The result of the election: the victory for democracy and defeat for separatist terrorism

11 May 2008

The long march of democracy in Eastern province started with the liberation of Mavillaru sluice gate from LTTE and restoring the supply of water for the innocent farmers in the area. It was a time when LTTE artillery were even targeting Tricomalee town and strategic Navy camp as a result of shameful CFA signed by UNP leader Ranil Wickramasingha and Prabakaran. The monks of JHU timely influenced the government to take speedy action at a time when new UPFA government seemed to be trapped with the CFA signed by previous UNP leadership. The success of Mavillaru operation not only prevented another attempt of LTTE to chase away Sinhala and Muslim farming community from Eastern province, but also mark the beginning or new democratic era in Eastern province.

Demilitarization
It was clear military and political leadership that resulted in those limited military operations to continue until whole Eastern province is liberated and LTTE terrorists are chased away. The breakaway Karuna fraction of LTTE played a substantial role in defeating LTTE in key urban areas including Vakarae in Batticaloa District. The Karuna fraction went into extend that they even operated suicide attacks against Wanni LTTE carders.

Development
The government correctly identified that peace without progress can sink people’s hopes fast. The province was in urgent need of improving the infrastructure facilities and supportive services, which are prerequisites for accelerated development. Recognizing this imperative, the GOSL set up a comprehensive three year development plan as part of the Eastern Revival, a programmed to improve the infrastructure facilities and uplift the living conditions of the people in the East. It is again evident that various ‘rights’ organizations backed by INGO’s are no longer interested in developing the Eastern province and it is GOSL and its ministries that are playing a key role in development activities of the East.

Democratization
By conducting the provincial council elections, the government has completed its endvour of liberating Eastern province. Democratization started with conducting elections for local government bodies in Batticaloa district. While JHU initiated the military offensive against LTTE in Eastern province, JVP played leading role in establishing logistical ground for separate Eastern province.

The liberation of Eastern province got the political flavor when UNP leader Ranil Wickramasingha stated that liberation of Thoppigala is mere capturing a forest. UNP’s attitude towards the military operation against LTTE was further evident when UNP media spokesman Laksman Kiriella, in their weekly media briefing, mentioned that “Any bull can wage a war”. It was clearly an insult to brave soldiers who have risk their own lives to preserve independence of motherland and liberation of people from LTTE fascist terrorists.

When the government called for the elections in the Eastern province, UNP was more interested in finding reasons to evade the election than genuine interest in contesting. UNP’s stand was pretty much in line with the stand of LTTE that strongly opposed in establishing separate provincial council for Eastern province. However, UNP could not find a genuine reason to stay away from the election and therefore UNP formed a coalition with Hakeem fraction of SLMC. Ironically, it is only Ranil Wicramasingha and Rauf Hakkem that has signed accords with LTTE leader Prabakaran and both of them are still in the same political trail even after LTTE is defeated and chased away from the Eastern province. When Tamil political parties like TMVP openly canvassed for separate Eastern identity, UNP is still advocating merger of North and Eastern provinces (basis of Ealam).

UNP’s main political theme in the election campaign was demilitarizing of Pilliyan fraction. Pilliyan group has been playing strategic role in defeating LTTE in the eastern province and defending the area from infiltration of LTTE carders from Wanni jungle. This has greatly eased burden from the government security forces in the East thereby allowing them to focus in operations in the Wanni jungle in the North. As usual, UNP became the voice of Wanni tigers and Ranil Wickramasingha played the role of political psyloc demanding full disarmament of anti LTTE Pilliyan fraction in their transition period when government is still engaged in full scaled war against LTTE terrorists. Although LTTE’s proxy party TNA indirectly campaigned for UNP, the result clearly shows that LTTE’s political stand is no longer imperative among Tamils in the Eastern province.

The challenge of new East
The people of Eastern province have sealed the military victory against separatist terrorism by winning the UPFA in the election. The UPFA list consisted right mix of candidates from Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim communities and the people of the Eastern province has exhibited that they have high hope in democracy. Now it is the responsibility for the elected representatives in the Eastern provincial council to take up most of the political responsibilities in developing their home land and live in peace and harmony.

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