2014 Uva Provincial Council election - Election Day report

 Sunday, 21 September 2014 

Campaign for Free and Free Elections (CaFFE) has received 102 election related complaints on September 20, the Election Day. This is the highest number of election day incidents CaFFE has observed in the recent provincial council election cycle, seven elections during two years.

CaFFE has received 21 complaints of election related violence including the use of firearms. These incidents were mainly reported from Bibile, Moneragala, Wellawaya, Bandarawela, Haputale and Wiyaluwa electorates and some of these demonstrated the impotence of the police before regional politicians. 

There were a number of supporters who had arrived from other parts of the country campaiging for several parties and these groups roamed Uva province in a large number of vehicles in the pre-election period. Even on the election day these groups held vehicle parades and conducted election propaganda activities. CaFFE observers reported that several politicians from other parts of the country also arrived near polling centres and attempted to influence voting, some of these interventions led to violent clashes.

As mentioned earlier police were often powerless before local politicians and this had a serious affect on the law and order situation on the ground. Police took little action to stop the vehicle parades and vehicles that roamed the province displaying the preferential numbers of candidates, this was especially noticeable in Moneragala. CaFFE observed a number of vehicles with fake or garage number plates operating in the province and attached herewith is one such photo parked in Sellakataragama. There were a number of reports that unmarked Defender jeeps travelled in several areas of Kataragama including Wallimatagama,   Gotamigama and  and Sellakataragama fishing village.

 These outside groups were guided by Samurdhi and Economic Development officers who had earlier led the campaign to woo voters for the UPFA by distributing goods in pre-election period. CaFFE believes that the election day was far from free and fair due to the below mentioned incidents. However these are only a few incidents and CaFFE will release a full report on these incidents soon.
       
1. Chandana Geeth Kumara who was on his way to the polling centre at Welkele vidyalaya (no 7) in Badulla was attacked by supporters of UPFA candidate Leelasena. He is currently receiving treatment at ward number 8 at Badulla hospital.

2. UPFA candidate Anura Vidanagamage roamed Mahiyanganaya with 27 Defender Jeeps in a bid to intimidate voters. Residents of the area said that these groups attacked the office of JVP's chief ministerial candidate on Election Day. These groups also arrived at Hebarayaya kanishta vidyalaya and Ulhitiya Maha Vidyalaya.

3. Supporters of UPFA southern provincial minister DV Upul attacked the vehicle in which UNP's chief ministerial candidate Harin Fernando's father was travelling in at Kirindiella, Badulla. Sharp objects were used during the attack and shots were fired.

 4. Supporters of UPFA MP Uditha Lokubandara assaulted Sunil Shantha, the JVP polling agent in Yahalabella, Haputale after he objected to issuing a ballot paper for Malini Lokubandara, Uditha's mother, who arrived at the polling centre without an accepted identification document. Lokubandara's supporters assaulted Shantha after he left the polling centre and Shantha was admitted to the Diyathalawa hospital.

5. There were also three complaints of using firearms during the voting period. There are the attack by provincial minister DV Upul, a shooting incident at Kirindiela, Diyatalawa and the assault of a UNP Eastern provincial councillor by UPFA's Lakshman Seneviratne near Galauda polling centre, Viyaluwa, Badulla..

Most of the complaints from Moneragala were lodged against the UPFA, however there were also a few complaints against the UNP and the JVP as well. However these complaints only came from UPFA legal advisors deployed at UPFA operation office and these complaints were pre planned and systematic in nature.

The situation after the election is peaceful but tense. Shops in Badulla, Diyathalawa and Bandarawela were closed soon after the election expecting violence to breakout.

Uva Results Not Rosy For The Government

By Laksiri Fernando -September 21, 2014 

Dr. Laksiri Fernando

When looking at the results of the Uva Provincial Council elections, there are two main conclusions that emerge very clearly. First is that the unity within the opposition United National Party (UNP) has tremendously uplifted the voter confidence for that party against the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA). Second, going by or extending the same observation, unity among all or most of the opposition parties might be the key to defeating the incumbent government in the future.

These conclusions are projected, particularly the second one, considering the fundamental necessity to change the government to preserve and promote democracy, human rights and national reconciliation in the country. It is erroneous to assume that deceitful policies of any government would automatically pave the way for a change of that government.

Clear Trends

In three polling divisions in Badulla District – Badulla, Hali-Ella and Welimada – the UNP has won the elections, and won decisively. That was not the case at the last PC elections in 2009. All divisions were grabbed by the UPFA with huge majorities. This time, even in the polling divisions where the UPFA has won, their voting percentages have dwindled, and dwindled considerably. Let’s focus on that fact first.

It is in the Passara electoral division in the Badulla District that the UPFA has won comfortably, yet only with a 16 percent margin. However, its voter percentage has decreased from 65 percent to 56 percent. 56 is the highest percentage that the UPFA has achieved in any division this time, compared to 74 percent last time in Mahiyangana, and with a district average of 68 percent. In Mahiyangana itself, the voter percentage has come down this time from 74 to just 51 percent.

In terms of actual numbers in Passara, in 2009, 23,959 people voted for the UPFA, but this time the number has decreased to 23,188. One may consider that is not bad or stable and at least they had won! But in contrast, the number of votes for the UNP has increased from 9,736 to 16,426. From where and how did the UNP manage to increase their voter base? It is possible that some of the traditional supporters (no voting before) and some of the newly registered young voters voted for the UNP this time. In both cases the party unity must have been a decisive factor among others.

Passara was the least favorable case for the UNP in that district and let us look at where they have clearly won – Badulla, Hali-Ella and Welimada – in the following table.

Read More

Sri Lanka President’s Party Narrowly Clears Vote Test

September 21, 2014

File photo of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. (Agence France-Presse)

COLOMBO:  Sri Lanka’s ruling party saw its popularity significantly eroded in a narrow local election win seen as a bellwether for a snap presidential election, official results showed on Sunday.

President Mahinda Rajapakse’s United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) secured 19 out of the 34 seats in the Uva provincial council that went to the polls on Saturday, but saw its popularity plummet by an unprecedented 22.98 percentage points.

The party scored 48.79 percent overall, raising doubts over an early presidential election where the incumbent needs more than 50 percent of the vote to win.

Local media reports had speculated that Mr Rajapakse would seek re-election for a third term in early January if there was a good showing at the Uva election.

But worryingly for the UPFA, it won 47.4 percent of the vote in the district of Badulla, and in Moneragala, where it commanded 81.32 percent in 2009, the party’s total share stood at 58.34 percent.

Mr Rajapakse had campaigned personally for the party to shore up its vote in Uva, in the south-east of the island, only to oversee its worst decline since he came to power in 2005.

The presidential elections are due in November 2016, but Mr Rajapakse has the power to call a snap election.

Saturday’s council election came after two similar polls elsewhere in March where the UPFA saw declines of 10 to 12 percent.

There was no immediate comment from the ruling party or the main opposition United National Party whose vote almost doubled, according to results released by the Department of Elections.

The Marxist JVP or People’s Liberation Front also made significant gains.

The Department of Elections is expected to announce more detailed results in the coming days, including outcomes for individual candidates, one of whom is a nephew of the president.

Story First Published: September 21, 2014 11:41 IST

Taking A Long Hard Look At Our 

‘Barbarism’

| by Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena

Courtesy, ‘Focus on Rights’ The Sunday Times

( September 21, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The twin elements of a properly functional judiciary and police distinguish a democracy from barbaric regimes. Surely there can be little argument about this fundamental principle.

Taking a Long Hard Look at Our by Thavam

Smash The Rajapaksas NOW!

By Kumar David -September 21, 2014

Prof. Kumar David

The tide has turned; the time has come to act. The Rajapakse Regime must be smashed without mercy; Uva is the beginning of the end for the Mahinda-Gota-Basil power-drunk outfit. When land slides, an avalanche follows, but only if we do our bit.  No quarter must be given, no opportunity lost, no breathing space allowed.

Laxity will be used by Rajapakses, their cronies and their henchmen to defer fate. The opposition and the people should be lashed if they do not persevere with the determination of Caesar quelling Gaul or Alexander pursuing Darius III. Let us finish off this regime, its crooks and its cronies who have devastated our nation under cover of Rajapakse darkness.

• Remember people of Lanka, the indignities, abuses, and humiliations you have suffered at the hands of these men and henchmen!
• Remember the robbers appointed as Corporate Chairman and Board Member; the political hooligans who terrorises your local police force and your workplace!
• Recall the ignorant scoundrels now Ambassadors to here and there and the patronised drug peddler in your neighbourhood!
• Forget not the rapist who runs your provincial or local council!
• Now or never; be rid of this muck; or you will forever live a slave, your head bowed! 

The news from Uva is excellent. I do not rejoice for the UNP; that is a big question mark; but I revel in the funeral ceremony of the Rajapakse-UPFA and the cremation of the Dead Left. The simple but benighted folk of Uva gave the UPFA 73% of their votes in the 2010 PC elections. In General and Presidential polls thereafter it remained high. Then in September 2014 it crashed; in all-Uva to 51% and in Badulla District it collapsed cataclysmically to 48%! There is not one province in Lanka where Mahinda Rajapakse can poll higher. If this is all his side can poll in Uva he is facing disaster in urban areas; the angel of political death beckons.                     Read More

The pangs of British Union and the predicaments of Uva Provincial Election

Rajan Philips-September 20, 2014

Once again I am trying to hit two birds with one stone – writing about the Scottish vote and the Uva vote in the same article. The Scottish referendum has come and gone and the British Union has survived the challenge but only at the cost of public promises from Westminster about significant constitutional changes in the immediate future. The Uva vote is underway even as I write this article to meet my generous deadline, and the election results will be known by the time it reaches those who are glad to suffer reading it. 

The Pangs of British Union and the Predicaments of Uva Provincial Election by Thavam

The morning after Uva: Govt. and opposition at the crossroads

September 22, 2014 

Perhaps the fundamental thing about the Uva result is that it demonstrates that the fundamentally democratic system – most importantly the electoral mechanism and the Commission of Elections – is working, notwithstanding the incidents of coercive electioneering.
The Uva election achieved certain things but not others. The Americans, as always, have a phrase for it: ‘close but no cigar’, which means good work, but not quite good enough to win the prize of victory. That is true of the Opposition’s creditable performance, which however fell short of victory. Any government anywhere in the world would be grimly satisfied with the narrow win it achieved despite twenty years of incumbency.

The Morning After Uva Govt. and Opposition at the Crossroads by Thavam

SLHC director killed in accident

September 21, 2014

A Director attached to the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHC) died after her vehicle collided head on with a private bus in Beligala area in Balangoda, this afternoon.

Police Spokesperson SSP Ajith Rohana said that the accident has taken place while a group attached to the SLHC was returning to Colombo after a field visit for Uva Province Council election.  

Another two individuals who sustained injures have been rushed to the Balangoda Base hospital.

“The driver of the private bus was arrested following the accident, and he will be produced the Magistrate, today,” SSP Rohana added.

Winners And Losers At Uva

By Dhammika Herath -September 21, 2014

Dr. Dhammika Herath

It has become traditional and customary to examine post election winners and  losers in the contemporary political landscape. More importantly, election post-mortems have become a kind of tradition of political pundits where they express their intellectual superiority and elegance. All sides try to make sense of people’s motives while trying to portray a picture of victory even if they are at the losing end. This might be an attempt at soothing the ego  in order to prevent depression, a kind of psychological defence or a morale boosting exercise for the devote followers who are trying to come to terms with the loss and the grief. That’s the sport of politics and we are witnessing yet another end of a battle, with all sides sustaining considerable injuries. Some have emerged victorious while others grieve. Here a simpleton trying to make sense of the results of the just concluded Uva elections.

Here is the order of the day as I see it -

People’s Liberation Front came first easily; they were outnumbered in terms of resources, manpower and was at the receiving end of the brutal violence where their political offices were burned to the ground, candidates as well as activists were beaten and shot at, all the while police and law enforcement watched the match and umpire was hitherto in another realm.They have always performed poorly at Uva, which is traditionally not one of their strongholds due to the large number of Tamils and rural uneducated poor who neither had the capacity nor could identify with JVP ideology. However this time around, there is a significant change in the tide possibly due to charismatic leaders and their steadfastness against the mighty Rajapakse election machine which was brutal and well oiled with all the government resources, judiciary and law enforcement at their disposal. Hats off to JVP for their commendable performances.                                   Read More

Masses have already decided to chase away government – JVP

SUNDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2014

The masses have already decided to chase away the present government at the next national election to be held says the Leader of the JVP Parliamentarian Anura Dissanayaka.  He said this at a media conference held at the head office of the JVP at Pelawatta today (21st) afternoon. The General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva and its Information Secretary Vijitha Herath were also present.

Speaking further Mr. Dissanayaka said, “The government had a definite objective in calling the Uva PC election. It is to use it to prepare the environment for the commencement of the next power era of Rajapaksa regime. The government is planning to advance the presidential election due in 2017 to the beginning of 2015. The Uva PC election is a political survey for this.

The government got the highest result at the 2009 PC election from Uva. It received a percentage of 81 from Monaragala and 67 from Badulla. The percentage for the province was 72. The government’s effort to repeat this performance before going for a presidential election has completely failed. State resources, state media and state ceremonies were massively used for the election campaign by the ruling party. Large funds were allocated for the Uva PC a month before it was dissolved. Also, goods from the bottle of arrack to ‘sil’ cloth were distributed as bribes. Every family in Monaragala was given Rs.2500 from public money until the day of the election.

This PC election marked the highest number of incidents of violence. Election monitors have received more than 500 complaints. Among the complaints were assaults, attacks, shooting, torching of election offices, intimidation and terrorizing. The UPFA organized only two rallies at Mahiyanganaya and Wallawaya in which the President participated. All other meetings were held as state ceremonies and opening ceremonies. They were organized using public money and state officials. Also, on the election day the state media was used to broadcast special programmes regarding Uva. The North-Western (Wayamba) election is considered as the election full of violence. The Uva PC election goes down in history as the election in which the most state resources were used.

The 81% vote percentage the UPFA polled at Monaragal District in 2009 has come down to 58% this time. Also, they have lost more than 19,000 votes. The main candidate for Monaragala District was a close relative of Rajapaksa family. The masses in Monaragala have given the family rule a good message by reducing the number of votes for its link.  The 67% UPFA polled from Badulla District has come down to 47% this time. The government has lost more than 50,000 votes. UPFA has lost 69,000 votes from the whole district. When considering this result it indicates that the masses in Uva have given a definite sign that they are prepared to chase away this government.

Normally, PC elections are advantageous to existing governments. The ruling party faces the election not as a political party but as the government. The police, state officials become members of the election process under the existing government.

Even when such an advantage exists the government has lost 21% of the votes. This is a political environment that causes a massive trouncing at a national election. This is the sign the masses in Uva have given the government. They have beaten all the efforts of the government.

When considering the performance of the JVP, we have been able to come out of the recession we underwent in the electoral front and improve our number of votes and seats at the last Western and Southern PC elections. We have been able to secure this victory at this election. In Badulla District we got only 9007 votes in 2009. It has increased to 20,625. The 5632 votes we received from Monaragala in 2009 has increased to 15,955. In Uva Province the number of votes we polled in 2009 was 14,639. It has increased to 36,580. The vote percentage that was 2.53 in 2009 has improved to 5.36%. Also, we have won a new seat at Monaragala and secured our seat at Badulla.

We, as the JVP, carried out a very strong election campaign. We visited every home and made the people aware. We explained the destruction the country is confronted with. When compared with other political parties we held a large number of meetings. A large number of people listened to our explanations and a large number of people are rallying with us. We also were able to commence a dialogue among the masses. We did take ‘Our Vision’ to the masses. We were able to achieve a result that goes beyond the results of this election. What we expect is not a mere change of government or change of individuals.  We are guiding our politics for a social transformation. Our party that was built for a broad transformation doesn’t depend on the number of parliamentary seats or seats of any other council. We have a challenge that goes beyond that. We have achieved this result with dedication and sacrifice of our members but not by using state resources, state media and distributing food and drinks and other goods.

Also, state employees have acted as a decisive force that could change the ideology of the society. We have been able to get a good percentage of the postal votes the state employees used. We have received 11% from Monaragala and 10% from Badulla District. State employees are rallying around us as we have struggled against repressive acts carried out against them by the government and to protect their rights.

At the last PC election the government had 26 seats. It was when Upcountry People’s Front joined the government with its seat.  This time the number of seats has come down to 19. The government has lost 7 seats. The government took 3 seats from Badulla to Monaragala before the election. When there were 11 seats in Monaragala in 2009 the government had 9 seats. This time the government has received only 8 seats when Monaragala was allotted 14 seats. The fall of the government is obvious.

As a political party we have become a decisive force in the country. This time the whole political arena was arrayed around the JVP.  This is why the government carried out its massive attacks against the JVP. There were plans to sling mud at the JVP using ‘Rupavahini’ channel.  As such, the JVP has become a decisive force despite the seats it gains.”

Comparison of votes polled by the JVP in 2009 & 2014

Media under pressure not to compare results!

 

Sunday, 21 September 2014 

The president’s media unit (PMU) has imposed a ban on state and pro-government media not to compare the government’s results at yesterday’s (20) Uva provincial council election with the results at the 2009 election. Accordingly, the articles containing comparisons in websites maintained by private media have been removed.

One such article in Hiru Media Network owned by Rayynor Silva, brother of government MP R. Duminda Silva, has disappeared now. Following suit, several other private media has given into the request of the PMU.

The PMU has instead told them to compare the 2014 results with those at the 2004 election.

Big Draw back for UPFA

 Sunday, 21 September 2014 

 

Compared to 2009 Uva provincial council election the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has faced a severe draw back. While United National Party (UNP) and People's Liberation Front (PLF) have gained significant victory.

UPFA demonstrated a draw back in obtaining postal votes which are considered the main representation of the opinion of state workers.

UPFA which obtained 89.9% postal votes in 2009 Uva provincial council election has obtained only 49.84% from caste votes.

Monks protest against a Catholic statue

By admin on September 21, 2014 

A group of monks are protesting against an attempt by the Catholic community to place a statue by the side of the road at the Katukurunda junction in Kalutara.

The Sihala Ravaya said it will not allow the statue to be placed in the area and is currently protesting against it with the support of a large mob.

However the Catholic community in the area insist they have every right to place the Christian statue on the side of the road.

Tear-gas was fired by the police in an attempt to bring the tense situation under control.

Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana claimed the issue that arose in Kalutara was later settled. (Colombo Gazette)

Report by Indika Sri Aravinda

How The Buddha Coexisted With War

By Darshanie Ratnawalli -September 21, 2014

Darshanie Ratnawalli

Buddhist war studies, those that investigate the compatibility of Buddhismand war, have an awful potential for sanctimony. With the best intentions in the world, I don’t see how they can avoid it. I used to think that “How can Buddhists go to war” was on par with “How can Buddhists commit adultery?” But then I saw the fatal flaw in the analogy. Buddhism condemns adultery unconditionally, considering its proliferation among the laity as a symptom of decay in the religion. The Maha Kanha Jataka[i] (No 469-Full text) describes a time when the religion established by the Buddha Kassapa had fallen into decay. One symptom of the rot is men who “go after others’ wives, of teacher, or of friend, Sister of father, uncle’s wife.” In contrast, the Buddhist conception of Utopia (Cakkavatti-Sihanada Sutta, p395-405, The Long Discourses of the Buddha[ii] – full text) imagines the King still with the full complement of the Army and blessed with heroic sons who are conquerors of the hostile army. The King“dwells having conquered this sea-girt land without stick or sword, by the law”. The method of “conquering by law” is to go to that particular region with the fourfold Army and take up residence there with the fourfold Army. Then those who oppose the King in that region come and say: “Come, Your Majesty, welcome! We are yours, Your Majesty. Rule us, Your Majesty.” And the King says: “Do not take life. Do not take what is not given. Do not commit sexual misconduct. Do not tell lies. Do not drink strong drink. Be moderate in eating.” And all the people of the world become his subjects. Under these circumstances it’s not surprising that certain passages in Daniel Webster Kent’s PhD thesis[iii] -(full text) should have set off all my sanctimony sensors.     Read More

Ukraine says ceasefire violations hold up creation of buffer zone

A Ukrainian serviceman uses a pair of binoculars to look at pro-Russian rebel positions near Donetsk, September 16, 2014.

BY NATALIA ZINETS-KIEV Sun Sep 21, 2014 

(Reuters) - The Ukrainian military accused separatists and Russian troops on Sunday of continuing to shoot at government forces despite a Sept. 5 ceasefire and said Kiev would not go ahead with setting up a proposed buffer zone until the truce violations stopped.

Ukraine's warring sides agreed on Friday to withdraw artillery and other heavy weapons to the outer limits of a 30 km (19 mile) buffer zone, building on the ceasefire in a conflict in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than 3,000 people.

Military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said the pro-Russian separatists and Russian troops were continuing to target the positions of government forces.

"In the last 24 hours we have lost two Ukrainian soldiers, eight have been wounded," he told reporters on Sunday.

Asked about the buffer zone, he said: "One of the main points of the agreement is the ceasefire, then other points follow.

"At the moment the first point has not been fulfilled so we are not talking about the other points. If there is to be a withdrawal of forces then it should be synchronised together with the withdrawal of Russian forces," he said.

Lysenko said separatists had carried out a further attack on the government-held international airport of Donetsk, the east's main industrial hub. The rebels hold the city of Donetsk.

He said 40 separatist fighters had been killed in "defensive" fire by Ukrainian forces. There was no independent confirmation of this figure.

CEASEFIRE "IN NAME ONLY"

Lysenko's comments echoed those of NATO's top military commander U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove, who said on Saturday that fighting was continuing in Ukraine and that the truce was a ceasefire "in name only".

"The situation in Ukraine is not good right now," U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove told reporters in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius following a meeting of chiefs of defence of NATO countries. "Basically, we have a ceasefire in name only."

"The number of events, and the number of rounds fired and the artillery used across the past few days, match some of the pre-ceasefire levels. The ceasefire is still there in name, but what is happening on the ground is quite a different story."

Donetsk was rocked by blasts on Saturday and a plant producing industrial explosives and military munitions appeared to have been hit.

The creation of a buffer zone was decided on Friday in a nine-point memorandum signed by the separatists and envoys from Moscow and Kiev.

The comments by Kiev and NATO underline the fragility of the ceasefire, which President Petro Poroshenko reluctantly called after Ukrainian forces suffered battlefield reverses which they ascribed to the direct intervention by Russian troops.

Moscow denies sending troops to Ukraine or arming the rebels, despite what Kiev and Western governments say is overwhelming evidence of direct Russian involvement.

(Writing by Richard Balmforth; Editing by Gareth Jones)