Sri Lanka It's Happening

July 11, 2005

The main opposition party the UNP has been asigned the role of safe guarding democracy in Sri Lanka. It's a role that they are ill equipped to handle. But finally they are organized themselves and taken to the street to force the government to hold presidential elections on time. The 'people power' march has reached the outskirts of the City. A gigantic rally is scheduled for tommorow.

The dictator who governs the country did win an election but unfortunately she believe democracy is dictatorship by the majority (she said so herself). But she won that majority long ago she is far less popular now. And her term ends in November.

But the president has wowed to stay on for a further year. What is really astounding is that the president does not even have the power to call the presidential election, that power lies with the Elections Commisioner. The elections commisioner for his part is one of the few honest and hard working officials in high places in this country.

Unfortunately the Elections Commisioner is passed the retirement age and he is not in perfect health. In fact he should have retired long ago but the government has refused to appoint a replacement. That is because an act of parliament passed a few years ago will provide even more powers to the next commisioner. The government is keen to stop that, even if it means the present one dies of a heart attack.

So far the elections commisioner has refused to be drawn in. He has announced that he will call for elections at the appropriate time but didn't say when that would be. The government is bringing all it's machinery to put the commisioner under heavy pressure. It would be no suprise if the mafia is brought into the picture as well.

The elections commisioner is a brave man he does not fear for his life but what if someone threatens to kill all his family and close relatives?

Posted by raditha at July 11, 2005 3:58 AM