Abuse of power makes travesty of democracy in Sri Lanka elections
by Ralph Michael
Sri Lanka’s presidential election should have been cause for celebration — the first since the defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels in May, and the first in peacetime in almost three decades.
Instead, it has descended into such a travesty that South Asia’s oldest democracy — which gained universal suffrage in 1931 and elected the world’s first woman Prime Minister in 1960 — is barely worthy of the title any more.
President Rajapaksa: "From today onward, I am the president of everyone, whether they voted for me or not"-pic: Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters)
Not only has the poll been marred by violence, apparently perpetrated not by diehard Tamil rebels, but by rival supporters of the two Sinhalese main candidates, but it has also witnessed the kind of flagrant abuse of state resources, most notably state media, that is more often found in former Soviet Central Asia.
Last week the independent Election Commissioner admitted that he had given up warning the police and other public servants to remain impartial because they repeatedly ignored him.
One of the Government’s least subtle attempts to undermine General Fonseka was a film aired on state television at the weekend about Idi Amin, the Ugandan dictator.
Another is the new 1,000-rupee note featuring President Rajapaksa — the first living person to adorn a Sri Lankan banknote since Queen Elizabeth II in 1952.
Now the Government has gone a step farther by challenging the legitimacy of General Fonseka’s candidacy, even after the Election Commissioner has ruled in his favour. Mr Rajapaksa has long argued that his country no longer needs the Western democratic values on which Sri Lanka was founded when it won independence from Britain in 1948.
He has forged new ties with China, Iran, Libya and Burma and has also adopted many of the methods by which they handle media critics and political opponents.
If that is really what Sri Lankans want, then so be it — the West has many more pressing concerns. But the political crisis now facing them is the direct result of this shift in outlook. - courtesy: Times UK -
12 Comments
"If that is really what Sri Lankans want, then so be it — the West has many more pressing concerns. But the political crisis now facing them is the direct result of this shift in outlook."
Yes Sri Lankans have spoken and they clearly show the finger to the holy western white masters. Now please go to western euphoria of the most fair and just society in the world to look after 'more pressing concerns'. We Sri Lanksn will look after ours.
Why don't you say this when JR and Premadas was in the power?
Mr. Michael,
You speak of Western Democratic values only when they suit you. You complain that Sri Lanka has forged ties with China. But it is absolutely no problem for countries like US and UK to trade massively with that country. I guess then there is no question of applying so called "western democratic values" is there? What hypocrisy.
This is a cause for Great Concern!!
Ralph Michael has spoken!
SL should scrap the will of it's voters and elect the loser instead
http://www.poisonedminds.com/tests/dic/
Another tinpot dictator in democratic guise has joined the line up of Mugabe, Gaddafi, Ahamadinijad, Kim il Jong etc. What it means for Sri Lanka is to go back to 161 BC at a time when progressive nations are moving forward into the 21st century and beyond.
Following extract from lanka news web gives exactly what happened.
It has been found that the Elections Secretariat was invaded by Presidential sibling Basil Rajapakse and his forces at around 3.00 am on the 27th January 2010 after erecting a chain-link barricade on the Parliament Road, which leads to the Secretariat. He then forced the Commissioner of Elections out of his seat and took control of all the affairs at the Secretariat thus starting to release the election results according to a pre-planned mechanism.
Who the Dickens is Ralph Michael ? What does he know or care about Sri Lanka ? Sri Lanka has had a long established civilised and democratic tradition until the advent of the western barbarians in the 1500's, who plundered the eastern countries. It certainly does not need the 3rd class teatment handed out by the self-appointed "international community" UK,France,Norway,USA etc They have found genuine freinds in Russia, China, Libiya and Iran. SO BE IT !
Another is the new 1,000-rupee note featuring President Rajapaksa — the first living person to adorn a Sri Lankan banknote since Queen Elizabeth II in 1952.
The beauty here is now Sri Lankan corruption with have the face of the source of corruption! Cute.....
"If that is really what Sri Lankans want, then so be it — the West has many more pressing concerns" says Ralph Michael.
But the China factor is a pressing Western concern: so it is doubtful that if that is really what Sri Lankans want, then the West, much less India, will just let it be!
But is it really what Sri Lankans wanted?
If yes:
then it shows that the vast majority of Sinhala voters, by a massive margin, subscribe to MR & co's anti-western views, anti-Tamil views (in the guise of 'all are SriLankans'= 'nothing special about Tamils' etc.), thuggery (evidenced in the election interferences), corruption (for example re over a billion US$s), etc.
If no:
then it proves that the elections were rigged!!
Looks like Ralph Michael from Times UK has ultimately understood the truth. We Srialnkans have got a 2500 years old pure civilization.
We have got the most scientific Buddhism on earth. We have got the most supreme culture and ethics at home. Sinhalese are the best people on earth. Sure there is a bit of a domestic violence but that is comparably negligible.
Ask from the IDPs in Manik farm, the happiest people in captivity on earth according to HE our president.
When you are on top of the world ,there is no where to go. Hence since 1940s our economy, society and the culture is stagnant.
The Karma being on top of the world!
None of the govts prior to MR´s administration has been this much undemocratic. It is almost like loosing all the important rights of srilankens. Today as atleast 50% of the nations feel it to their skin, that the country is marching on undemocratic path as never before. Not also being comparable to the painful days after the premadasa´s regime in the late eighties.Since we had democratic values of the life inthe past, we dont need to compare the situation with those of other countries like Iran or Simbabwe. Srilanka as a country of which nation have the franchise and the related rights for such long time, has bitterly been taken away by this rule. If opposition could find all the evidences to prove the degree of the abuses that caused results to be declared as election win, it will then be a great triumph in the democracy in our country. Many those who live with fears today, keep silent being unable to pass what they feel is right, also considering the way how EC himself reacted at announcing the election results. And also the manner the nation celebrated the reelection of MR and the aftermath of the announcement of the election results are not typical to any other democratic nation´s or even previous post election periods. However, the truth will come to light soon - is the hope of many.
None of the govts prior to MR´s administration has been this much undemocratic. It is almost like loosing all the important rights of srilankens. Today as atleast 50% of the nations feel it to their skin, that the country is marching on undemocratic path as never before. Not also being comparable to the painful days after the premadasa´s regime in the late eighties.Since we had democratic values of the life inthe past, we dont need to compare the situation with those of other countries like Iran or Simbabwe. Srilanka as a country of which nation have the franchise and the related rights for such long time, has bitterly been taken away by this rule. If opposition could find all the evidences to prove the degree of the abuses that caused results to be declared as election win, it will then be a great triumph in the democracy in our country. Many those who live with fears today, keep silent being unable to pass what they feel is right, also considering the way how EC himself reacted at announcing the election results. And also the manner the nation celebrated the reelection of MR and the aftermath of the announcement of the election results are not typical to any other democratic nation´s or even previous post election periods. However, the truth will come to light soon - is the hope of many.