PC Polls: Opposition has lost faith in the whole process – Karu J

Blatant violation of election laws by the government in the run up to the Northern, Central and North-Western Provincial Council Elections, had resulted in the Opposition losing faith in the whole process, Senior UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya said yesterday.



He told a news conference in Colombo that the Elections Department was doing its best, but due to the absence of an Independent Elections Commission, it was unable to stop the blatant abuse of Polls laws by UPFA candidates, who had the entire state machinery at their disposal.

Despite directives issued by the Elections Commissioner, official vehicles, helicopters and buildings were being used by Ministers MPs and UPFA candidates for campaign purposes, the MP noted.

Jayasuriya observed that Chairmen of Corporations and officials were openly engaged in Polls work on behalf of the government, while the Governors, who were expected by virtue of their position to be independent, had also joined the fray.

Illegal UPFA Election Offices had come up in various parts of the Northern, Central and North-Western Provinces, but the Police were helpless due to directives from the "top", Jayasuriya said adding that it was only last week that a Minister had thrown his weight around inside a Police Station in Kandy, while goons of another Minister had smashed up an Opposition candidate’s vehicle.

The State media too was violating the EC’s orders by openly campaigning for the government, he noted.

The MP said that some of the actions of the Attorney General’s Department, after it was brought under the purview of the President, were subject to widespread criticism.

All the Independent Commissions, including the Elections, Police and Judicial Service Commission, which were abolished, with the repeal of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, should be reconstituted immediately if the people were to have any faith in the electoral process, he pointed out.

Jayasuriya, said that with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting due to be held in Colombo in November, the Rajapaksa regime was trying hard to show the world that it was a practicing five star democracy, but the continued violation of election laws, the rising crime wave, stifling of democratic dissent by killing unarmed protestors and rampant corruption, was indicative of the true state of the country.

He called on the government to implement the law even at this late stage, and ensure the conduct of free and fair Provinicial Polls.