Polls drama reaches its last stages

| by Milinda Rajasekera

(October 01, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) As the local government election campaign drama is moving fast towards its denouement, the people of this country are on the verge of losing a source of entertainment that they enjoyed for some time. It was for the entertainment indeed rather than the enlightenment on national issues that the political leaders provided that the people should be grateful. This amusement was provided free of charge except, of course, what they pay as taxes to maintain these politicians in their various positions.

Almost all dramatic elements, varying from violence to pathos, could be observed in the political arena. Summersaults are aplenty. They pall vault from one side to the other without any shame or embarrassment. They show great agility and ease in performing these acts. The jokes, yarns and banter they often come out with in their political outpourings are risible indeed. Some of their jokes produce laughter not at what they say but at the person cracking them. Through such jokes they expose the laughable nature of their character.

It is doubtful whether there is any other category of persons who are as thick-skinned as these politicians who change sides and say things diametrically opposite to what they had said a few months or days ago. They ridicule leaders they held in high esteem not many moons ago and tear into pieces the policies they extolled in the past and glamorize policies they despised in the past.

The exchanges of these politicians, meanwhile, serve the useful purpose of letting the public know the details about secret meetings and transactions they were involved in the past thus proving the correctness of the adage that truth comes out when robbers fall out. As to how millions of rupees had changed hands is disclosed showing undeclared assets some politicians have accumulated.

However, very little of what really should be the contents of their election speeches is included in them. Comments on the weaknesses in the previous local body administration, the things that remain to be done to offer an improved service to the public, and the concrete plans they have to eliminate corruption, waste and extravagance and other matters relevant to local bodies form only a small part of their speeches. Much more time is taken by them for extolling achievements of their political parties and condemning activities of their opponents.

The polls fray, nevertheless, is not completely bereft of instances of the correct approach adopted by some. A few of them have presented their policies or views on what they propose to do after assuming power. The good example set by UPFA mayoral candidate Milinda Moragoda in presenting a programme for improving Colombo City administration, was followed by the UNP mayoral candidate A.J.M.Muzammil. He also presented his programme and without stopping at that, he has gone a step further and invited his rival for a public debate on their policies and programmes. If this debate takes place it will indeed create a healthy precedent in local government elections.

Main candidates in other local bodies are also making impressive statements about what they propose to do if elected to office. They are in a competition to elevate their local bodies to international standards. The UNP mayoral candidate for Nuwara Eliya MC Lal Chandana Karunaratne, for instance, has stated that he intends making N’Eliya MC the best in Asia. Similar statements are made by several other candidates also. It is hoped that they will not go into history as politicians with empty words and hollow deeds.

Meanwhile, the opposition political parties that could have contributed much to enlighten voters on the real issues the local bodies are confronted with, are unable to perform this task satisfactorily because of the intra-party conflicts they have to contend with. In their attempts to cover the ruptures in their parties these leaders also provide amusement. Some parties that ridiculed other parties afflicted with conflicts within and prided themselves on the absolute unity in their own parties are now afflicted with the same malaise.

The JVP which maintained a high degree of unity and discipline for a long time was hit by a major blow when Wimal Weerawansa group pulled out of the party. At that time also the JVP tried to hide their embarrassment saying that what the party was engaged in was a democratic exchange of views. It is not unusual for these parties to conceal their party disunity. The UNP also does the same. It is only when things explode with irrepressible sounds that they disclose the real situation. The question is whether these attempts at hiding the true situation conform to the principles of democracy they seem to cherish and vow to pursue. They talk glibly about transparency and accountability, but their conduct falls far short of these ideals.

On the sidelines of the main election campaign, is the quota of entertainment to the public provided by the irrepressible Minister Mervyn Silva. These dramatic episodes, of course, involve serious questions varying from legal concepts to ethics. He, like Adolf Hitler who said “I am the law”, has apparently arrogated to himself the task of protecting animal rights and moral standards of people. He makes threatening statements to adopt amputation as a method of punishing those who slaughter cattle and sell meat. No doubt the animals and animal lovers would be grateful to him for saving the lives of innocent animals. But it is the bull-in-a-china shop operation that evokes mirth and resentment.

However, he has a way of pacifying those annoyed by his words and deeds. After threatening those involved in slaughter and sale of cattle, and after being warned by his party colleagues against interfering with their religious rituals, he visits a mosque where he is hailed as a hero. He then assures non-interference with the religious rights of Muslims.