Abuse of State property at a minimum - TISL

by Manjula Fernando

Media Director and National Media Co-ordinator, Transparency International of Sri Lanka Shan Wijetunga, said the misuse of public property and public servants were at a minimum this time but that there was still room for improvement. Transparency International is a leading polls observer at Parliamentary Elections. Wijetunga said the misuse of State property by former government members during the last Presidential Election was of epic proportions.

"There was no understanding by government members of our critical role and warnings went unheeded, whereas today there is a desire to be responsive," he said.

Q: How do you view the general climate at this election? Could it be one of those violent elections, going by the intense campaigns so far and with the two major parties in a neck to neck battle to regain power?

A: Compared to past elections, this election had seen a minimum number of election malpractices so far. The incidents reported to monitors are significantly less than the last election.

However, a significant number of candidates from all the parties, are making an effort to refrain from abusing State property and steer clear of violence.

I would not say it is extremely calm but this time the post election period in the first two weeks has been less eventful.

Within the first two weeks after nominations in the last Presidential Election, we received over 100 complaints, but we have had only 63 complaints so far.

Still three more weeks to go for the election but I am confident the Elections Commissioner will take bold measures to ensure an independent election. He loses no time in taking action against a complaint.

For example, we made a complaint soon after the nominations were handed over, against a UPFA candidate who has put up a office in a government building in Eheliyagoda. Within 24 hours the Elections officials visited the place and took action to remove the office.

That shows their commitment for quick action.

Q: Have you received any complaints against Government members as well?

A: This time it is a unique situation. Both the major parties, the UNP as well as the UPFA candidates are within the Government and function as Cabinet ministers, Deputy Ministers and State Ministers.

We have received complaints, from nominations day, of ministers violating election law. These have been referred to the Elections Commissioner and the IGP for action.

Despite the efforts by the monitors, some politicians from both the Government and the opposition, still use official bungalows and official vehicles for campaign work.

Q: Do you notice any positive development, a downward trend of incidents after your intervention which receives wide coverage in the media?

A: Let me refer to an example, a certain Ministry Secretary after we brought to her notice an incident of her Minister using office vehicles to campaign in the electorate, immediately issued a circular, asking the Minister to send back the vehicles.

She was bold enough to issue that circular and take action.

That is a positive change, in the past, nothing would have prompted any action against a 'law breaking' Cabinet Minister. That is truly encouraging.

Q: What is the history of the TISL campaign against the use of public property and human resources in polls campaigns?

A: It has been a common practice and seen as the norm, by the candidates of governing parties to misuse public property. We witnessed this over the past three decades but this time the situation has turned around.

Q: Have you ever confronted criticism, threats or intimidation?

A: Yes, we have. During the past elections, especially during the past decade. We received many anonymous calls and threats due to the work we were involved in. But during this election, up to today, nothing of the sort has happened. There is this one incident where we had a disagreement with the Prime Minister's office recently over the use of Temple Trees for a political event. We lodged a complaint with the Elections Commissioner against the PM's office.

The PM's office issued a response saying that the event to sign the agreement of UNF for Good Governance was held not at the PM's office at Temple Trees but in his official quarters.That letter has been referred to the Elections Commissioner for a clarification. We are awaiting EC's clarification to respond to the letter. From what we gather, the law did not permit official residences from being used for election related activities.

Q: Do you think your work has made a significant change in the election campaigns of today?

A: Yes. All you have to do is walk out of the house to see the difference the monitors have been part of in bringing about in Sri Lankan elections.

Q: Some of the non-profit organisations here are accused of serving their western fund masters, who push political agendas on countries such as Sri Lanka. TISL too has received funds from the European Union. Your comments?

A: It's not a secret that we receive EU funds. The three main election monitors, CaFFE, PAFFREL and TISL received their funds during this election.

It is nothing unusual. We cannot generate money on our own and election work in particular involves a lot of expenses.

The work related to EU funds involve educating people on how to vote and train journalists in balanced reporting. The EU is not only funding the election monitors, it is a major funder of the Government. There is no vested agenda, and I totally deny the accusation that the monitors are pushing a political agenda.

Q: What sort of action do you contemplate against violators of election law?

A: We have a lawyers network who work with TISL. Depending on the seriousness of the offence, we will take legal action.

Q: How do you wrap up your work?

A: Almost every day or two we file a report to the Elections Commissioner, with our observations of misuse of property and public servants. There will be two interim reports by the TISL to the Elections Commissioner, first within the course of this week (beginning from July 26) and the second sometime later. The final report will be issued within 30 days of the election.