. Diyasena | January 29th, 2010 at 2:59 am
Small edit it should be 1981 not 1985
86. Sarath | January 29th, 2010 at 3:06 am
The entire analysis is based on the assumption that the vote count was legitimate. It wasn’t. MR’s stooges at the Election Commissioner’s office distorted the results, substituting MR for SF. But, to add a semblance of legitimacy, they kept the North and Eastern results as is, so that it could be claimed that SF won only the Tamil areas. Also, the ruling cartel made ensured a “peaceful”election day; otherwise, the world would have condemned a viollent election. (All the violence was commited before the lectionday.)
We have a precedent. Despite all the violence perpetuated by Mugabe, the opposition won the last election in Zimbabwe. The same happened in Sri Lanka, but the lection was stolen.
How can we prove that such a massive substitution of votes was done at the EC officeÉ……….DBSJ
87. P_Mahen | January 29th, 2010 at 3:19 am
42. nish / los angeles
“if OBAMA can do it in USA anyone can do it anywhere!
do u agree mr jeyraj?!”
Yes, I agree, but Americans discuss issues, whereas Sri Lankans discuss race, religion and caste.
When a Sri Lankan comes to Western world, he wanted to exercise equal rights but when he is in Sri Lanka he doesn’t want share his rights and pretend to be ignorant on minority rights.
88. Praveen | January 29th, 2010 at 3:41 am
Majority Tamils voted for Fonseka, under the instructions of Sampathan who was promised a mini Eelam by Ranil.Now that he got done like a dinner the Tamils who voted for him can not ask Rajapaksa for favors.
Rajapaksa will address the Tamil grievances with Douglas. Karuna and Pillayan who are the real leaders interested in the welfare of the Srilankan Tamils living there with them.
The overseas Tamils I am afraid, will have to wait and keep them amused or excited with events like the just concluded Eelam referendum in Norway.
89. sinhala putra | January 29th, 2010 at 4:13 am
mhinda is dad he goon to be …………… sarathe fonseka. join tha sarathe fonseka he good and real person. what ewer u say
90. Fred | January 29th, 2010 at 4:20 am
When we Srilankans start to identify our selves as JUST SRILANKANS and not as Sinhalese/tamils/burghers or muslims is the day when we will be united as one Srilanka and see the country move forward in the right direction. Unfortunately i dont see this happen in the near future but hoping against all hopes that the genrations that are to come will start to think differently. Politicians in Srilanka be it the SLFP or the UNP or any other coalition are corrupt and will only get them selves richer while the citizens of Srilanka suffer. But then again it is they who keep voting these politicos in. Had one oppurtunity to have a independent candidate null of any political party but as always we srilankans have let the oppurtunity go to waste. How much more corruption/ intimidation/ murder do we need to see from every President that has held office in Srilanka starting from JR right through to MR before the masses in Srilanka realise we all have been taken for a ride and will continue to with all these polictical parties.
91. Chammika | January 29th, 2010 at 4:42 am
Dear DBJS,
I am surprised at your sarcastic reply to comment no. 10. Trying to bulldoze ideas does not help, do they? I too believe tangible and genuine grievances, listed down in chronological order, does help. Then we have a platform to start from. Hope you publish this.
92. Sunil | January 29th, 2010 at 4:43 am
I see the election result primarily as an act immense gratitude being repaid personally to MR and his brother GR.Whilst we saw SF trading his wares as a clever general it was obvious to all and sundry that it was MR and GR who were bearing the brunt of the real war which was waged from outside of Sri Lanka.Things which would otherwise have swayed many votes to the extent of sweeping MR out of power were said about him and his family but these things registered only marginally in the minds of a grateful population who simply wanted to say thank you for being able to exercise the simple pleasure of walking on the streets or the task of getting about on public transport without having ones brain scattered around by VP’s agents of terror.
Let us hope that MR is smart enough ( I have no doubt that he is)to see it this way and make use of the opportunity to make a real and honest effort to govern for all and leave a legacy of hope for the future generation of Sri Lankans of all description.Let us not forget the fact that we have not appointed an almighty Emperor of Sri Lanka it is the Parliament of Sri Lanka that is supreme representative organ of the peoples power.In this regard the forthcoming general election will be the real decider of the future of the post war Sri Lanka. Ranil Wickremasinghe is MR’s best friend.He is such a clever loser that he has obviously infected the mighty all conquering General too with the losing bug.This man is a perennial itch and a rash on the UNP that needs to be consigned to the dustbin of the UNP.It Is time for Karu Jayasuriya to take over.He is a man who has the common touch and integrity and who will be more than capable of reviving the fortunes of the UNP and the opposition to engineer a win and ensure that the proper checks and balances in the Sri Lankan political scales are maintained.Congratulations to MR and let us hope and pray for the best for our dear MOTHER LANKA who has bled and cried for too long for peace among all her children.
93. Plain and Simple | January 29th, 2010 at 5:36 am
The day the tamils start thinking as Sri Lankans and decide they are not special to get special treatment they will find happiness. The problems since the 1950s has been due to the demands of needing to be special. Tamil kingdoms existed around Jaffna (not entire north and east) only for small period’s of time infrequently. The current view of tamils with suspician is due to the fact that not so long ago tamils were blowing up in public places killing innocent people. This will change with time, and hopefully the current government will have the senses to work towards that and get the north and east developed. All Sri Lankans have problems. Poverty, health, education, jobs, social equality etc… These are not tamil only problems. Time to end racial politics. The tamils started tamil political parties, and now we all have to endure the kind of JHUs! Lets end all this. It can be, and it is simple to do. Just needs a sensible far thinking leader. MR has been given a grand opportunity. Hope he wont waste it.
94. claude | January 29th, 2010 at 5:41 am
this not a real election.this isn a fraud election.if it is free and fair election FONSEKA should have won.the election commetioner has informed that he is going to resign from his job.that means he not satified with this election.we will wait and see what RAJAPAKSA is going to do for the tamils in north and east.and the other thing is he have take out his brothers and reltives from the parliment.at present this is a family government.any way if he didn`t do a good solution to the tamils their will be another LTTE will come again to fight with thw govr.we will wait and see.
95. David Chelliah | January 29th, 2010 at 5:45 am
Good article. sums up Mahindas stunning success neatly
96. kaluyaka | January 29th, 2010 at 6:14 am
33 Kalu Albert
Well said Kalu Albert. One more thing the Colombo cocktail set should remember is that Kurakkan President brought peace to the country enabling them to go anywhere freely. Come home in one piece in the evening and put the feet up and watch TV or whatever while Banda is washing the car and Menika is coocking in the kitchen. Who laid down their lives for this ?. Of course the Sinhala village boys and girls. Every night when you go to sleep please thank those poor kids for sacrificing their lives for your sake.
As for the Tamils who voted for SF. Remember it was MR who brought the freedom for you to vote. Soon the Yaldevi will be running to KKS and Uthuru Wasanthaya
is going to develop these areas. Local and foreign tourists will bring business, unless some remnants of LTTE sabotage the programme.
If anyone is thinking that things are really bad in Sri Lanka at the moment, please go back in memory and see the situation this time last year.
97. Don Daniel | January 29th, 2010 at 6:18 am
(1) Yes, I was going to vote for SF until he went and embraced the corrupt Chandrika. This lost not only my vote, but, another 1 million vote. Stupid SF.
(2) Stupid SF showed he had a pact with the TNA – this lost him another 1 million vote. He should have stayed silent after having the understanding he had with TNA
98. Athula | January 29th, 2010 at 6:22 am
Re #41
But people like Junius Richard, Solomon West Ridgeway Dias, Dudley Shelton. John, Don Stephen or even Percy can become leaders of this Sinhalese nation! (Oh! Kalu suddas can do that!).
99. Rodney | January 29th, 2010 at 6:34 am
Agree with comment 86. To DBS’ query to 86: investigative journalism please. The truth needs to be exposed.
100. DON | January 29th, 2010 at 6:37 am
WHY DID THE MAJORITY OF TAMILS SUPPORT SF.THE GENERAL WHO HAD KILLED TAMIL CIVILLIANS BEFORE?
SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WANT REVENGE FROM MR FOR DEFEATING LTTE.AS TAMILS IT IS NATURAL THAT THEY SUPPORTED LTTE.
ORDINARY SRI LANKANS ARE GREATFUL TO MR FOR ACHIEVING A FEAT THAT COULD NOT BE ACHIEVED FOR THIRTY YEARS FOR 4 PRESIDENTS.
AND ABOUT CORRUPTION CHARGES I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A SINGLE PRESIDENT WHO WAS NOT CORRUPTED.
THE ONLY ONE WOULD BE WIJETHUNGE ALL OTHERS WERE CORRUPTED..SO IF MR IS CORRUPTED BE IT THAT WAY BECAUSE HE IS MILES AHEAD OF PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS
101. queviji@yahoo.com.sg | January 29th, 2010 at 7:08 am
# 82. unbias
your views are biased in support of sinhalese people.
The president & srilankan government is elected of, by and for the sinhales. Others opinion does not exist.
The sinhalese govt will only take care of the majority people who voted for them . You cant expect any justice for Tamils.
Fundamentally, when common people are racial minded in electing a government, the govt also will be racial too.
102. sjoseph | January 29th, 2010 at 7:20 am
# 100. DON
WHY DID THE MAJORITY OF TAMILS SUPPORT SF.THE GENERAL WHO HAD KILLED TAMIL CIVILLIANS BEFORE?
SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WANT REVENGE FROM MR FOR DEFEATING LTTE
——————————————
Do you suggest majority of Tamils support LTTE now? You mean they want to take revenge on MR for defeating LTTE?
Then iam afraid your next intention would be to eliminate majority of the Tamils.
Majority people cant achieve any thing by suppressing and intimidating the common people.
.
103. sjoseph | January 29th, 2010 at 7:26 am
# 91. Chammika
Why not for a change you start listing out the grievances of Srilankan Tamils.
i assume you are a srilankan and a sinhalese too .
Let the tamils know, if a Sinhalese could see at all any grievance that tamil people experience in srilanka??/
104. sjoseph | January 29th, 2010 at 7:35 am
# 84. Diyasena
I so wish Lakshman Kadiragamar was here to be his Prime minister. Hopefully another National tamil leader will emerge soon?
——————————————–
Why should we worry about some one who is no more.
You have pillyan and karuna , the patriotic national Tamil leaders well accepted by sinhalese people. Why not make them PM??/
105. Don | January 29th, 2010 at 7:37 am
I am not the DON who has contributed at 100. I am Don George, friend of Shankar and opposing debating partner of Wicks who seem to have disappeared with this cousin RW. There is a way this election could be rigged but I cannot ascertain it because I am not in SL. However my wealthy Tamil friends from west has gone to SL and travelled the length and breath before the election, spoken to Sinhalese villagers in their broken Sinhalese and come back tickled to pink and very happy. My Sinhalese friends from west has done the same, travelled in cars from batticola, pasikuda, arugambay, trincomalee, Jaffna etc and come back very happy. They say many Tamils are even at anurahapura, polonnauruwa, pinnawela elephant park etc sight seeing!! My other Tamil friends, who are businessman in SL, are happy with many of their families living abroad!! My diaspora Tamil friends living in western comforts say these business Tamils are bum lickers of the Sinhalese!! Then my other Tamil friends living abroad but having businesses in SL say their Sinhalese partners are managing the wealth well and even bribing the top politicos. Now isn’t this paradise on earth? Now what the hell happened to our Tea Kandy? Hope MR’s goonda’s did not get him. Calling Tea Kandy please heed our call
106. sjoseph | January 29th, 2010 at 7:42 am
# 97. Don Daniel
Stupid SF showed he had a pact with the TNA – this lost him another 1 million vote
——————————–
Did SF had a pact with TNA to give back North & east to TNA and a separated from Srilanka? what is so serious in the agreement with TNA to lose 1 million votes??
Does SF has no right to sign an agreement or pact with a Tamil political party?
107. bob | January 29th, 2010 at 7:54 am
Now MR is saying Power sharing or Sevolurion can b given to Tamils that is axxepted my the Sinhalese
Are Tamils in a postion to accept what sinhalese wants / !3th Ammendment + … I beleive its gone with the wind. Indians does not care whatever MR gives to Tamils
Remembering Muthukumaru Today
108. nallurkantha | January 29th, 2010 at 8:23 am
.Tamil grievances have been raised by Tamil leaders such as GG,Thanthai selva and their parties.Take GG who wanted 50/50.It was a totally a communal demand.GG himself was aware of this.But to fool the tamil people and obtain their votes he made this communal cry.Pl go back to your memory how federal perty sent telegram to Queen,UK when the SWRD government requested to close the military bases in Ceylon.Federal party expressed their loyalty to colonialism.This trend was was very peculiar because anti colonialism was the trend those days.Standradisation was intoduced by the srimao government.The Tamil leaders protested and made a big cry it was an anti Tamil programme.I am asking you how may engineers,doctors you had in batticaloa nd Ampara before this programme was implemented.Srimao governemnt provided university for Jaffna.Tamil leaders protested and boycotted the inaugurarion.Suthanthiran weekly said Jaffn uiversity was an extension of Sinhala imperialism.
Federal party behaved like a UNP branch in north and when SLFP came to power they always followed provocative politics.Tamils suffered because of the folly of the Tamil leaders and the new generation of freedom fighters.See the presidential election.They campaigned for SF who was accused of killing thousands of Tamils during the latest military operation.The same general was targeted by a suicide cadre of tigers.further Tamil media during the 2005 presidential elections critisized JVP as a communal party.There were many cartoons.
See this time they were with the same JVP.I believe TNA and media is really working against the interests of the Tamil people.
I am Tamil from Jaffna.
109. sjoseph | January 29th, 2010 at 8:25 am
# 93. Plain and Simple
The day the tamils start thinking as Sri Lankans and decide they are not special to get special treatment they will find happiness. The problems since the 1950s has been due to the demands of needing to be special.
——————————————————————-
When would a day come when Sinhalese start thinking tamils are Srilankans too. All the while, i see many Sinhalese think tamils are from India and Srilanka is not their original country.
If Sinhalese want a special treatment, to be the rulers of the undivided country, what is wrong if Tamils want to be special and to rule their people and land?
Will sinhalese vote and elect a Tamil leader as Srilankan president thinking that he is not a tamil but srilankan first?
If you cant do that, stop preaching your noncense. Do not be a hypocrite.
110. fan | January 29th, 2010 at 8:29 am
DBSJ
There are talks about vote counting irregularities taking place – can you enlighten the readership if you have any info on that or what your view on this position -appreciate a commment
Please read the first part of my other article posted a few hours ago on this blog…………..DBSJ
111. seevali abeysekera | January 29th, 2010 at 8:45 am
Sadly the general tone of the comments and the mindset of too many of the commentators to this forum is indicative of why mother Lanka will not evolve onto a progressive nation united under one flag and a single NATIONAL identity.
DBS is one the very few SL commentators who has the ability to put forward a rational and articulate point of view and I can only imagine the frustration and despire he must feel when he reads some of the responses.
I think it was “Shankar” who made a comment in an earlier blog about a “democratic nation getting the leaders it deserves”. The political landscape SL since independence is littered with leaders democratically elected who were at best mediocre and at worst a bunch of self serving imbeciles.
It is not democracy that will build nationhood because we as a nation are simply incapable of understanding the true meaning of democracy – leaders are means to be the trustees of the nation but in the case of mother Lanka, leaders are only there to enrich themselves and their associates.
It is also a sad but true fact that in the current SL democratic landscape, it is impossible for a non Sinhala Buddhist to be elected to the highest office. The Barack Obama model was due to unique set of circumstances which even in the USA will not be repeated again. A British Obama for instance simply cannot happen.
We all dream of this utopian democratic model but sadly it is a benevolent dictatorship that will enable SL to finally realise its potential as ONE nation under a single universal law.
That however is me having my own little dream as the leader and the leadership required for this does not exist in mother Lanka – not now and I fear not ever !!!!!!
112. Sarath | January 29th, 2010 at 9:17 am
DBS, to answer your question “How can we prove that such a massive substitution of votes was done at the EC office” relating to my post #86, the answer lies with the Commissioner of Elections. The press conference at which this 68 year old civil servant alleged all the humiliations he had to undergo is the starting point. The Commissioner will now have to describe what really happened in his office during the transfer of election results from the electorates and districts to the Department’s main computer. If he cannot speak openly within Sri Lanka (honestly, who can do that these days?), he could go abroad and speak the truth.
This whole election was a set-up. As I mentioned in #86, MR and his gang ensured a “peaceful” election day to lower the suspicion of election monitors and Western observers. (Our new friends in China, Libya, and Iran don’t even know what democracy is, so how an election is conducted doesn’t matter to them.) Of course, SF won the Noreth and the East, and by giving those regions to him, the government can promote the communalism that the SLFP and their allies have promoted since 1956 while labeling Sarath Fonseka a traitor.
This stolen election and its aftermath ss a master plan worthy of ten Machiavellis, and they worked!
We Sri Lankans are the losers.
113. Ranjan from Toronto | January 29th, 2010 at 9:39 am
87. P_Mahen : I don’t know which planet you lived on during the US election year, the biggest issues for half of the US voters were Obama’s birth place, the church that he went to, his middle name and if he is a socialist or a communist.
You call that discussing issues?
114. peter | January 29th, 2010 at 9:42 am
what is clearly to be seen in the way the final proceedings of the elections and election results were carried out was that sheer thuggery, hooliganism and unprecedented intimidation carried the day.
post election articles are full of how and why mr and his gangsters won the election. but, they are short of what the elections commissioner said during his summing up speech. why doesn’t someone write an article on this speech. clearly the alleged victory is just what it is. an empty vessel making too many dirty noises.
people voted for mr as a gratitude for the political leadership given to eliminate the war as well as giving the rogue regime a second opportunity to polish of the wealth of the country for thier private use and for their future generations. it’s a kind of approval and thanks to carry on with unhindered and unbridled corruption and nepotism.
we are already in the league of pariah states thanks to the misfits who runs the govt and who call themselves patriots.
115. RAM | January 29th, 2010 at 10:45 am
“The electoral verdict, stunning and conclusive on the whole, has some cracks in parts. As the President of the whole country, Mahinda Rajapaksa must take the initiative and reach out to those sections of the people who have been alienated in terms of ethnicity, class, and the urban-rural divide.”
Reach out in what fashion, with iron fist, political deception, empty promises, and anti democratic extra judicial methods. Will MR be able to reach out all sections of the people without striving to undo the deteriorating methods of governance and political culture. Any governance that do not respect the law of the land and fairness, instead resort to extra judicial methods leave the people unable to address their grievances within the legal frame work of the country push them to resort to the same extra judicial methods and revolt as the methods of redress, if not it is an insurgency or terrorism. The call of the election commissioner is a call of an alarm. Internal and external and international forces with vested interests may ignore the alarm, but not too long.
116. Plain and Simple | January 29th, 2010 at 10:49 am
I was glad to notice that the tamil people did not vote for Sivajilingam. He got only about 7000 votes from the whole island. Any thoughts around why he got so little votes? I expected some tamils to vote for him as a protest. Is this a sign of the north/east tamils saying no to the TNA? Why was there such a low turnout in the tamil areas? It would have been good for them to come out and vote to at least show their power.
I hope the north/east tamils will use the general election to find sensible, practical leaders who can help bring peace and dignity to them. Prosperity will follow. The likes of Douglas, Karuna and Pillayan should be done away with. They had a role in the recent past, but they are tainted and armed. They will have to reform in a very big way to be able to lead tamils in a democratic way. They dont have much respect among the sinhalese. The sinhalese are glad they were anti LTTE, but dont think that highly of them.
117. Alex Eravi | January 29th, 2010 at 11:22 am
A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission
A SPECIAL ALERT
SRI LANKA: Call for protection and prevention of abusive use of legal process for political revenge
After the presidential election of the 16th January there are continuous reports on several matters that raise concern about the security of persons from attacks and incidents of violence. The Asian Human Rights Commission has received several urgent calls of concern regarding a serious situation that has developed within the country which requires the attention of all concerned persons, both within the country and the international community.
An extremely provocative media campaign is being conducted through the state media with the participation of senior politicians and some well known personalities. This campaign attempts to create the impression that a seriously dangerous situation arose during the election and has been successfully prevented. If the opposition had won the election there could have been assassinations and serious violence in the country. This propaganda campaign is being carried out over many programmes and is directed towards retaliatory actions against those who have participated in the election campaign against the government.
Constant reference to assassination conspiracies is generating a hostile atmosphere regarding those who have actively participated in the political campaign on behalf of the opposition and this suggests the preparation of possible arrests and other attacks against some opposition leaders, including the common candidate of the opposition, retired general, Sarath Fonseka.
The possibility that a pretext is being created for the arrest and detention of persons with the use of prevention of terrorism laws has been noted by many who fear that a similar kind of action taken under the notorious Naxalite plot following the 1982 presidential elections may be reenacted. The Naxalite plot, which was a total fabrication, was used to arrest a prominent opposition activist/politician, Vijeya Kumaranatunge in retaliation for his strong support for the then opposition candidate. The abuse of legal process in this manner is quite possible within the present context of the use of prevention of terrorism laws for political purposes as has been demonstrated by several cases such as the famous Tissainayagam case.
Retired general Sarath Fonseka, repeatedly complained of threats to his life and was kept under virtual house arrest, initially at a hotel and later even after he had left the hotel and gone to a different location. His movements are restricted and the possibility of his arrest has been raised. When questioned about this the spokesman for the government, including the president himself, indicated the possibility of arrest on some undisclosed charges which are said to be under investigation. Several government spokesmen spoke to the media about the plot by the retired general to assassinate the president and his family. Meanwhile the leader of the JVP, Mr. Somawansa Amerasinghe, publically complained of a threat by the Secretary of Defense on his life and a threat to burn the newspaper that is being published by the JVP.
There was a two hour raid at the premises of the LankaeNews yesterday (28th January) and several popular websites have been blocked through Sri Lanka Telecom. These include http://www.lankaenews.com, http://www.srilankaguardian.org, http://www.infolanka.com, and http://www.nidahasa.com.
A journalist of the LankaeNews Website, Prageeth Ekanaligoda, who disappeared shortly before the election remains missing and the family and international journalist’s organisations demanded inquiries into his whereabouts. He remains missing as we write this. A programme producer of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, complained of being assaulted by the Chairman of the Corporation and threatened with death. The situation within the SLRC was reported as tense by several journalists working for the corporation. The website of the trade union of the SLRC quoted the names of three journalists as being under immediate threat. A Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation journalist who is a resident of Kurunagala, Gunarathna Liyanachchi, complained of an attack by an unknown group which caused damage to his house and property. Another journalist, Sri Lal Priyantha also complained of being questioned while he was following the campaign at the hotel where the common opposition campaign was located and of being followed by a group in plain clothes which he identified as being from the army.
Sirasa TV, which is one of the prominent stations which supported the opposition candidate, was kept under surveillance as the election results were announced. The TV station was surrounded by security personnel. The staff of the TV station has also been questioned about the coverage given to the scenes of the opposition candidate being stopped by security forces while leaving the hotel after the election. The station is also reported to have been threatened with the possible revocation of its broadcasting license which would virtually close down the main news channel outside the state media available to the public.
Several media organisations (SLWJ, FMETU, FMM, SLTMA and SLMMF) issuing a press release stated:
These incidents show clearly that media suppression is on the increase in post election period. These developments will hamper any informed discussion on the aftermaths of presidential election and the malpractices reported. The result will be the violation of people’s right to information. This in turn will seriously limit people’s ability to make informed judgments on political developments. We would like to reiterate that in the light of the parliamentary election due in few months time, it is all the more necessary to re establish our peoples right to information without delay by making the media environment free.
In this context, considering that the press freedom as the expression of people’s right to information and freedom of speech, we, the five media organizations in Sri Lanka earnestly urge all democratic forces in the country, diplomatic corps in Sri Lanka, United Nations, International human rights, press freedom and journalists safety organizations to use their good offices to ensure that government of Sri Lanka stop the media suppression and create a free and democratic post election environment.
In Kandy district at Gampola there was a bomb blast which killed an aged Buddhist monk, one other person and injured several others; a grenade was thrown at the residence of the opposition leader of the Ibbagamuwa local government body, causing serious damage to the premises; there was also an attack on a house at Mawattagama damaging two motor vehicles which were parked nearby; at the depot of the central Transport Board of Ampara, there was a public announcement at the gate stating that those who had voted for the symbol of the opposition candidate should not return to their jobs and there were reports of harassment of employees in many working places.
Several persons from NGOs and human rights organisations who have taken an active role during the elections in making demands relating to democratic rights and holding free and fair elections also expressed fears of retaliation and of being targeted for attack. Many activists complained that they have been receiving threatening calls and SMS messages from some local callers and others from some stationed in Italy, threatening them with retaliation. Several civil society organisations told the Asian Human Rights Commission that the overall situation developing in the country is ‘very scary’. One activist said that, “the government receiving 6 million votes did not mean that it had acquired a mandate to harass the other 4 million people who voted against them.” Several persons have left their homes and gone to seek safety.
Participation in public life is a basic right of all persons. A free and fair election is a recognised right in Sri Lanka and it is the right of all, whether they are members of political parties or persons who have a common interest in public affairs, to participate in the elections and support whomever they chose. It is the duty of the government to protect all persons who participate in public affairs. This also involves the prevention of an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states as follows:
Every citizen shall have the right and opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions:
(a) To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives;
(b) To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors;
(c) To have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country.
The Asian Human Rights Commission calls upon the Sri Lankan government to respect the rights of all persons to participate in public affairs and also urges that it takes appropriate action to ensure the protection of all persons by the prevention of any possibility of violence under the present circumstances. The AHRC also urges that the government should not manipulate the legal process for taking revenge on political opponents.
Given the past record of politicisation of all public institutions including the police and the increasing suspicions of the manipulation of the armed forces for political purposes all steps should be taken to prevent the abuse of legal process for taking political revenge.
We urge the human rights organisations locally and internationally to monitor the present situation so as to ensure the protection for all.
# # #
About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
Asian Human Rights Commission
19/F, Go-Up Commercial Building,
998 Canton Road, Kowloon, Hongkong S.A.R.
Tel: +(852) – 2698-6339 Fax: +(852) – 2698-6367
118. Andy Lingam - London | January 29th, 2010 at 11:56 am
82. unbias
When britises came, it was one country
I agreed with all three soluation for all three question
Yes We Thamil learn to live together with other Lankan( sorry please allow me to call my motherland Lanka instead of srilanka )
Please accept Yes one country when Brit came but few knignton was there( i you do not want to agree with me please read our motherland histry book – just for infomation only)
What We want my friend place to live but please undstand When are short tempar people ( may weather in North & east) so please do wind up to say this Sinhala country , Tamils are Indian origin etc…….
What We are asking from you Sinhala bros & Sis please live together with us !!!!!
119. Stephen Jones | January 29th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
The country’s heading for a massive economic crash. The increase in GDP is basically fictitious, since there has been 120% + inflation but the rupee has been maintained artificially high to th dollar. The government has been printing money for years, but the only job creation is in the public sector (army of 300,000).
The effect of ending quotas for garments has not yet fully been felt, and the loss of GSP+ will only add to the shift of garment manufacturing from Lanka to China.
120. Stephen Jones | January 29th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Never mind; you can write another article when you come to.
It was a stunning blow.May take a long time to recover.Hope I wont be floored by another stunner……….DBSJ
121. Fort Frederick | January 29th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
Rajapakse will not be interested in minority opinion (just like after 2005 election when most minorities that did vote has not voted for Rajapakse). His gov will only settle more Sinhalese in the eastern areas and repeat ‘There is no minority in Sri Lanka’.
Dont expect any ‘political solution’ or removal of high security zones either. Forthcoming Trincomalee special economic zone will depopulate the area of Tamils further.
As for corruption, jumbo cabinet, no fredom of speech, etc. it seems that most voters in the South do not speak up against these things (just like most Tamils kept quiet when Prabhakaran’s course should have been corrected for the benefit of Tamils).
122. wijayapala | January 29th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Chammika and Sri Lankan-American,
DBS last year had written an excellent article on Tamil grievances which clarified a lot of confusion. Interestingly, the devolution of power which is opposed by most Sinhalese came last on his list. There were others such as the non-implementation of Tamil as an official language and the high security zones.
However, I cannot find this article even after googling “d.b.s. jeyaraj tamil grievances.” I hope DBS gets a little more patient and at least provide the link to his article which all Sinhalese should read.
123. wijayapala | January 29th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Here are three articles on the implementation of Tamil:
Language barrier
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2304/stories/20060310001305500.htm
Non-Implementation of Tamil as an official language in provinces outside North and East
http://transcurrents.com/tc/2009/07/post_384.html
Cabinet Approves Regulations for Speedy Implementation of Tamil as Official Language
http://transcurrents.com/tc/2009/09/cabinet_approves_regulations_f.html
124. uberVU - social comments&hellip | January 29th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by kottufeed: Sri Lanka Presidential Poll: A resounding but fractured verdict http://bit.ly/bmbjYI...
125. Martin Thomas | January 29th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Dear Mr. Jeyaraj, once again an excellent article well presented. If I were the President of Sri Lanka I would have appointed you as one of my senior advisors and followed your intelligent advice to build a united multi-racial and multi-religious country where every body would be treated equal and live a carefree life. One of the comments made by a guy under Sri Lankan /American, was trying to say that the Tamils have no problem as far as language is concerned. Has he ever gone to any government departments and tried to do business or get information by speaking only in Tamil Language. Only on papers they say Tamils can do business in their own language. In practical terms it is the opposite. To start with the grievance of Tamil first of foremost the Tamils who have been displaced or very badly affected in the last Tsunami and the War had to be sent back to their homes and villages, they have to be given help to build their homes and businesses. They should be fee to go out to sea for fishing. They should be free to travel and move about without any security forces harassments. The government should stop kidnapping and killing the young Tamils and dumping their bodies in unused wells in Tamil arrears. Government should free all the Tamils arrested and kept in prisons with any charges or case against them for years and years. Mr. S/L American, I presume you are now an American citizen why do you say you are a Sri Lankan/ American. You should call your self either a Sri Lankan or an American. If you find it difficult to do that how could you expect the Tamils to forget their identity and call themselves as Sri Lankans after all the difficulties they are going through? The list I have provided are only few of the many grievances we have with your President and his government. All we Tamils ask of you is to leave them alone. We can take care of our brother and sisters and built that part of the country if you agree to back off and leave us alone.
126. Martin Thomas | January 29th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Dear Mr. Jeyaraj, once again an excellent article well presented. If I were the President of Sri Lanka I would have appointed you as one of my senior advisors and followed your intelligent advice to build a united multi-racial and multi-religious country where every body would be treated equal and live a carefree life. One of the comments made by a guy under Sri Lankan /American, was trying to say that the Tamils have no problem as far as language is concerned. Has he ever gone to any government departments and tried to do business or get information by speaking only in Tamil Language. Only on papers they say Tamils can do business in their own language. In practical terms it is the opposite. To start with the grievance of Tamil first and foremost the Tamils who have been displaced or very badly affected in the last Tsunami and the War had to be sent back to their homes and villages, they have to be given help to build their homes and businesses. They should be fee to go out to sea for fishing. They should be free to travel and move about without any security forces harassments. The government should stop kidnapping and killing the young Tamils and dumping their bodies in unused wells in Tamil arrears. Government should free all the Tamils arrested and kept in prisons with any charges or case against them for years and years. Mr. S/L American, I presume you are now an American citizen why do you say you are a Sri Lankan/ American. You should call your self either a Sri Lankan or an American. If you find it difficult to do that how could you expect the Tamils to forget their identity and call themselves as Sri Lankans after all the difficulties they are going through? The list I have provided are only few of the many grievances we have with your President and his government. All we Tamils ask of you is to leave them alone. We can take care of our brother and sisters and built that part of the country if you agree to back off and leave us alone.
127. Suduyaka | January 29th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
#96 KaluYaka states:
As for the Tamils who voted for SF. Remember it was MR who brought the freedom for you to vote.
====
Hello KaluYaka this is Sudu Yakka.
I beg to differ about MR bringining freedom to vote for “Tamils”. MR was the one who BRIBED the LTTE in 2005 so that Tamils could NOT vote. Before 2005 Tamils were never blocked from voting in an ORGANIZED manner by the LTTE.
And if you feel MR brought “freedom to vote” don’t you think he should have also brought a few buses so that people from the “welfare camps” could actually go to their polling stations??
128. shankar | January 29th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
#105-Don
There is a way this election could be rigged but I cannot ascertain it because I am not in SL
—————————————————————————–
According to SF he should have got 1.4 million votes more, and at the elections commission his votes have been transferred to mahinda , or something like to that effect. His partners don’t seem to be backing him that much. SF claims that at 12 PM elections commission officials called him and said he was leading by a million votes, and after that only something happenned with some computer fraud.
If there is any fishy business on the computers you still have the polling cards, the original documents that the voters voted on and inputed on computers. So some independent party has to only recount and verify the polling cards are geniune. So i think it is a simple matter, don’t you think?
Some of the elections commision officials might have even been pulling SF’s leg. We know the Srilankan sense of humour.
129. Alex Eravi | January 29th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
FOR PUBLICATION
AHRC-ART-011-2010
January 29, 2010
An Article by the Asian Human Rights Commission
SRI LANKA: The country’s capacity for holding free and fair elections in doubt
Basil Fernando
On the 26th January the election for the position of Executive President was held in Sri Lanka and the election commissioner declared the incumbent president, Mahinda Rajapakse, as the winner. The common candidate for the opposition, retired general Sarath Fonseka, rejected the results stating that the announced results were false due to the prevalence of violence, electoral fraud and tampering of the counting process itself. The commissioner while announcing the results to the nation in a televised message stated in strong terms that he was subjected to severe pressure and humiliation to an extent that he was unable to bear it any longer. All commentaries on the election commissioner’s speech interpreted it to indicate that he was not satisfied with the conditions under which he had to carry out his duties in conducting the election in a free and fair manner.
Very clearly, the question as to whether Sri Lanka is any longer capable of conducting a free and fair election has been raised in this election. It is not only the electoral process that is under challenge but the very process of receiving, preserving and counting of the ballot at the commissioner’s office itself which is the issue that has been prominently raised. Besides this, the enormous abuse of state resources by the government for its electoral purposes and particularly the blatant abuse of the state media for direct propaganda to request people not to vote for the opposition candidate, in defiance of the commissioner’s direct interventions, have all contributed to the creation of the overwhelming impression that the conditions for a free and fair election were not observed during this election.
The problem of the difficulties in ensuring a free and fair election was recognised previously. In 2001 the amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution of 1978 was passed in the parliament with rare unanimity which, among other things, created a Constitutional Council in order to ensure proper appointments to several important public institutions with the view to preserve professionalism in the government service. This was the result of a widely held realisation that political interference which had crept into the public service since the introduction of the executive presidential system in 1978 has contributed to the deterioration of standards in all public services and this deterioration was referred to as ‘politicisation’. This simply meant direct interference by the executive president and his agents into the running of the public service to an extent to make it impossible for it to function professionally.
Among the institutions that were recognised as being polluted by ‘politicisation’ was also the department of the commissioner of elections. Under Article 3 of the Constitution an amendment was introduced regarding the election commissioner. Under this article it was legislated that ‘there shall be an election commission consisting of five members appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council, from among persons who have distinguished themselves in any profession or in the field of administration or education. The President shall on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council, appoint one member as its chair.’
The governments since 2001 have refused to comply with this constitutional provision. The present commissioner of elections who was appointed to the position before this amendment was passed reached his retirement age in 2002. However, as no election commission was appointed according to the new provision he had to continue in office due to the absence of a substitute. On several occasions he publically requested permission to retire and as there was no satisfactory response from the government he even went before the court and sought permission to retire. The court refused his request on the basis that until a substitute was appointed under the constitutional provisions he had to remain in his post. Even the courts did not intervene to ensure that the government complied with the constitutional provision to appoint an election commission.
The failure on the part of the government to appoint an election commission consisting of five members nominated by the Constitutional Council has been perceived by all observers as a ploy to prevent the conduct of free and fair elections without political interference into the working of the election commissioner’s office. It was this situation which has led to the final outburst of the commissioner in which he voiced his frustrations to the entire nation in announcing the election result on the 27th January. Several of his comments are reproduced here due to their importance on any future discussion on this issue. (Translated from Sinhala by Roshan Fernando, quoted from Lanka Guardian).
“Under the empowerment of the Elections Commissioner as indicated in the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, I issued specific guidelines to the state media that were duly ignored. I then installed a Competent Authority for the state media who was completely disregarded. I then met the heads of state media but to no avail. I realized that this was a hopeless cause and so I had the Competent Authority removed.”
” I was able to note that during the election, many state institutions operated in a manner not befitting state organisations.”
“Some blamed me saying that my task was to ensure that the ballot boxes were safe and to ensure that the counting was done right. But under the circumstances I faced today, I could not even ensure the safety of even one ballot box. I did my duties during this time under great duress and mental agony.”
” I hereby state that the situation has reached a dangerous level that is beyond me. I am also advanced in years and have served in this capacity for eight long years so I only ask that I be released from this thankless duty.”
“It is impossible for me to work in peace under the circumstances – I am constantly under stress and find that I may fall sick and have to face consequences of such an illness.”
“Regional leaders harassed my team and I in several areas such as Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Matala Districts, they even bothered the counting centres. This is not a good trend. In fact, it reached an uncontrollable level of verbal abuse directed at Presiding Officers and Asst Elections Commissioners. “
“I have been accused of favouring one party in the process of carrying out my duties. I regret that it is no longer possible for me to suffer such indignity and insult – I am not able to do so physically or psychologically.”
Quite clearly, until the electorate is assured that the process of elections is not abused by violence, by the use of state resources in favour of the party in power, by the abuse of state media and without the tampering of the ballot in the process of receiving, preserving and counting at the commissioner’s office it would not be possible to create public confidence in a free and fair election. However, this cannot be done until a commission of elections is appointed in compliance with the 17th Amendment to the Constitution.
# # #
About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
130. Don | January 29th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
128. shankar :- Firstly I don’t want to comment about election fraud because it is difficult to get the facts when I am in the west. But a few brains around me have given some good explanations which my bird brain has refused to assimilate so far. These people lived in countries where this has taken place and they have watched the operation. If they are correct, then I need some collaborative evidence from SL which I find very difficult to extract currently although I talk to many people in SL almost daily. One clue is what election commissioner said that he couldn’t control the ballot boxes. But DBS got a point when he says how 1.4 mill votes to SF became 1.7 mill surplus to MR & that is a pretty gigantic feat to rig. Again DBS suggestion that foreign governments have accepted the result shows although they had their own monitoring the situation, they couldn’t find anything a miss. On the other hand it is also possible that Sinhala masses voted for MR as he is perceived as champion of the cause of the Sinhalese. But I do not necessary agree with DBS who says rigging takes place when the differential between the winner and loose in votes is small.
I feel if Tamils cooperate with MR hereafter, they will prosper but if they create trouble they will be treated very harshly. More or less a military dictatorship like Fiji where if you shut up and go about your business, you are ok and you rock the boat, you end up dead or in jail. Don George.
DBSJ RESPONDS:
Don,What I said was that rigging can tilt decisions when the majorities involved are small. When one candidate has a small lead it is more easy for another to manipulate by rigging a few thousands in his favour.In such situations charges of winning through rigging are more believable. But when majorities are large such charges are less belivable because of doubts as to how so huge a majority was achieved through rigging
Now Don, please read and understand before rushing to comment with your misunderstanding of what I have written. I am not a one to one tutor to correct you all the time. Besides its irritating to waste time and energy like this
131. Lankan Aussie | January 29th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
# 96 Kaluyaka,
May I add that some of our Sinhalese brothers and sisters who have a smattering of English, a mobile and a few credit cards, they think that they are living on a different Planet.
The domestics, most of these people employ, are salve labour, These masters treat their pets better than these poor servants.But they talk about human rights, corruption , freedom and justice as evident in the posting in these columns during the election.
With all this wisdom. they back a loser whose lack of credentials, inadequacy and the false pretenses were blatantly obvious.
132. shankar | January 29th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
#130-Don
One clue is what election commissioner said that he couldn’t control the ballot boxes.
——————————————————————————
Isn’t that a very serious statement and a fundamental flaw in the system. The ballot boxes i believe are the foundation of the electoral process. When the man in charge says he could not control the most important aspect of the electoral process, it is like the driver of a vehicle saying the steering wheel was jammed, so there is no validity in where the car went. The courts are going to take a really dim view of this if they have not also become politicised, which i have douphts.
If you say you don’t have control of the ballot boxes, then you might as well say they were stuffed.Did he say this on TV and was it his exact words?
133. Kau Lankan Aussie | January 30th, 2010 at 12:53 am
Reference comment 131,you are bloody right mate.
After Fonseka, they will never get another Fulgencio Batista.So they have to get a reality check and move on.The Village President will still look after them too sadly..
You are too kind describing the attributes of Fonseka. I would rather borrow an Aussie phrase. His bullshit was as explicit as a dog’s balls.
134. Upul Darmawardena | January 30th, 2010 at 1:43 am
Dear DBS Jeyaraj,
“Elected executive President on November 17, 2005, Mr. Rajapaksa had two more years to complete his first six-year term. The decision to cut short the first term and advance the next presidential contest by two years-which the Sri Lankan Constitution allows-was a shrewd political move.”
I hope MR would not try to stay in power for the next 8 (eight) years not 6 (six) by pulling somthing out of his “sarongo”.
I also hope from the bottom of my heart that MR and SF would try to do or implement the things you recommend at the end of your article (at least half of the things or I doubt MR would at least understand this harsh reality). The things you hope and recommend will only happen in a country like Canada not in Sri Lanka.
135. Kalu Albert | January 30th, 2010 at 3:19 am
Rajapaksa, bieng the magnanimous person he is. his parting words to Fonseka at the last meeting at the Temple Trees was ” Sarath go ahead and contest. When you lose come back and see me I will look after you.”
I don’t think Rajapaksa,ever thought, that Fonseka would stoop to the levels that he did, under the guidance of Ranil , Somawansa and Mangala.
If he has any self respect,Fonseka should never seek help from Rajapaksa. With the tangle he has got into from his foul mouthed utterances, he will be lucky not to spend a good part his retirement behind bars.
With a Green card in his pocket why wuold he ask Australia for asylum? May be he wants to cut a deal where he gets immunity from prosecution as a leader granted special asylum in Europe or Australia like Idi Amin and the Shah. of Iran Looks like hasn’t much faith in the Green card .
136. Sri Lankan | January 30th, 2010 at 5:56 am
Hi Jeyaraj
I think majority of Sri Lankan Tamils are short sighted, first they should have seen what happend to JVP in 1971, Still most of them backed LTTE, finaly lost valuable sons and dauters. This time they listened to mad TNA and Tamil Diaspora voting for pissu Sarath. Became again distant from the majority, they should have voted for Mahinda, this would have made Mahinda and Sinhalese obligatory for theire welfare and wellbeing. But they did some thing completely different resulting the ignorance from the majority. Most Sri Lankan Tamils are very educated and intelligent people but with pollitics they are big time fools !!!!!!!!!!! they go to Kade (Shop) for every one, even to people like David Milliband….
137. Don | January 30th, 2010 at 6:40 am
DBS:- your comment to my missive at 130. I don’t want to stress you out ok. I want you to live long and healthy. If my comment is idiotic, don’t put it and I got no grouse. Take it easy mate. God bless you. Don George
DBSJ RESPONDS:
Oh no Matey! All I want you to do is to read and understand before commenting. Now that you’ve given the green light to delete your comment if necessary it will really take a load off my mind. Thanks maaan!
138. Don | January 30th, 2010 at 6:49 am
132. shankar:-if you say you don’t have control of the ballot boxes, then you might as well say they were stuffed. Did he say this on TV and was it his exact words?
========================================
My comment:-I read this on the news item when he was raving about how disgusting his job was and he was under constant pressure etc If you look back on the old news items, you will find it. Ok if they replaced some boxes with rigged ones, how many votes can they get like this is what I don’t know.
139. shankar | January 30th, 2010 at 9:02 am
#134-Upul
I hope MR would not try to stay in power for the next 8 (eight) years not 6 (six) by pulling somthing out of his “sarongo
——————————————————————————–
I break out into a cold sweat when i think of this. Can someone kindly tell us its 6 years and nothing more. 5 years would have been more than enough. i don’t know why that megalomaniac JR made it 6 years.
140. alex.eravi@gmail.com | January 30th, 2010 at 10:32 am
Former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka, speaking at a press briefing a short while ago, warned that he will expose government secrets should anything happen to him and demanded that the government stop harassing him.
The General added that recent developments involving his office premises raided by the STF, his security ‘reduced to zero’ and officials close to him either arrested, sacked or harassed, lead to the conclusion that the Government is preparing for his assassination.
The General also declared that all law and order in the country has broken down. He said, “You can’t go to the police or the courts. You can be arrested at any time. There’s no media freedom. Everyone is under pressure and cannot carry out their rightful duties.”
On whether the General plans to flee the country he stated, “I have no plans of leaving at this moment. I want to stay and represent the people. If I need to hide in order to survive that’s a different matter. But in any case, I can’t leave the country and neither can my family, we’ve all been blacklisted at the airport, myself, my wife and now my two daughters who study abroad.”
141. Martin Thomas | January 30th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Your are right Kalu, Mahinda did say that after Sarath filed his nomination to contest the election, But since then he has changed completely. If he is a magnanimous person why is he acting like a paraiah by sending his elite armed froces called STF to harress him and raide his office and arrest the poeple who were working for him during the elections. That show how low he can stupe down in order to take revange. You guys will never learn by your past mistakes. When Tamils were protesting in peaceful means against the discreminations and asking your to do something to resolve their grevience you never listened to them instead their peacefull demonstrations and protest were broken down with the might of your armed forces. The you delebrately punished the Tamil communtiy by your well organized programs to distroy there businesses, properties and homes and kelled them in thousand in 1958, 1966, 1967 and 1983 this gave birth to the so called Terrorism in Sri lanka. It took 30 years for the successive governments to put the rebellion down at a great cost to the country and the people. Atlest understand what the current President is trying to do to you. He and his family members of over 350 are holding various positions in the government and out are robbing your money and my money and you are quite happy to see that happening.. When the time he will run away with the looted money and settled down somewhere else my be in China or Iran and live a good life and you fools will put the balame on some thing else or even on Tamils and Western countries for all the your mistakes.
142. Martin Thomas | January 30th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Your are right Kalu, Mahinda did say that after Sarath filed his nomination to contest the election, But since then he has changed completely. If he is a magnanimous person as you say why is he acting like a paraiah by sending his elite armed froces called STF to harress him and raide his office and arrest the poeple who were working for him during the elections. That show how low he can stupe down in order to take revange. You guys will never learn by your past mistakes. When Tamils were protesting in peaceful means against the discreminations and asking your to do something to resolve their grevience you never listened to them instead their peacefull demonstrations and protests were broken down with the might of your armed forces. Then you delebrately punished the Tamil communtiy by your well organized programs to distroy there businesses, properties and homes and kelled them in thousand in 1958, 1966, 1967 and 1983 this gave birth to the so called Terrorism in Sri lanka. It took 30 years for the successive governments to put the rebellion down at a great cost to the country and the people. Atlest understand what the current President is trying to do to you. He and his family members of over 350 are holding various positions in the government and are robbing your money and my money and you are quite happy to see that happening. Sarath is an honest man he want to do right to the people and the country so that the next generation will have live in peace and harmony. Tamils and Muslims are part and parcel of this country they have every right as you are to live and serve the country. If you dont realize and do some thing now to fix this problem you and the future generation will curse you and Mahinda.
143. Cg | January 30th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Congrats, Mr President! Now, you have been selected for your second term, it is the second war ahead of you, which is the eliminating the poverty and bring the prosperity to the whole Sri Lanka. Best of Luck!
144. Don | January 30th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
136. Sri Lankan:- As a Sinhalese with very close Tamil friends, I can tell that Tamils are smart and very resourceful. But since independence, because the Sinhalese governments did not understand them, Tamil politicians started to sow seeds of separatism which got a boost via VP after the 1983 riots. Tamil leadership never told the Tamils they need to build bridges with Sinhalese establishment. So from one racist VP they went to the current LTTE proxy, TNA. But Thondaman always played his cards well and got many many privileges for tea estate Tamils from successive governments. Even in this election, Thonda backed the correct horse while Tamil leadership got it wrong and now the TNA will have to wait until MR,s demolition team comes and cleans them up.
145. Parathy | January 30th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Srilankan American( In response to comment 21)
During his first presidential term President Mahinda declared that ” there is no minorities in Srilanka”
Though he decided, not to change the national flag accordingly. But in his second term with
deep understanding with the reality he planned to reprint the school text books stating that
“The lion with sward is representing the Tamils not Sinhalas”
Do you have any problem with his plan? Please state.
After that do you have any plan to come back?
Parathy
146. keenreader | January 31st, 2010 at 5:00 am
I have not reard any credible LTTE support organs keeps telling VP is alive in person but I have read and heard people boasting he is alive in their heart. For argument shake even if he is alive by showing up in public now what benifit it will give to Tamils or even to him self? So Why bother?
147. karma | January 31st, 2010 at 5:08 am
Kalu Albert,
Wait and see in 4 years where Mahinda Iya is going to apply for asylum You know one thing Karma. He canot be president for ever neighter in Srilanka nor any wher in the world.
148. M FERN | January 31st, 2010 at 7:16 am
Comment# 144. – “Thonda backed the correct horse while Tamil leadership got it wrong and now the TNA will have to wait until MR,s demolition team comes and cleans them up”.
Aha!!!!!. Democracy, SL style. – And the Indian Tamils got what for Thonda’s petty politics? You mean saved their own from mass murders?
149. Kalu Albert | January 31st, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Comment 142 Martin Thomas,
The unfolding saga of the events at the Cinnamon Lakes hotel indicate that your hero Fonsrka is in his own cesspool unto his nostrils.
A Bakers dozen retired Army Generals, Army deserters, the self appointed future Executive Prime Minister, and the cabinet ministers and their Western handlers couldn’t have been in the Hotel for a Paduru Party to celebrate the Election Victory.
The statements of Fonseka on record during the hustings clearly point to sinister moves.
He threatened to remove the uniforms of the current Army Commanders and send them to Bogambara.Infact he indicated exact numbers.
He threatened to mobilize the masses to riot on the streets.
He said the Army would teach Rajapaksas a lesson on the 27th if he was not elected.
The threats of this nature , by an Army Commander who was the most powerful person in the country a few months ago can not be taken lightly.Srilanka had never experienced this sort of behavior in any of the past elections.
If Ranil made these threats one could understand that he can only have the Green Shirt cadres to cause mischief, But Fonseka and his retired Generals are a different league.
I think we are witnessing the second coup attempt in the Srilankan history after the one in 62.
Sarath Fonseka is a man with a big ego but a small brain.If he was a genuine leader who cared about the country and the people, he should have joined hands with Rajapaksa and helped him to develop the country and clean up so called corruption which was the only battle cry of the opposition in this election.
Instead he fell into the trap set by Ranil, Mangala and Somawansa who were desperate to saves their asses knowing that they had gone well past their use by date.
Thinking people should get behind Rajapaksa who is a skipper with a proven record. He will serve the Nation well.
150. Murugan | January 31st, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Look at the results in the Tamil areas-
Batticaloa: 69% Fonseka and 27% Rajapaksa
Vanni: 67% Fonseka and 27% Rajapaksa
Jaffna: 64% Fonseka and 25% Rajapaksa
Trincomalee: 54% Fonseka and 43% Rajapaksa
Amparai: 50% Fonseka 50% Rajapaksa
Parts of Trincomalee and Amaparai being amply colonized.
In the Batticaloa district in Padiruppu there was 80% support for Fonseka and 13% for Rajapaksa.
These election results are a remarkable vote of no-confidence!
It is quite generous of ruling government to publish the seemingly true results from the Northeast. Maybe these machiavellians thought it would add credibility to the election and discredit Fonseka as a traitor.
The results are a piercing indicator of the Tamil pulse.
The fact that the Tamils were able to rally around Fonseka with such success shows a lot. And this is despite voter intimidation.
The counter-insurgency tactics have clearly failed to win the hearts and minds. The short-term success of destroying Tamil military assets in a callous fashion is going to crash head-on with the long-term fact that people get pissed off when they are bombed and shelled.
Rajapaksa’s holding onto power does not bode well for nation building.
The truth is that he would have to radically change his ways and begin ruling as a statesman rather than a Sinhala King. Let’s see if he does this during his small window of time to build bridges and unity. Rajapaksa must exert significant effort in winning the hearts and minds of Tamils. He can’t bungle the peace by continuing to govern in favor of his Southern constituency. He needs to open his mind, using Colombo as a model for ethnic amity.
These elections show that Tamils at least had the strength left to try and usher in regime change. And that demonstration of strength is huge.
If the elections in the South were not engineered electronically, they may have been able to play king-maker.
Or maybe Tamil verbal support of Fonseka, discouraged Sinhalese to vote for Fonseka. typical of the Sinhalese.
151. Ranjan from Toronto | February 1st, 2010 at 8:53 am
General Fonseka’s argument that he moved to the Cinnamon Lakeside because he was apprehensive of being arrested sounds strange. Why move to that hotel which is next to the Air Force HQ? He knows very well that the Air Force and the Navy leadership was dead against him and in any attempt to arrest him, those forces would have played a very prominent role. So the commander who has a reputation of planning all things very carefully put himself and all his people in a place that the Air Force personnel could have ambled over and picked them up leisurely?
Or may be he prefferred the coffee and cake at Cinnomon Lakeside better than what is served at GFH?
152. Praveen | February 1st, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Comment Murugan # 150
“The results are a piercing indicator of the Tamil pulse.”
I don’t think so Murugan.
Your figures look impressive on surface. But the number of Tamils who did not listen to the Fonseka Camp led by Sampathan is really astonishing.
700,000 registered Tamil voters in the Norther Province and 500,000 in the Jaffna district alone ,totally ignored Sampathan and the TNA.
The conclusion should be that the majority Tamils in the North are indipendent mined and they want to improve their living standards and catch up with the rest of the country.
They are not interested in the opportunistic and false promises dished out to them by failed leaders like Sampathan.
153. shankar | February 1st, 2010 at 6:04 pm
151. Ranjan from Toronto | February 1st, 2010 at 8:53 am
General Fonseka’s argument that he moved to the Cinnamon Lakeside because he was apprehensive of being arrested sounds strange
—————————————————————————
Maybe he felt a bit secure having 400 guys and all the opposition leaders around him as soon as the elections are over. He coundn’t have done that in his house. Anyway he seems to be paranoid over an assasination attempt. I don’t blaame him from the track record of the government.
154. TRN | February 4th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
my thinking is that the tamils & muslims in N&E voted against Karuna, Pillayan& Devananda. Not voted for SF or voted againt MR
Thei’r problems are regional very differnet from the other provinces of SL which were relatively free of war.
These issues in N&E are not political its a human catastrophy. Only GOd can bring healing to these people. no human with all the powers of a SL president could adress them.
I don’t mean that these should be ignored but the problems are beyond politics & politicians.
155. shankar | February 4th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
154-TRN
no human with all the powers of a SL president could adress them.
I don’t mean that these should be ignored but the problems are beyond politics & politicians.
————————————————————————
You have a defeatist attitude my friend, trying to palm off onto god what humans have created. These are not natural disasters like in Haiti. These problems were created by the leaders of the country since independence. So whoever accepts now the office of the president, it is his or her’s bounden duty to clean up the mess. If there is one person who has the experience, strength and skill to gradually clean up this mess it is Mahinda, but whether he has the will to do it i don’t know.
156. TRN | February 5th, 2010 at 10:34 am
155. Shankar
I agree with you the human catastrophy in N&E is man made.
but only God can help to bring healing… or give the ‘will’ to the president to do what he can…. we continue to intercede in prayer on this behalf
As every one knows what happened , what went wrong , what can be corrected. But are we willing to forgive and forget and build brigdes between the communities?
The heartache of the victims of war is beyond my imagination. How can politics alone put these things right/ back to normal?
the problem with many Sri Lankans is their total dependence on politicians and political solutions…. which had brought us to this sad situ today.
take heart, go and visit these areas talk to the victims and try and help them in a meaningfulway than waiting for the politicians to deliver peace!!!
157. Philips | February 11th, 2010 at 5:14 am
Victory tarnished by arrest of Sarath Fonseka
Leave a Comment
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed