Robbing The Sovereignty Of The People: The Case Of Nuwara Eliya

The people of the district of Nuwara Eliya were robbed of their sovereignty in the most brazen and perverse manner at the General Election held on 8th April 2010. The Ceylon Workers Congress ( CWC) was responsible for this reprehensible behavior. The gross violation of the sovereignty of the people was executed ruthlessly by denying the people the supreme democratic right to vote for the candidate of their choice freely, without any form of coercion. The right to vote for the candidate of their choice is the bed-rock of representative democracy, and it is this principle that was violated openly and brazenly. We state the following facts, which are known to everyone, and with evidence to back them.

First of all, it was clear that the CWC was spending literally tens of millions of Rupees on its election campaign- on a splurge of posters, leaflets, cut-outs, on bribing voters, on fuelling the fleets of luxury vehicles and hi-powered security vehicles. Fast funds were expended on sustaining goon squads at various centers with food and  liquor. Liquor was provided freely to CWC workers and activists, who pumped the various gangs and goons.  Through this process, the CWC created an environment of terror and intimidation throughout the district. Rival political parties and Independent groups were threatened and prevented from canvassing. One independent group was kept out by claiming that it was led by a Sinhalese and that the group was part of a conspiracy to colonize Tamil areas with hordes of Sinhalese. The bogey of Sinhala colonization was spread throughout. This process of terror and intimidation was intensified on the 7th and 8th of April. Voters who were targeted as favoring rival candidates were terrorized and prevented from voting. We shall relate one such incident that stands as an indictment of the entire election process in the district.

On the eve of the 7th April. At the Duncinen Estate in the Puliawatte DS Division, CWC forces threatened supporters of an Independent Group ( popularly known the as “Girava” –Parrot- Group) claiming that such groups cannot work in CWC strongholds. This territorial supremacy had been used all over the district. The “Girava” Group had indeed become very popular, and there was a general consensus that it might win a seat.

This had proven to be most threatening to the CWC. An area coordinator- Mr. Raja- working for UNP candidate Mr. Thigambaram had intervened and claimed that everyone had the equal right to canvass and seek vote from anyone anywhere they pleased and that there were no independent kingdoms belonging to the CWC.

The CWC  group had then attacked Mr. Raja and his supporters and there had been an altercation.  It is recognized that Mr Raja had defended a fundamental democratic principle in an exemplary courageous manner. At this point, the CWC group had alerted a Mr Ramesh- A CWC Provincial Council Member- by telephone.

Mr Ramesh  had arrived at the scene with his police security. The police security personnel had aimed their weapons at Mr. Raja, while Mr. Ramesh had walked up to Mr. Raja and attacked him with an iron rod. As a result, Mr Raja’s head was severely split and had to receive several stitches at the Nuwaraeliya hospital. This is a concentration of the terror and intimidation that was generalized throughout the district.
This reprehensible practice has not only robbed the people of their sovereignty, but has cast a damning slur on the reputation of the People’s Alliance. We also raise the question as to whether there are indeed separate kingdoms that are ruled by the CWC, or are we ruled by a central state, under a single Constitution?

In general, it is to be noted that the Police in the district were severely constrained by the arbitrary exercise of power by the CWC. It can be stated that the Police had been commanded by the CWC over a long period of time. But, no one has dared to inquire into these issues. However, the end result was that the rival candidates, particularly the independent groups had no recourse to any form of redress or justice against the aggressions of the CWC. Many of them did not dare to make any complaints against the mighty CWC lords.

Let us not forget that out of some 450,000 registered voters, only 45% had cast their votes. This low turn out was a direct result of the CWC terror tactics. Even the CWC had suffered a drastic reduction in votes, compared to their previous performances. In any case, we do not regard that the CWC had received a democratic people’s mandate. Instead, we allege that the CWC robbed the people of their sovereignty and made a mockery of the democratic process in this country.

As the Group Leader of the Independent Group No.10, and in the name of democracy and sheer decency, I appeal to all concerned to conduct an impartial inquiry into this situation and to do justice by the people.

Indrani Gamage
Group Leader
Nuwara Eliya