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Boost for re-democratization

It goes without saying that the Government's efforts to conduct local government elections in the North-East would help greatly in boosting the democratic process in the country. Reports indicated that the Government would be having the cooperation of the LTTE in this undertaking with LTTE spokesman Anton Balasingham going so far as telling the press at the recently concluded GoSL - LTTE negotiations in Thailand that regardless of whether they are for or against the LTTE, North-East based political entities would be given the opportunity of contesting future elections.

It is noteworthy that even the US government has taken cognizance of these developments with US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage commending both the Government and the LTTE for this effort to revive the local government election process in the North-East.

As for us, we do not consider the conflict - resolution process and the efforts to revive grassroots democracy as separate undertakings. In fact they are different dimensions of the same process - which is the realisation of peace. If looked at closely it could be found that it was the denial of the democratic rights of the people which helped in militarizing Sri Lanka and in aggravating the National Question. The worsening of the latter question and the process referred to as "the dismantling of democracy", proceeded in tandem. In fact the militarization of the country and the deprivation of civic and political rights could be said to have relentlessly fed on each other.

Now that both sides to the conflict are not only addressing their minds to the National Question but also closely looking at constitutional systems which would ensure equitable power distribution, it should follow naturally that the redemocratization of the State should be persisted with. The efforts to conduct local government polls in the North-East, therefore, are a logical outcome of the peace effort.

The recent Supreme Court ruling on three fundamental rights applications filed by five voters of the Wanni and Batticaloa districts should serve to emphasize the importance of providing the political rights of people everywhere in this country. The democratic process is certain to have been strengthened by this ruling.

It is our hope that pledges would be translated into concrete actions. Both the Government and the LTTE need to ensure that the correct ground conditions exist for the conduct of elections. Indeed, a future poll would be a test of the LTTE's democratic professions.

No party need fear political opposition if it has worked towards the common good. Self-sacrificial labour for the people is an essential pre-condition for public support for parties contesting power.

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