Majority yearns for violence-free election

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The election campaign of the two provincial councils, the North Central and Sabaragamuwa has already begun. But, according to reports some candidates and their supporters are engaged in numerous unlawful activities against their opponents.

When the Sunday Observer interviewed the public on this issue, a private sector Banker, Kesara Iddamalgoda proposed that President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe should bring both chief ministerial candidates to a common platform before both parties commence their propaganda campaigns.

“Allow both candidates to have a friendly debate before the public”.

He said such a debate will help to eliminate violent situations and illegal activities which commonly occur during election campaigns.

Iddamalgoda further said that during his recent tour in France he witnessed such meetings, conducted by rival candidates and as a result not even a single incident of election violence was reported.

University lecturer, Nuwan Saparamadu of Matara said that curtailing election violence is not an easy task, unless candidates themselves realise the gravity of these incidents.

Saparamadu said that in a previous election at Matara, at the invitation of the then Matara District MP Dullas Alahapperuma all candidates irrespective of their party politics came on to a common platform to address the crowd in a friendly manner.

He said he was in Matara during that election period and that he was happy to say that the election was held in a very peaceful manner and not a single incident was reported.

“I would suggest the present day politicians also to follow suit,” he added.

Charted Accountant, Shivanthani Kamaleen said that the majority of election violence and vote rigging committed by certain candidates and their supporters are due to their poor educational background.

“Therefore, I propose to party leaders to insist on the educational qualifications of candidates before they are nominated as party candidates.”

Chairman of a State Corporation, G.H. Siriwardana proposed that the Government should conduct future elections using electronic machines. “When electronic machines are used no one can resort to vote rigging and this will help to eliminate violence”.

Retired Principal, Gamunu Hewawitharana urged the election Commissioner to take steps to add certain clauses to the election law in order to stop violence, vote rigging and other malpractices during election periods.

“I propose that candidates must take an oath before the Supreme Court pledging that they would not indulge in any sort of violence or encourage their supporters to engage in unlawful activities during the election period.”

Trader in the Pettah Market, Gunasiri Wathumulla requested election authorities to stop house to house election campaigns by politicians.

“This will help to minimise election violence.”

Bank Manager, Kanthilatha Weerasinghe said in the USA, candidates who contest at elections, appear together in live television interviews and express their views.

“If this system is adopted in our country, it will immensely help to eliminate violence during election periods”.

State sector employee, Hemantha Talapitigala said that the close rapport among candidates before starting election campaigns is the only way to eliminate election violence.

“When all candidates of rival political parties meet one another for friendly discussions, they can agree to conduct a violence free election campaign”.

Asanka Watawala urged all candidates who contest at the forthcoming election to meet one another and forge cordial relations even at this juncture despite previous provocations.

“If not people could witness a series of unlawful incidents which are committed by people belonging to all parties in the next few days”.

Ananda Bandara of Panadura said that violence during election was a common occurrence in many countries. “I propose to the authorities to deploy additional security personnel to create a peaceful atmosphere until the election is over”.

Ex.Mayor, Withanage Karunaratna of Matugama urged all chief ministerial candidates in the Sabaragamuwa and North Central provinces to get together even at this moment if they really want to have a peaceful election.

He said even during the second world war in 1945, the then British Prime Minister Winston Churchill sought the assistance of Opposition Leader to protect the country from enemies.

“The Opposition Leader promptly agreed and helped the Premier and this resulted the Opposition Leader to become the next premier in the House of Commons”.

Executive in a Government Ministry, Rienzie Premalal highlighted that almost all elections which were held before the 1980s were very peaceful.

“But, due to the deplorable behaviour of certain politicians, the country’s political situation ended in chaos”. He said there was no alternative to stop the ongoing election violence and vote rigging other than the party leaders instructing their candidates to eschew violence and conduct a peaceful election.

Pix: Vipula Amarasinghe