11.5.2008
Tissa
Attanayake, UNP Gen. Secretary and M.P.speaking to the
Media today (11 May) at the UNP Media unit, rejected the
Govt. victory at the EP polls held yesterday (10 May)
claiming that the exercise of free franchise was looted
through state terrorism and use of force. He said that
this was the most corrupt election in the recent history.
The
Govt. could only secure one seat more than the UNP (UFPA-18;
UNP 17 ), despite using all its resources illegally ,foully
and tyrannically aimed at stifling people’s free
voting and to achieve a corrupt election victory.
The
UNP foresaw this possibility when the Govt. backed paramilitary
groups (Pillayan) were terrorizing the civilians before
elections. The Govt. paid no heed despite UNP insisting
on the Govt. to disarm them, because it was its intention
from the beginning to win the elections by violence and
malpractices. Govt. was fully aware that it cannot win
if there is a fair and free election.
Attanayake
gave details of the Govt. violence and villainy on the
Election Day and before: 33 polling centres, 28 centres
and 30 centres in Batticaloa , Trincomalee and Ampara
were attacked by Govt. hooligans preventing voters from
exercising their franchise freely, in order to cast the
Govt.’s own bogus votes.
Ministers,
Govt. politicos and their vehicles were immune from Security
checks. They moved freely. In one instance, when a Govt.
acolyte was challenged at a Security point, he had showed
an identity card issued by the Defence Division and forcibly
moved on, he added.
Official
complaints of polling booth malpractices can be made only
if the Chief Officer endorses them. But, even there, pro
Govt. unscrupulous Officers declined to confirm these
election violations. Consequently, many of the complaints
went begging. In 17 polling booths in Thirukovil, armed
men backed by the Police had stormed the booth and obstructed
voting. Similar incidents were reported in other areas
too, he lamented.
The
Elections Commissioner also is helpless as the Govt. has
resorted to obstructive tactics against him too.
Irrespective
of what rackets and rigging the Rajapakse Govt. may have
resorted to , the UNP deems it is its duty to thank all
the voters who braved all the odds and opposition posed
by the Govt. to bring UNP so close to victory .
Though
the Govt. is jubilant over this victory which was plundered
rather than won on people’s will, it is the consensus
of all that the Govt. did not conduct a free and fair
election. The UNP is hoping to take this matter up even
with Speaker of Parliament, he concluded.
Courtesy - Lanka
Truth