Crucial elections!

- The Sudar Oli Editorial

(August 23, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The elections to be held for the North Central Provincial Council and the Sabragamuva Provincial Council do not merely signify elections of representatives to those councils at a provincial level but they are considered to be of great significance at the national level. So, what is crucial about it? President Rajapakse has sought a mandate from the south through these polls for the war that he has unleashed on the Tamil homeland, while the Leader of the main opposition party, the UNP, Ranil Wickremasinghe has sought a mandate to alleviate poverty and raise the standard of living of the people.

What is crucial is the verdict of the South on these issues. In 2001 general election also, there prevailed similar political options but the situation then was different from the situation today.

The then Chandrika government faced political, economic and military crises at that time. Her war for peace was shattered by the military strength of the LTTE. The view that a political solution could be thrust upon the Tamil people through compulsion by a military approach had been shattered at that time. It was the time when the military victories of the LTTE had broken the back bone of the military at that time.

Therefore, the election in December 2001 was contested on the basis of war or peace. It was a contest between the forces that were for the war and the forces that advocated peace. At the end of the election, the forces for peace emerged successfully. But, within two and a half years, the South installed the forces for peace at the next election.

But, the frame of mind of the South that prevailed during the 2001 election does not prevail today. It is topsy- turvy today. It was a time when morale of the military was at low ebb due to the losses in the war. But, today the morale of the armed forces is rather high due to the military success and due to the war propaganda.

It was the time, when President Chandrika’s war for peace had failed while this is the time when the South has a strong belief that President Rajapakse’s war for humanitarian mission will win.

It is against such a back drop that President seeks a mandate for war from the South, while the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe seeks a mandate to raise the standard of living and for peaceful resolution.

In any event, the election results will reveal the verdict of the South!

(An English translation of the Editorial in The Sudar Oli, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo.)
- Sri Lanka Guardian