MR prepares for political comeback
The former President who suffered surprise election
defeat plans to stand in parliamentary polls, aides say:
by Amantha Perera and Jason Burke
Mahinda Rajapaksa, the former president of Sri Lanka, is planning to
stand inparliamentary polls to launch an attempt to return to power,
aides have said.
The veteran politician, who suffered a surprise defeat in snap
presidential polls he called in January this year, has been taking a
break from politics and has yet to formally declare any campaign.
However, he has been meeting hundreds of supporters who visit his
residence in the town of Hambantota, and travelling widely around Sri
Lanka to see elected members of local and municipal authorities.
"You wait and see," Rajapaksa said, when asked last week if he was a
spent force. "I am yet to take a decision on contesting, but if people
request me, I can't refuse."
The victory of Maithripala Sirisena by six percentage points in a
runoff vote on 8 January was welcomed by India and western nations
including the US. Analysts had described the election as the most
significant in the country for decades and a last chance for democracy.
Rajapaksa came to power in 2005, led the military to a bloody victory
over violent separatists from the Tamil minority four years later and
surfed a wave of popularity among the Sinhala majority to win again in
2010.
He then had the constitution changed to allow the third term he hoped
to win in January's poll.
However, allegations of corruption, violent intimidation of political
opponents, attacks on journalists, growing resentment among Tamils and
mounting sectarian violence led to concern at home and abroad.
The benefits of economic growth were not passed on to ordinary Sri
Lankans, undermining domestic support, while a strategic tilt towards
China worried the US and India.
The constitutional changes led to accusations of authoritarianism,
and the appointment of two brothers, a nephew and a son to key posts
prompted charges of nepotism.
Rajapaksa's aides say that soon after the surprise defeat he was
downcast.
But they say he "picked up fast when he saw people coming to see
him". "When he saw that he still had that following, he was back to his
old self," said one friend, whose relationship with Rajapaksa goes back
more than 18 years.
Observers point out that Rajapaksa remains popular among his core
Sinhala, rural, conservative Buddhist support base. He is also
acknowledged to be an effective campaigner, working a crowd with
avuncular ease."He wants the Government to feel that he is its main
threat, and he has succeeded in doing that.
There is no opposition without Rajapaksa right now," an aide
said.Three rallies have been organised in different parts of Sri Lanka
to call for the ousted president to contest the parliamentary polls.
Rajapaksa has blamed his defeat on a conspiracy involving Indian and
western intelligence agencies.
The first step to a return to power would involve getting a
nomination from his own Sri Lanka Freedom party (SLFP) to stand in
parliamentary polls expected in June.
The former president told the Guardian he was confident he would be
wanted as a candidate."I am SLFPer, I have been a SLFPer all my life.
Why should the party refuse me nominations? I plan to contest from the
SLFP. The fact that I am a SLFPer can not be ignored," he said.
An alternative might be to join another party that appeals to his
support base. "Rajapaksa will come from a platform that will contest on
a Sinhala nationalist agenda. That is where his power base is, these are
the voters that never deserted him," the aide said.This will raise fears
of increased tensions in what is an already polarised nation. Votes from
the Tamil-dominated former war zone in the country's north and from
areas with large Muslim communities played a key role in Rajapaksa's
defeat. According to one report, Sirisena got nearly three-quarters of
the vote in the Tamil stronghold of Kilinochchi.In a speech this week,
the new president called for unity.
"Throughout history our strength as a nation has come from the mutual
understanding and co-existence that made us rise together to defend our
motherland," Sirisena said.
However, Sirisena and prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, a veteran
of Sri Lanka's convoluted and bitter politics, face significant
challenges.One problem is the instability of the ruling coalition.
Essentially united only by a desire to oust Rajapaksa, the Government
needs to consolidate its hold in the national assembly at the coming
elections.
- Guardian.uk
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