REFUGEE

UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya has called on the government to hold free and fair elections and not to resort to its now usual tactics of winning at any cost, as witnessed during the last few days by the disrupting of several opposition meetings by government politicians.

Issuing a statement Jayasuriya says that at this crucial juncture in the country’s history, the UNP implored the government to respect the most fundamental of citizens rights in a democracy; the franchise.

“Considering the ugly track record of this administration to manipulate the will of the people, we are compelled to demand that the Government conduct a free and fair election, be it a presidential or general election keeping

to the high standards expected of a democratic nation,” he states.

Emphasizing the importance of implementing the 17th Amendment, Jaysuriya notes that the UNP continuously lobbied for the full implementation of the Amendment, which would ensure the establishment of independent police, public service and elections commissions to oversee electoral seasons.

He notes the UNP has maintained that the non-implementation of the 17th amendment seriously jeopardizes every poll held in Sri Lanka because of the inherent ability of the incumbent party to manipulate the media and the police to their own advantage.

“With a presidential poll in the air, we have already witnessed the hasty transfers of several high ranking policemen which can only be a harbinger to the violence and abuse of state property that is to surely follow once the polls are announced.”

Jayasuriya appealed to police officials to stay the course and enforce the laws of this land to the best of their ability.

“We urge you to heed your personal consciences when carrying out orders even though they may come from a superior officer – if those orders are at odds with justice and morality, refrain from carrying them out. It is your bounden duty to act according to your conscience at this critical poll, to ensure that democracy and the rule of law prevails,” he states.

Jayasuriya notes that usually an election in a democratic country is a celebration of the citizens’ freedom of choice to elect their own representatives. Tragically in Sri Lanka elections have become a source of death and destruction.

“The callous use of state property, intimidation of opponents, violence unleashed by government hooligans, blatantly biased use of state media have now become norms under the present administration as seen in the recently concluded provincial council elections.”

Jayasuriya further observes that the erosion of democracy in addition to the violation of human rights is one of the fundamental reasons why the international community has been increasingly critical of Sri Lanka and in some cases bracketed the country with the undemocratic states of the world.

“Sri Lanka is the oldest democracy in Asia. She boasts of one of the highest percentages of literacy in the developing world and more importantly is blessed with intelligent and politically astute citizens who are fully capable of making their own decisions when it comes to electing their representatives. However due to the undemocratic and often blatant misrepresentation of the peoples’ will in the recent elections by the mostly violent actions of the Government many in Sri Lanka have become disillusioned with the election process,” he adds.

Jayasuriya finally notes that as elected representatives of the people it is their sacred duty to preserve the franchise of the people and uphold the will of the citizens. “We as the custodians of the United National Party whose forefathers ushered in independence to our nation over 60 years ago are well aware of our duty to undertake every democratic effort to safeguard the peoples’ franchise.”