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RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS
E-Newsletter
Vol.2 No.42
October 16, 2000
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Religious Perspectives on Human Rights is now available online at: http://www.rghr.net
Religious Perspectives on Human Rights is a weekly e-newsletter issued by Buddhist, Muslim, Catholic and Christian Groups on Human Rights, initiated by the Asian Human Rights Commission.
1)
SRI LANKA: Election Manifests Serious Crisis in Democratic
Institutions
- Will the perpetrators of violence be brought to
justice?
An AHRC Statement on Recent General Election, 2000, in Sri
Lanka (The edited version)
The violence during the election this time has been
acknowledged, and even the final results from 23 polling centres
have been annulled by the commissioner of elections. In addition,
the judgement of overall fairness has been challenged by one
major local polling group and all opposition parties. The
parliamentary elections in 2000 showed, however, how far the
whole electoral process has degenerated in the country. Two major
political parties contesting these Oct. 10 elections the ruling
People's Alliance (PA) and the opposition United National Party
(UNP) are both committed to violence and are well-known for
violent election strategies. There is another permanent aspect to
this violence. The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) staff
member who just returned from monitoring the election observed
that "this election does not seem to be about governance but
about business." The ability to use one's political position
and influence to attain business deals and/or to dispense favours
in return for bribes seems to be the determining factor among
violent political rivals. This too is sadly not just a factor
affecting this election, but all elections in the country.
One of the most repressed and maligned parties, the Janatha
Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP (People's Liberation Front), received 10
seats. Obviously, protest votes in many areas went to this party.
Perhaps then this vote does indicate the democratic aspirations
of the people and their desire for reforms.The other most
important result was the ignominious defeat of political groups
representing chauvinist views. This result debunks the theory
that most Sinhalese have anti-Tamil views and that extremely
racist groups have great influence among the Sinhalese people..
Once again, ineffective policing has become a common feature
in the elections and in Sri Lankan life in general. While the
commissioner of elections has annulled the final poll result of
23 polling stations, none of the perpetrators of the violent or
illegal acts that led to the invalidation of the electoral
results in these polling stations has been arrested. Thus, crimes
are publicly acknowledged, but no action is taken to punish those
who brake the law. Within a few days, such activities will
be forgotten, and the tradition of impunity will be
reasserted. The argument that the police make for such
accusations is that they are powerless and that it is the
politicians who decide what the police can and cannot do. If this
is so, then one has to conclude that control of election-related
violence has become impossible in Sri Lanka, for will any
politician fail to take advantage of such a situation? Any
critical assessment of the election must make the police problem
a central issue of consideration.
Implications
Since the opposition is unable to challenge the election
results in the streets, politically speaking, the election
results will be treated as being fair. Moreover, so long as the
two major political parties are what they are, they will not be
morally in a position to challenge the outcome of such tainted
elections on the streets.
This election poses one great issue, however: it is the need
to deal with the virtual collapse of democratic institutions in
the whole country as an integral part of the solution to the
problems of the Tamil people. AHRC has consistently insisted on
this link.
What then can be done immediately? Some possible remedies are
offered.
(1) It is the obligation of local groups as well as the
international community to insist that all who engaged in violent
activities, however high they may be, be brought to justice. The
inspector general of police (IGP) and the attorney general of the
country, who is the chief prosecutor, must be held accountable
for providing a remedy for these violations. Not to do so would
be to violate the human rights guaranteed under the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which the Sri
Lankan government is a state party. If such violence, including
murder, is the result of a conspiracy, it would also amount to a
crime against humanity. It is also the responsibility
of the commissioner of elections, who believed that there was
sufficient evidence to annul several poll results, to insist that
the violators be punished. Otherwise, it will be the electorate
that is punished.
(2) It is also an urgent task to subject to thorough reforms
the country's basic institutions to maintain peace, the rule of
law and human rights institutions such as the police and the
office of the attorney general as the chief prosecutor so that
they are able to contain violence and ensure law and order.
(3) The National Human Rights Commission should scrutinise the
entire electoral process and advise the State and the people
about the steps that are needed to prevent a recurrence of a
violent and illegal situation like this to occur again.
(4) All victims of violence and their families should be
compensated.
(5) All civil society organisations should form a strong
movement for democratic reforms, including reform of the
electoral system.
(6) Those who take an interest in peace issues should also
take an interest in democratic reforms as part and parcel of any
peace initiative.
A Warning
Because of the precariousness of these election results, it
may be possible that a situation may arise that necessitates
another election in the near future. However, if this legacy of
holding tainted elections is not changed, the next elections too
will be like this one or even worse. The circle can only be
broken by a reform process backed by a strong mass
movement.
AHRC has repeatedly warned that Sri Lanka is walking towards
an even worse situation than it now faces. Sadly, this election
has pushed that downward trend even further. It is not the two
major political parties that can change this direction though; it
is only the people that can make a difference.
2)
In an election marked by violence, one person succeeds in
making a difference - from lacnet.org
Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo, SLT 8.00 a.m 11 October. Dallas
Alahapperuma of the People's Alliance, the only candidate who
campaigned without any posters ,banners and decorations retained
his seat Kamburupitiya by a majority of 9199 votes. Alahapperuma
an environmentalist led the most peaceful election campaign in
the country. He even persuaded his opponents who contested from
Kamburupitiya to get on one stage. Alahapperuma spoke only on
issues concerning his people and did not sling mud at his
opponents. Allahapperuma's victory has been hailed by many as a
victory for peaceful politics in the country.
3) Gusmao
Criticizes UN Mission
East Timorese independence leader Xanana Gusmao has launched a
public attack on the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor
(UNTAET), saying it has failed to engage East Timorese in the
transition to independence. "We are not interested in a
legacy of cars and laws, nor are we interested in a legacy of
development plans for the future designed by (people) other than
East Timorese," he said, referring to the vehicles UN staff
drive around the island and a slew of regulations passed by
UNTAET. Gusmao also accused UNTAET of tokenism, and lashed out at
his opponents for undermining democracy in the territory (Mark
Dodd, Sydney Morning Herald, 10 Oct).
4)
A Collective Independent Information Centre to be set up in
Ambon- krisis centre
In order to encounter false information being spread on
national level about the situation in Ambon and to ensure
reliable information instead, a collective independent
nformation centre has been installed, the members of which
consist of two representatives of all local newsmedia and
representatives of the Civil Emergency, the military and police
forces. These latter are not supposed to control or restrict
publication of facts, but to be informed about reporters findings
and perceptions and to provide necessary explanation or
comment.
5) News in Brief
A) Foreign Direct Investment may top 1 Trillion - UNWIRE
"A global marketplace for firms is emerging," said Karl
Sauvant, the report's lead author. "Companies are being
bought and sold across borders on an unprecedented scale."
Global foreign direct investment (FDI) may pass trillion this
year after hitting 5 billion last year, according to the World
Investment Report 2000
B) China Announces Debt Cancellation
China announced last week that it will cancel .2 billion of
African debt over the next two years.
C)GENETIC ENGINEERING: Enviros Criticize Upcoming Merger
Four environmental groups say a planned formation of Syngenta, a
new global dedicated agribusiness company, by AstraZeneca and
Novartis could threaten farmers in developing countries, BBC
Online reports. According to ActionAid, the proposed merger could
prevent farmers from saving seeds from year to year. "The
most famous are 'terminator seeds' --. "'Terminator' means
farmers would have to buy new seed or chemicals which will switch
off the sterility each
Posted on 2000-10-16
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