Rajiva Wijesinha

“ Their purpose is to stop elections, and to do that they will use any argument that comes to mind. So, to discourage genuine NGOs that are concerned with democracy, such as People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections which has begun monitoring, they even claim that ‘the presence of monitors inherently risks legitimizing elections despite sincere efforts to expose any violations. Moreover, monitoring that fails to accurately reflect local experiences of the elections will become complicit in the violations that undermine democratic governance’. ”

“ But the government and all democratic forces have to contend against monstrosities like the LTTE-Opposition-Rentseeking NGO combine that is dead set against democracy. Some months ago it was aided and abetted by no less than the EU Human Rights office which claimed that they had been told the time was not ripe for elections in the East. Since EU monitors had roundly condemned the 2004 General Elections in the North and East, this was seen as evidence that elections should not be held there. ”

“ The facts speak for themselves. Things are much better in the East than the prophets of doom are willing to grant. Sir John Holmes of blessed memory said that the situation there was much better than he had been led to expect, and this seems generally to be the view of the vast majority of visitors to that area. One of the most distinguished social activists who had accompanied the PAFFREL delegation to the East said that people there were anxious to vote, and though there were problems it was appalling to see the determination of a few people to claim that no one wanted elections. ”

“ This time their principal target is democracy. They would like somehow to stop the citizens of the east exercising the franchise, a desire they share with the LTTE, which has never been strong on democracy or individual choice. ”

“ Members of the Conglomeration are entitled to their own free lifestyles, but they should at least evince some understanding of the close ties between husband and wife that characterize most married people in this country. ”

“ How many of these the Conglomeration believes are unwilling is a moot point, but with only 101 positions are up for election it will be interesting to see if the next claim is that people were elected against their will. ”

“ Leaving aside the support for this view extended by members of the Conglomeration on their regular visits to Europe, the strongest assertion that elections should not be held in the East came precisely from those who had been elected in 2004, ie the TNA. Now that is irony, if the CPA stalwarts need some object lessons in the proper use of the English language. ”