Inevitable defeat enrages govt. …mudslinging projects trebled

SUNDAY, 28 DECEMBER 2014

“At present President Mahinda Rajapaksa is in rage as he is losing his power and would be defeated. His gang of bosom friends too are enraged. Also, ministers are leaving the government. People are moving away from the government daily. Certain ministers using websites they maintain sling mud at those who are joining the opposition. Already, a smear campaign has begun targeting Minister Rauff Hakeem, who left the government today. This is a well planned exercise by the government. Those who are good when in the government are ridiculed when they go out of the government,” says the Information Secretary of the JVP Vijitha Herath.

Speaking at a press conference held at the head office of the JVP at Pelawatta today (28th) to express views regarding the disaster situation that exists in the country at present and the response of the government regarding it Mr. Herath said, “People in 11 districts have been affected by floods and landslides. About 1.2 million people are in distress. About 21 deaths have been reported. About 46,000 acres of cultivated lands have been destroyed by floods.

About 3616 people In Ampara District have been displaced and have been temporarily settled in 24 camps. About 14,000 people have been displaced throughout the island. There have been earth slips even in areas that have not been identified as landslide areas. Landslides have been reported from Udawela, Haliela, Rilpola in Bandarawela. A general disaster situation has emerged throughout the country.

The government should make a special mediation regarding this situation. However, the mediation of the government is not adequate. The agitation by people at Demodara indicates there had not been adequate mediation by the government. The people in the area took to the street as government authorities did not make any move for 24 hours even after two people were killed in a landslide. Also, there is no systematic programme to provide food, clothing for the people who are affected.

There is a special situation in Polonnaruwa District. The government stating it gives relief to the distressed doesn’t allow other organizations and individuals to help the affected masses. Also, many people in certain villages are stranded as the government doesn’t have an intensive programme to restore roads destroyed by landslides and floods. Rilpola is one such village.

President’s mere visit to affected areas would not solve issues. It is merely an election programme of the President. The relevant ministers and officials should mediate promptly. What people need at this hour are not media pageants. The government should take measures to provide temporary lodgings, food and clothing for the affected masses. Also, people should be removed from dangerous areas and they should be provided with lands and housing aid.

The people displaced by the Koslanda landslide have not been provided with houses despite several months have gone by. About a week ago Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa laid a foundation stone as the presidential election has been announced. However, the government could have built houses for them earlier. The government, without making any effort to find solutions for people’s issues, is running after elections. Ministers and government officials are engaged in government’s election campaign. The needs of more than 1.2 million people who are in distress due to landslides and floods have not been attended to.

The disaster situation is a hindrance to the election campaign as well. Postal officials are unable to distribute polling cards. As such, we ask the Commissioner of Elections to make a special mediation in areas where election process is hindered. We ask the Commissioner to take prompt action after discussing with election officials.

At present President Mahinda Rajapaksa is in rage as he is losing his power and would be defeated. His gang of bosom friends are enraged. Also, ministers are leaving the government. People are moving away from the government daily. Certain ministers using websites they maintain sling mud at those who are joining the opposition. Already, a smear campaign has begun targeting Minister Rauff Hakeem, who left the government today. This is a well planned exercise by the government. Those who are good when in the government are ridiculed when they go out of the government.

First the government started a story about a conspiracy. This election was called not by Barak Obama of the USA or Rudra Kumaran of Tamil diaspora. It was President Mahinda Rajapaksa who called the presidential election despite having two more years to complete his 2nd term. As such, people did not believe the conspiracy story. When Maithripala left the government Rajapaksa brothers were highly enraged. Mahinda Rajapaska who was confused came out with a ‘file’ story. The Minister of Higher Education of the Rajapaksa government is suffering from nudomania and talks of women’s nakedness with glee. The other minister for education Bandula talks of dogs without tails. The ministers of this government have fallen to this level due to the fury they are surrounded with thinking of the certain defeat.

The government has started unleashing violence on a large scale. Stages are torched. Stages are shot at. Ministers take away forcefully suspects in police cell. Deputy Ministers who are warranted leave to other countries through the VIP lounge at the Airport. The police fail to arrest them. Later, due to pressure from people the police have to arrest the deputy minister. Also, activists of the opposition who are engaged in election campaigns are attacked. Government goons assaulted members of the JVP at Medirigiriya and Deniyaya. The government deploys an armed group from security personnel to paste their posters.

Also, the government, without any shame, carries out gigantic malicious and scandalous attacks on the opposition using state media maintained with tax money of the people. Mud posters pasted that carry government minister Wimal Weerawansa’ name are pasted against the JVP. We have received information that mud posters with the photograph of the leader of our party Comrade Anura Dissanayaka are being printed. This mudslinging exercise of the government could be doubled or trebled. We ask the people not to be deceived by such mud projects and to reject them. Such defeatist behavior of the government will drive away masses from the government. We call upon the masses to come forward to defeat the insane, despotic regime.

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s defeat is confirmed now. Everyone suspects that some manipulation would be carried out to prevent the defeat. People have a just suspicion due to ‘jilmart’ exercises alleged to have been carried out in the past.

We would specifically tell our people not to give any room for such ‘jilmart’ exercises. Such illegal moves could be minimized if people are alert regarding such attempts, if the people mediate against such acts, inform the police, Commissioner of Elections, election officials, political parties and election monitors of any suspicious incident or move. We call upon the people to be alert regarding such moves.”