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By Thomas Raj Johnpulle
(July 04, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) If there is anything pretenders and terrorists tremble in complete terror, it is multiparty elections. In a multiparty election, the outcome is just a small element; the election itself is a manifestation of the acceptance of belongingness to a country, its legal and democratic system and social values. Sri Lanka is Asia’s oldest democracy. It is only natural that Sri Lankans get excited over elections. Northerners are extremely excited over the local government elections there, compared to elections after 1983. The sheer number of political parties and groups contesting the election especially for the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) and the Vavuniya Municipal Council evidence this fact. As in the case of any election, only citizens of a country could vote. In fact voting is an obligation of every citizen. Discharging this obligation binds the citizen to the country. There are some countries where abstaining from voting carries a punishment.
The North is virtually Tamil-only. They are getting ready for the exciting forthcoming elections. In doing so they have clearly rejected citizenship of the mythical Tamil Eelam nation and ascribed to the citizenry of the Sri Lankan nation. This is unpalatable for Tamil Eelam elements now desperate after the annihilation of the LTTE. They are trying their best to disrupt the election and convince the people not to take part in the election. Interestingly, LTTE that forcibly held large parts of Vanni until 2009 and Jaffna until 1995 never held elections. Moreover, they disrupted elections whenever the government tried. This is a massive blow to Tamil Eelam elements now struggling to assert their bankrupt separatism ideology.
The Tamil separatism ideology was defeated in the battlefront in May 2009 and now it will surely be defeated at an election. Pro-separatist groups both in Sri Lanka and elsewhere are begging Tamils not to vote at the election. They have identified that this election is a referendum over Sri Lanka and Tamil Eelam – the mythical state for which the LTTE killed hundreds of thousands since 1975.
There is a strong development focus by most political groups running for office. It is understandable as development was something denied to the people in the North not only by the LTTE but also by Tamil Eelamist politicians since Independence. They found out that under-development breeds separatism, dissent, frustration, unrest and lawlessness. These were the very same calamities exploited by the LTTE to launch its violent campaign. With the development focus, not only will the people distance themselves from the separatist agenda, but also drop the baseless myth that violence can achieve political aspirations.
Security forces have played a pivotal role in enabling elections in the North. Eliminating LTTE terror remnants is only part of the story. Creating an atmosphere of safety and security in which democracy can flourish is another important part of it. People are now craving for the election that is a few weeks away. These local bodies are vested with power to govern matters relating to their respective areas just like any other municipal governing body. Being small, specific and close to the community strengthens the ability to work for the betterment of the community. In 1996 following the defeat of the LTTE, the government tried to revive the local governance process amidst severe and violent terror attacks by the LTTE. LTTE managed to kill a number of Mayors and councillors totally crippling the Jaffna Municipal Council. It is worthwhile to note that the first victim of LTTE terror was the Mayor of Jaffna killed by the LTTE leader in July 1975. He was killed by the LTTE leader. Now elections are on to elect the new Mayor for Jaffna immediately after the death of the LTTE leader! Surely democracy prevailed.
It is the duty of the government to uphold the law without regard to their connections. A fraudulent election process cannot elect a responsible Council. People of Jaffna waited for this for decades and it is the government’s utmost duty to ensure the most deserving party wins by maintaining law and order. Intimidating journalists, burning newspapers and other similar acts are criminal. They need to be dealt with accordingly. People may elect a party other than the ruling party. That should be perfectly alright with the government. Making the elected council’s life difficult for petty political differences is not a wise thing to do especially in the North where people look up to democracy to deliver the goods. The government should also take care to safeguard people’s land rights. Land is extremely precious to the people in the North and they have provided valuable consideration for their possessions. Certain legal requirements may not have been followed to the letter of the law due to practical difficulties posed by the war but private property must be respected by all.
A group contesting the election has come up with a hilarious, yet destructive promise to disrupt the proceedings of the council by resigning from their positions following election. However, voters seem least bothered. Elections in the North – the crown of Sri Lanka - will surely usher in a new era of democracy, prosperity and Sri Lankanness. Trying to stop that is an exercise in vain. The world understands elections and speaks in the language of democracy. Flow with it or be left behind.
By Thomas Raj Johnpulle
(July 04, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) If there is anything pretenders and terrorists tremble in complete terror, it is multiparty elections. In a multiparty election, the outcome is just a small element; the election itself is a manifestation of the acceptance of belongingness to a country, its legal and democratic system and social values. Sri Lanka is Asia’s oldest democracy. It is only natural that Sri Lankans get excited over elections. Northerners are extremely excited over the local government elections there, compared to elections after 1983. The sheer number of political parties and groups contesting the election especially for the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) and the Vavuniya Municipal Council evidence this fact. As in the case of any election, only citizens of a country could vote. In fact voting is an obligation of every citizen. Discharging this obligation binds the citizen to the country. There are some countries where abstaining from voting carries a punishment.
The North is virtually Tamil-only. They are getting ready for the exciting forthcoming elections. In doing so they have clearly rejected citizenship of the mythical Tamil Eelam nation and ascribed to the citizenry of the Sri Lankan nation. This is unpalatable for Tamil Eelam elements now desperate after the annihilation of the LTTE. They are trying their best to disrupt the election and convince the people not to take part in the election. Interestingly, LTTE that forcibly held large parts of Vanni until 2009 and Jaffna until 1995 never held elections. Moreover, they disrupted elections whenever the government tried. This is a massive blow to Tamil Eelam elements now struggling to assert their bankrupt separatism ideology.
The Tamil separatism ideology was defeated in the battlefront in May 2009 and now it will surely be defeated at an election. Pro-separatist groups both in Sri Lanka and elsewhere are begging Tamils not to vote at the election. They have identified that this election is a referendum over Sri Lanka and Tamil Eelam – the mythical state for which the LTTE killed hundreds of thousands since 1975.
There is a strong development focus by most political groups running for office. It is understandable as development was something denied to the people in the North not only by the LTTE but also by Tamil Eelamist politicians since Independence. They found out that under-development breeds separatism, dissent, frustration, unrest and lawlessness. These were the very same calamities exploited by the LTTE to launch its violent campaign. With the development focus, not only will the people distance themselves from the separatist agenda, but also drop the baseless myth that violence can achieve political aspirations.
Security forces have played a pivotal role in enabling elections in the North. Eliminating LTTE terror remnants is only part of the story. Creating an atmosphere of safety and security in which democracy can flourish is another important part of it. People are now craving for the election that is a few weeks away. These local bodies are vested with power to govern matters relating to their respective areas just like any other municipal governing body. Being small, specific and close to the community strengthens the ability to work for the betterment of the community. In 1996 following the defeat of the LTTE, the government tried to revive the local governance process amidst severe and violent terror attacks by the LTTE. LTTE managed to kill a number of Mayors and councillors totally crippling the Jaffna Municipal Council. It is worthwhile to note that the first victim of LTTE terror was the Mayor of Jaffna killed by the LTTE leader in July 1975. He was killed by the LTTE leader. Now elections are on to elect the new Mayor for Jaffna immediately after the death of the LTTE leader! Surely democracy prevailed.
It is the duty of the government to uphold the law without regard to their connections. A fraudulent election process cannot elect a responsible Council. People of Jaffna waited for this for decades and it is the government’s utmost duty to ensure the most deserving party wins by maintaining law and order. Intimidating journalists, burning newspapers and other similar acts are criminal. They need to be dealt with accordingly. People may elect a party other than the ruling party. That should be perfectly alright with the government. Making the elected council’s life difficult for petty political differences is not a wise thing to do especially in the North where people look up to democracy to deliver the goods. The government should also take care to safeguard people’s land rights. Land is extremely precious to the people in the North and they have provided valuable consideration for their possessions. Certain legal requirements may not have been followed to the letter of the law due to practical difficulties posed by the war but private property must be respected by all.
A group contesting the election has come up with a hilarious, yet destructive promise to disrupt the proceedings of the council by resigning from their positions following election. However, voters seem least bothered. Elections in the North – the crown of Sri Lanka - will surely usher in a new era of democracy, prosperity and Sri Lankanness. Trying to stop that is an exercise in vain. The world understands elections and speaks in the language of democracy. Flow with it or be left behind.
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