Towards peaceful Elections

The appeal made by religious leaders for the conduct of a violence free election at the two provinces that go to the poll tomorrow should be heeded with all seriousness by all political parties in the fray.

Members of the Society of Religions who met the Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake on Wednesday had requested him to ensure a violence free poll for the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces.

They have expressed alarm at the mounting incidents of violence in the run up to the poll and called for remedial action from the polls chief. That a group of religious leaders no less representing all major religions in the country should sound an alarm in this manner shows the degree to which the existing political chasm has transformed into violence and anarchy.

This does not bode well for the unity call made by Government leaders at a time the country is on the verge of vanquishing terrorism. Political rivalry should not be allowed to stand in the way of unity.

True, the country has come a long way on the political front from those spacious days immediately following independence. Today it is a much more dynamic entity politically speaking with the public active participants in the democratic process. However political rivalry should not be allowed to descend into violence and anarchy. Lives and public property needs to be protected from overzealous party activists of all hues.

In mature democracies tolerance and magnanimity is evident in political campaigns. The recent US Primaries demonstrated this to the hilt where the political discourses were kept on an even keel sans rancour and acrimony.

Political violence is unheard of in such a milieu. We too had a similar election culture in the immediate post Independence era where elections were marked by healthy rivalry where violence if any was peripheral.

Regrettably things changed for the worst with the passage of time.

The rot set in after 1977 when for the first time election violence became institutionalised. The leader of the victorious party set the tone by famously declaring one weeks leave for the Police Department while goons went on the rampage on a spree of murder and arson targeting political opponents.

Since then elections were not the same peaceful affair the country had known until then. The situation reached a new low at the 1982 referendum when there was open plundering of votes with even the vote of the main rival Presidential candidate cast before he arrived at polling station. The trend was already set for vote rigging, malprectices and polls violence to flourish with state patronage.

Those who are today shedding copious tears over alleged election violence and malpractices should do some introspection before accusing their rivals willy nilly.

It is the genie that they released when in power that has lain seige of the country’s body politic and sullied the political landscape as also seen from the dark episode of the infamous Wayamba election. The then Government should be held responsible for bequeathing to the country this legacy of institutionalised violence that has changed our election culture. True, active participation in elections is a hallmark of a vibrant democracy.

So is the cut and thrust of political debate where rivals tear each other into pieces. However it is important that these rivalries are confined to verbal duels. They should not overstep the bounds of healthy political rivalry and descend into anarchy. Sadly Sri Lnaka’s political landscape has being marred by political violence which does not auger well for the democratic process.

Time was when elections in this country were quiet affairs when the atmosphere took on a celebrative air. The public treasured their franchise and protected their vote with a religious fervour. Election nights were the climax when the public kept vigil to eagerly lap up the results with the men folk revved up under Bacchanal influence .

Crackers were lit as the victors rejoiced while the vanquished resigned themselves to the verdict and life moved on as before. Violent incidents were few and far between as voters went to the polling booths and cast their votes without fear or intimidation.

It is time that the authorities take steps to return the country to that culture many decades ago when elections depicted the true face of democracy at play. The Government alone cannot make this happen.

All parties should get together to restore the status quo. True, unlike in the past there is much at stake in present day elections. But these considerations should be transcended if we are not be looked at askance by the democratic world as unworthy recipients of the democratic system.

It would be ideal if an All Party committee is formed to identify areas where political violence could be eliminated and remedial measures proposed to bring opposing parties together in healthy rivalry as seen in most democracies. It is only then can we claim to be a truly united nation.