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| Sunday, 15 February 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Elections 2004 - Peace and development : Need of the hour by VIMUKTHI FERNANDO and JAYANTHI LIYANAGE The Sunday Observer asked a sample of people in the city the following questions: 1. Is this time suitable to hold elections?
Vijeylechchumi, (Tamil), Akkaraipattu: Awaiting employment as housemaid in Saudi Arabia: I think the time is ripe for an election and the newly elected government will be made of a strong party which can make some sound decisions on peace-making for all the people in Sri Lanka. I prefer the UNP as this party was able to bring in certain policies to address the situation of fostering peace. Mrs. Katupitiya (Sinhala), Kurunegala: An election at this time might require a big expenditure and might not answer the needs of the country. We need two strong parties. I feel that the alliance of PA-JVP is the answer. P. M. M. Thajudeen, (Muslim) Translator/Director, Safiya Translation Bureau, Colombo 4: I don't think this is a good time to have elections as we have not got the opinions of the aid-givers from outside the country. Having elections might affect the aid we have been offered from outside.
A congregation of UNP would be the way of deciding peace for the future. This party was able to work on peace for all communities with no major offences in Jaffna, Batticaloa and Trincomalee. Roopa Savarimuttu, (Tamil) salesperson, Majestic City: Going by the current situation, I think it is better to have elections to make the final decision on which party is to be the governor. As it is, the country is teetering both left and right and as a consequence, the people are suffering. Commodity prices have risen so high now that it does not matter to us which party wins, as long as it relieves people by keeping prices at an affordable level. The winning party should be able to help both the rich and the poor alike, to lead equally productive lives. Suweeraka Perera, (Sinhala), Asst. Manager, a restaurant, Majestic City: Having an election now might not be the best thing for the hotel trade and the tourism industry, which seems to be going down. If any winning party really wants to resolve problems, they can. But the politicians do not actually want to solve problems - what they do is make money.
Selvam (not his real name), estate Tamil from Maskeliya who works as a foreman in Colombo: The UNP will win the elections without a doubt. Estate people will vote either for Chandrasekeran or Thondaman or UNP, and not for PA-JVP. Estate workers still remember how in late 1980s, the JVP made them keep lights off with threatening letters. They fed their children lighting a lamp under a table covered with a gunny bag. They will never vote for JVP. Wimalasiri, (Sinhala) three wheeler driver, Colombo 4: An election might not be timely but judging by the uncertain situation of the country, it certainly seems necessary to have one. People are wasting public funds on work-strikes and protest-fasting. We have not been provided with a systematic method of solving social issues although there is a lot of talk and hardly anything is done. I welcome any winning party which can help people to go beyond differences of caste, creed, race, religion and ethnicity to achieve a lasting peaceful way of life. Sameer, (Muslim), shop manager, Bambalapitiya: I think it is necessary to have elections now, as the government is in two pieces. Actually, it should be in one piece. A government cannot have good leadership with two heads and elections will decide whether it is to be a one-headed government or a two-headed one. An ideal winning party would be one common to all people. It does not have to be two-sided. We would like this party to be a unique one bringing peace and equality to all ethnic groups in Sri Lanka. Ms. Alphonsus, (Burgher) housewife, Colombo 3: This might not be a good time to have elections as it clashes with A/L exams and the Sinhala/Hindu New Year. This is a difficult question but I would go for whichever party that could bring in peace. Parties come into power but we hardly feel any benefits. Jehan, (Muslim), university student: It is the general public which suffers from elections. Sri Lankan politics are such that everyone behaves as though he is in parliament. Co-operation, communication and goodwill is lacking. I am for Ranil.The winning party should be one which is willing to accommodate minorities and could be as flexible as a bamboo. R. Kumar, (Tamil) shop-keeper, Colombo 6: On the face of it, elections will be meaningless if whoever wins hardly bring in a firm solution to the country's problems. But it would be better to have the elections, than not have it. I would rather opt for a strict Army rule like in Pakistan. Neelamani, (Sinhala) office administrator, Nugegoda: Rather than the stubborn unproductive deadlock we witnessed among the governing and opposing political parties in the immediate past, elections can be seen as a move ahead to break that impasse, to elect one winning party or coalition to resume the work which had been stalled. I would support any party which does not throttle the freedom of the individual in order to enforce party policies. **** To the representatives of organised groups and unions, the Sunday Observer posed the questions: A: Is the move to dissolve parliament and hold a general election necessary at this juncture? B: Which party do you think will resolve your issues? Ravindra Mudalige, Convenor, Inter University Student Federation, an umbrella student organisation which represents student unions from various universities of the country. Snap elections, was the current need of the country. There was no alternative. The party which ruled was plunging the country in abysmal Poverty by selling our resources and was bringing in a culture which was not welcome. The dissolution will stop their actions at least temporarily. We see that the action plan presented by the Alliance (SLFP-JVP) as one that is able to bring in the necessary changes to the country. However, this has to be implemented and not be limited to a plan. Herman Kumara, Convenor, Fishermen's Solidarity, an organisation based in Negombo which represents nine fisheries organisations from the western and eastern coast and freshwater fishery. There is no need for an election. It is not the need of the people, but the result of the power struggle within Sri Lankan politics. It is a waste of public resources. What have we gained from the governments which came into power so far? None has been able to resolve our issues. We have no trust in politicians. Our organisation is concerned about two main issues of the country - peace and development. We support a government which would give us an acceptable solution for these two issues. However, proportional representation at elections, does not provide room for a strong government. Therefore, we will support a government which would gear the country towards a democratic structure. K. V. Jayasena, President, Convening Body, of the Joint Alliance of Railway Trade Unions, the umbrella organisation of the rail workers. This is not an election called for the interests of the country. If it was so, the country should have got rid of the proportional system of elections and the recommendations of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the subject should have implemented prior to elections. No party, ruling or opposition so far had given the railworkers reasonable solution and no party will without pressure. That's what we showed the government with the recent strike action. We will continue to pressurise the government regardless of the party, until our issues are resolved. P. Hettiarachchi, President, Inter Company Employees Union, an umbrella employees union with member organisations from the private sector. It is a timely move to rebuild the country. There was no other option, the discussions between the President and the Prime Minister were leading nowhere and were not transparent. Elections, is a way of selecting a people's government back again. To stop the imperialists from robbing the country and mitigate Sri Lanka's negative status at the World Bank. We trust that the 'Pancha Maha' plan of action of the Alliance would give the workers of this country the rights that were snatched off or severely pruned by the ruling party. We would as an organisation agitate to the party elected, to implement a policy favourable for the people. Ranjith de Silva, Convenor, Network of Organic Farmers, an organisation based in Kandy with links to organic farmer organisations throughout the country. My personal opinion is at this juncture where corruption is at its greatest heights and no work is done for the progress of the country, if the President and the PM cannot resolve the national issues it is best to go to polls and get a good government. Resolving issues is not possible for one single party. It has to be a meeting of minds of the government and the opposition, along with those who suffer from the problem. As for us, it is the recognition for organic farming which the whole world is looking at, at present. W. H. Piyadasa, President, Public Service Trade Unions Federation, an organisation based in Colombo which represents 64 trade unions in various sectors from the ministries and departments. It was the need of the hour for three reasons. The ethnic problem was seeing no solution. The country was plagued by anarchy. At the administrative level no ministry or department was willing to take any decision or action. The party that ruled did not resolve the issues but made it worse. Amidst the protests of the worker population they tore off the only protective measure from the workers, and dissolved the government sector selling in to parties with vested interests. We need an alternative government, and hope the Alliance would bring in some change. Ven. Mahamankadawala Piyarathana Thera, President, Alliance for the Protection of Natural Resources and Human Rights: Based in Eppawala and represents 126 trade unions and farmer organisations. The UNP suffers the consequences of the most undemocratic action of a one time leader. It is hoped election would stop the damage to the country. However, the common people cannot afford so many elections. Unless this system is changed no election would bring any benefit. Now there is no opportunity for the local leaders, who understood the needs of their locality to be elected to the parliament. Only solution is a national force with a national plan to press whatever the ruling party on its implementation. Siripala Jayaweera, Convenor, Kirindi Oya United Farmer Federation: Represents 60 farmer organisations from the province. Elections is a very necessary step, to stop the pilfering by the previous government. It would give the decisive powers for the people. As for resolving issues, who raised the prices of agricultural input, changed the water policies and cut off the facilities for the farmers under the guise of open economy? We do not want such a party. We are hopeful towards the policies of the Alliance, however, if we do not get our needs met, whatever the party elected we are ready to take to the streets fighting for our rights. |
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