The Race For The Top Slot: Who Will Prevail?
By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema
The race for the top slot has not yet taken the final bend. It is abundantly clear that President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his team has once again strung their entire campaign on one issue — the victory over the LTTE, which was sufficient to win handsomely at the provincial council elections. With that under their belts, and the polls machinery in place, a presidential election was signaled.
Fonseka: Fresh face drawing crowds
General Sarath Fonseka entering the fray was only on the horizon at the last stages, and it was expected that the government would stop at nothing to bring his stature down.
The now much-publicised interview of General Fonseka with this newspaper has been the last straw, which the government has been taking great pains to discredit him with.
This trend has resulted in the general practice that has been followed in past presidential elections, like the pledges made by the candidates being delayed.
Both main candidates, President Rajapaksa and General Fonseka are yet to officially release their election manifestos that carry the goods they pledge to deliver if and when elected.
However, the election meetings of both front-runners have commenced with much enthusiasm shown by the public. That the General’s fresh face has caught the imagination of the public is now seen clearly.
That his promises are viewed with more hope than that of a politician by the electorate is heard throughout.
The abolishing of the Executive Presidency within 180 days after assuming office, and restoring democracy and good governance in the country, are key among the pledges made by the General since entering the fray.
Rajapaksa: Not the time for false promises
He has portrayed himself as a man who honours his word. At his first press conference, where he announced his decision to enter politics, General Fonseka said he honoured two pledges made during the war against the LTTE – that he would not leave the war to be fought by another Army Commander, and that LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran would not be allowed to make a “Heroes Day” speech after 2008.
“I have always honoured my word,” he told the people at his campaign rally in Mawanella last week. At the rally he also promised to address the unemployment problem faced by the youth and said, “I will not tear gas the graduates when they come to me with problems.”
President Rajapaksa, however, has had a head start and seems to be conspicuous on the highways.
He and his ministers have a monopoly over the state media, which stands to his gain. Though the Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has laid down guidelines, this as in the past is going to be observed in the breach.
The state machinery has been abused openly and even the opposition bringing this to the notice of the Commissioner of Elections has not deterred the miscreants.
President Rajapaksa is to shortly release his election manifesto, which is still in the making. However, he has expressed his hopes of continuing with the development programmes launched by the government.
He too for his part is trying to portray an image of a leader who has honoured his pledges.
“We have saved our country from Tiger terrorism for all citizens to enjoy freedom without fear. The next challenge before me is to ensure the development of our motherland to secure a better future for the present and future generations. I will take that very seriously and I guarantee, I will keep my promise as I did before,” President Rajapaksa has been quoted in his official website.
Meanwhile, addressing a meeting in Kandy last week, the President said this was not the era for false promises. “It is no longer the time to make false promises. You can no longer tell people lines like rice will be brought from the moon,” he said.
According to the President, promises were not a necessity as the people were aware that he delivers. “We do what we say and say what we do,” he said. The two front runners at the election it seems have understood that election promises were no longer going to play a role in mustering support at the election.
The spokespersons of both the Rajapaksa and Fonseka camps continue to elaborate on the intentions of their candidates, until an official election manifesto is released.
However, General Sarath Fonseka’s declaration of his assets as he handed over the nominations has not been marketed by his media gurus. The Elections Commissioner stating that the candidates have three months after he/she hands over nominations to do so is a stale joke. Anyone who ascends to the high position is immune from prosecution and the deadline set would prevent such action.
Both camps have now intensified their public campaigns, with the UN and the USA calling for a response to the war crimes charges. The government moved in for the kill on General Fonseka’s interview with this paper. The clarification that was carried last Sunday shed more light on this story but the response of the Disaster Management and Human Rights Ministry Secretary Rajiva Wijesinha has in fact made General Fonseka the saviour of the nation.
However, by Thursday (24) Wijesinha’s letter was reported to be ‘withheld’ by the government and Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe was expected to respond to the UN instead. However the Secretary had confirmed earlier that his letter was indeed dispatched.
Secretary Wijesingha stated that since General Fonseka has himself said that such incidents did not occur, this should clear the air, and since there was no basis for a response, such a letter should in fact be withdrawn. He stated as such in his response to the letter Philip Alston, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extra Judicial Summary or Arbitrary Executions.
The government’s statement that this letter was sent solely on the interview carried in this paper is being frugal with the truth. It is important to note that nowhere in the interview did General Fonseka refer to wives and children coming through during the last days of the war. The UN letter referred to them. It is reported that UN staff were stranded in these areas and they were privy to the happenings.
The government has a two-fold approach to most issues. One is for local consumption and the other for the international market place.
The government would hog the state media in lambasting the General as a traitor whilst using his admission to exonerate the country of the war crimes issue.
The Sinhala majority does not grasp the nitty-gritty details of the international audience, nor do they show much interest. This allows the politicians in power to adopt a dual approach. That General Fonseka’s camp has not seized on this opportunity to take high moral ground and also reverse the marketing strategy of the government is surprising.
The government, on the other hand, is also dishing out several goodies from the goodies bag. While food prices, especially rice prices have sky rocketed, the government moved to reduce the price of bread by Rs. 3 to ward off a shortage of local rice.
The government’s price reduction is expected to nudge the people to consume more bread instead of rice, but it wouldn’t stand to reason, as most Sri Lankans consume three meals of rice in the rural areas and an impending shortage of food would cause them to stockpile at the risk of the poor not having access to this staple.
Meanwhile the duped Ceylinco depositors met President Rajapaksa and the proposal forwarded includes him coming back to power. They also met with General Fonseka where he assured them he would address their grievances.
The government is also releasing most IDPs and the AG moved last week to state that there would not be any objection to granting bail to imprisoned journalist J. S. Tissainayagam.
However, that all this smacks of political opportunism, is not lost on a mature electorate.
Interestingly, the remaining 20 presidential candidates are silent or have been sidelined by the tussle between the two main candidates.
Although the January 26, 2010 presidential election would witness a record number of candidates, the battle once again is between two, leaving the rest to simply fall by the wayside.
Be that as it may, the only common pledge made by most of the candidates is that they would restore democracy and good governance and fight corruption.
Sri lankans, over last 50 yrs have gone through many elections where the politicians pour their hearts out to get the vote .But alas, once they are elected they get fatter, go in posh cars, every family member and henchman are all drive in luxury, build palaces, spend time in posh hotels, poor people have to bow down to them, they are surrounded by security giving them more invicibility while poor masses who supported they continue to live in poverty.
Few days ago we were told that Prince William, being the patron of the Homeless charity, slept under a bridge in London on one of the coldest days in UK to get first hand knowledge.
How many ministers truly know the suffering of people under them?
We have seen the quality of ministers appointed over successive govts. i.e –
- minister of transport- never travels by bus or train,
-minister of Health never waits in a hospital queue or doesn’t ever visit a govt. hospital to get treatment if needed,
-minister of social service living in luxury palace,
- Minister of Environment may issue permits to henchman to cut timber from forests
- minister of sports sexually abusing brightest athletes which could bring fame to lanka,
-minister of industries may not have passed GCE OL.
- ministers who are known thugs, underworld criminals etc etc.
This culture should be changed once and for all. It could be done by some one who is not part and parcel of this chronic political culture.
Lanka deserves good governence, integrity and honesty. ….. over to you Mr Fonseka..
Well said Joseph!
it is an excellent point you make about ministers having first hand knowledge of their subjects and how it serves the public, and the news item about Prince William sleeping amongst the homeless and socially downtrodden!
We have had examples thorugh history where ancient kings went in dusguise to listen to countrymen and women first-hand and to make rectifications where necessary and possible.
The trend since the 1970s of a majority of politicians after pure self aggrandisement and callous disregard for dissenting views and public fora, has spawned generations of politcians and offspring who consider themeselves above the law, and needing to go before the public only at times of elections with fabrications called manifestos and election promises.
Half or more of what constitutes an incumbent’s manifesto would definitely be unfulfilled promises from the previous time! So, what accountability?
The proposal by the Hon RW to set out medium term national policies, and have systems and processes to fulfill these would be a good start. At election time, an incumbent can refer to those and how well they’ve been implemented and what more they propose to do, while the opposing parties can refer to how they may be done better etc.
This way, we may aspire to principled policy based electioneering instead of the mud-slinging and lawless methods used by the incumbent to be responded in equal terms by others that we witness today.
May the voters be wise in their choice, and usher for themselves a period of true peace, and prosperity through just, fair and and good governance!
May all be safe and well!
How come you use my name…haaa
As you have indicated the oppersiton is still fail to educate thae masses on one aspect where they could take the government in to task. That is non filing of the statment of assets by the president of this country.Hope they will soon act on this.
YES YES “CORRUPTION” should be the only theme and SF will win
SF is corrupt too
There are none so blind as they who will not see. I think that sums it up for you Chinthaka
you seem to be one of the people who refuse to believe what every sense you have is telling you. if asked “goo gandada”?, I’m sure you are the kind to say “ganda natho. hari suwandai”. ithin gihin goo kapiya chinthanayat chande didee
Please check who is corrupt the most and decide whom to vote.
Check it based on their asset base.
Strong SLFP supporter
If MR is elected (God forbid) the country will continue to slide down with bribery, corruption and nepotism. If SF is elected. it will be dawn of a new era with Peace, prosperity, equality and good governance. Only problem: Sinhalayas are Modayas!
You are wrong…..not all sinhalayas are modayas……but look at the people who support MR, on one look it can be understood that they are real modayas
You are wrong…..not all sinhalayas are modayas…..look at the people(villagers) who vote MR, they are the real modayas…..they believe evary single word said in the state media…..these buggers are a burden to this country
All this time the election promoses have been made by politicians and we know what our experience when they came to power. MR’s 40 years of so boasted political experience is the best example. But now we have a non-politician who has proved himself by fulfilling the two pledges he gave to the nation as the Army commander. We, voters are not in much difficulty in making the correct chioce this time.
Chandadasa
Presidential election 2010 is very exiting to see both candidates Sarath Fonseka on one side and Mahinda Rajapaksa on the other side. Both are moving ahead and the balance 18 are still not seen in public performance.
Now in this first decade of the 21st century the out of the twenty these two runners seems to be running ahead and making there statements to public to win their votes.
In the past 60 years what have the politicians delivered to our country. Two uprising in the south killing thousands of citizens and uprising in the northeast again killing thousands of citizens. Economy has crumbled…..Social Justice seems to have trouble…Poverty on the rise. Sick people on the increase due to non affordabilty to have three meals a day.
Who can deliver us a corruption free country with good governance and government appointments on meritocracy…..Who can produce statesmen. Please tell us…. over to you candidates…
i hope not fonseka.his web site is managed by the jvp.in the web site ,it is
stated fonseka would be besides us like a shadow.this could mean if he is
elected(no chance) s..l. could be a police state,very dangerous.jvp with fonseka , dictator state without democracy,with lots of corruption,h.r.v etc. etc.
s.l. be carefull. ranjit de mel
Hi Ranjith,
Now itself this country is run by an unofficial dictator family only difference is they wear white robes oppose to military uniform. And corruption is at the peak even surpassing Premadasa Era and Media freedom and good governence is a mere dream. Country is run by shameless government media and shameless Police. There is no more wores to happen. So No problem voting for anyone beside MR
Lot of corruption, now what is there? You talk about another country?
Has anyone travelled long distance on SL highways recently – anywhere ? Did anyone notice that our roads are much much better and driving is a pleasure now? When did the last suicide bomb explode. Sinhalayas ARE modaya’s because a lot suffer from premature Alzheimer’s.
What happened to billions of foreign aids for Tsunami? , which is swallowed by MR and his family. They are running million dollar cars but poor Tsunami affected people living in the same condition even God never forgive MR’s family
Has anyone travelled long distance on SL highways recently – anywhere ? Did anyone notice that our roads are much much better and driving is a pleasure now? When did the last suicide bomb explode ? Dis anyone try to book a good hoel to spend a week end ? Any rooms available ?Sinhalayas ARE modaya’s because a lot of them suffer from premature Alzheimer’s.
Gamed ,
According to the world banks repoert 5 million people live under the national poverty line,(under 1 US $ a day) another 3. 5 million live under 1.25-2 $US a day, so thats mean 8.5 million out of 20 million of population are living in poverty.
Don’t you think that there is something wrong with our governments’ policies ?
Of course the war had destroyed our country and its economy but was that the only thing that we can blame for our failures? What politicians do? They make their fortune from politics; they get higher salaries, luxury vehicles, overseas trips and they make millions on business deals. Corruption and waste are the silent tsunami in Sri Lanka .
Fact oabout Sinhalayas being Modayas and having Alzheimers is true. CBK gave a promise of abolishing the excutive prsidency in writing. The modays re elected her. MR did the same thing and they will reelect him. MR used his excutive powers to release a wife of a minister who was convicted of murder. Modays will elect him to power again so he can release more convicts. MR used 9Billion of our money to run an air line by his name and is yet to make a profit. Modays will elect him again because majority of the modayas pay no tax. PB Jasundara was found guilty and ordered to pay 500K by the courts, MR reappoints him to the higest post in Finance.
It is said country will get the leader it ‘s people deserve and Sri Lankans deserve nothing better than CBKs and MRs. If SF wants to win this election he need to inject both memory and intelligence into the majority of the Sri Lankans. That battle is more difficult than the batle with the LTTE no man or army commander can do that you need a God to do that.
This is the first tme a non political candidate has appeared, lets try for A CHANGE in our countrys politcal system.
A golen opportunity to appoint a non political person for the leadersship to bring in a drastic change.
Over to the masses.
Give thye chance to non political honest man, he will never cheat.
Really? But he will sell you and our country to foriegners like America & India.
Happy your news paper tries to give full back up MR Fonseka.Don’t make him upset.Write supportive articles for him.But ,MRs or Miss Fedrika Jans ,Please ,don’t cry
Both major candidates will continue on the road to disaster by oppressing the minorities even further. If Sareth Fonseka wins at least he may put an end to the nepotism of the present president who rewards ministers whenever minorities are racially abused or kept forcibly behind barbed wires denying them adequate food, medicines, water and visits by the elected representatives.
MR is an OLD GOOD Man and Sarath Fonseka is a NEW GOOD Man.
The Young ones will vote for Sarath and the OLD ones will vote for MR.
It depends on How many Good People follow Buddhism.
SL will never be a politically mature state for the next 50years, by which time it wouldnt matter thats the bottom line here
My humble request for SF in case of victory in the forthcoming election is to set up political system free of corruption for the welll being of our motherland.
In case you revolutionsise the entire polictical system for the establishment of proper democracy and a corrupti free society you will lbe eaving a political legacy which no politician has done in the recent past.
We feel you can do this since you have already left a admirable legacy during your military life which the future generation will talk about ..
A True Sri Lankan
SF is a corrupt man. Ask Danuna.
SRI LANKAN VOTERS NEVER LEARN.THEY FORGET THE PAST AND JUMP IN TO THE SAME S**T HOLE AT EVERY ELECTION. SPECIALLY THE VILLAGE FOLKS.
“ITS TIME FOR A CHANGE” EDUCATE YOURSELVES PEOPLE. SEE BEYOND YOUR NOSE.
USA
Sarath Fonseka has PUBLICLY declared his assets. Mahinda Rajapakse must do the same. If he does not, it means that he has amassed billions of ill-gotten wealth and is unfit to be president.
Thanks to Gen SF – for sticking out his neck amounst a gaint – who thought 100% supports his policy ? win or lose – SF has done a favur to Sri Lanka – It has opened the eyes of MR- If he wins and fail to correct his mistakes -peoples will show him the away out- Having said that this is Lanka- we are short sighted citizens- Can one work out how much Govt, spends to win a vote -
The time has come for the people to make a bold decission and vote for someone who is promising and capable of bringing about a programme of work to bring down the cost of living. In addition we ned to give equal rights to every citizen of Sri Lanka. Looking at the past performance we find MR has failed, so the choice has to be between Sarath Fonseka and Dr.Karunaratne. Two persons who are having a new vision and new thoughts. Good luck and hope to see a chnage of Presidency.
it is true all politician are same.hope to use of maximum in their time to collect
every think they can.even Dalas hated this,but he returned again 100 time more
than bad situation and still there.
I love this blog. It’s very nice looking.