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Ensure a peaceful poll

While on the discretion and perspicacity of the voting public would depend the future of Sri Lanka, on the vigilance, impartiality and efficiency of the law-enforcers would depend the voter's ability to fearlessly and freely exercise this momentous franchise. Accordingly, the prime need today would be a free and fair election.

The run up to today's poll witnessed some grave violations of the law, including serious crimes, such as murders. However, the overall incidence of crime had reportedly decreased over the previous, pre-election period in December 2001. This proves the benefits of the firm enforcement of the law. We hope this healthy trend would be continued into today and into the days to follow.

We call on the authorities concerned to bear in mind the primacy of a peaceful poll and alert them to the need to act in concert in the days ahead to effectively enforce the law. The law enforcers, such as the police, on the other hand, need to realise the importance of consistently adhering to the principles of impartiality and justice in the discharge of their duties.

There needs to be a clear and strong separation wall between private convictions and sympathies and the carrying out of public duties in strict accordance with impersonal standards. The inability to bear these considerations in mind has brought sorrow and strife to this country in the past but we hope a new beginning would be made.

In fact these standards apply with equal validity to the performances of other sections of the State sector too, including public officials presiding at elections.

Meanwhile, politicians need to remember that keeping the peace at election time requires their firm and ready cooperation too. Numerous are the occasions in the past when powerful politicians bent the rules and even dispensed with them to ensure illegal gains for themselves at the polls.

Some even brought their influence to bear on the polls officials and the law enforcement machinery, thus attempting to unfairly determine the outcome of the election.

All this needs to come to an end if we are to have a peaceful, free and fair poll. As we pointed out yesterday, a marred election would only backfire disastrously on the Lankan polity. It would only reduce everyone to losers.

We also call on anti-democratic, tyrannical forces to desist from using coercion and bloody tactics to influence the outcome of the poll particularly the North-East. Nothing could be gained by depriving the people of their rights. Such acts only sow the seeds of disaffection and rebellion. Once again, everyone would be a loser.

True sign of democracy

As Sri Lankans vote today, we should reflect on the fact that this is virtually an 'elections year' around the world. Sri Lanka is one of the 11 Asian countries which will elect new governments this year. Polls are being held in several other countries, including the USA.

An election is the most visible sign of a vibrant democracy. The practice of consulting the people to decide on vital issues originated in ancient Greece, the cradle of democracy. The vote was initially limited to the nobles. Commoners and women of any social strata were excluded. Now suffrage is 'universal' in the true sense of the word - all men and women above 18 or 21 are eligible to vote.

The ballot is a potent weapon that can overthrow mighty governments in hours, without a single bullet being fired. It is the people's way of rejecting one government and electing another. Politicians will move heaven and earth to convince voters why they deserve to be elected, but the people can turn them into ordinary mortals with the stroke of a pen.

Some countries have even done away with the latter, opting for a fully-electronic voting system. India is adopting an electronic voting system, which has been demonstrated to Sri Lankan Parliamentarians as well. The makers of the electronic ballot box say it is tamper-proof, accurate and time-saving - important attributes in countries where election malpractices are commonplace.

These cannot be eliminated altogether, but many countries try different approaches. IDs must be presented to polls officials in some countries. This is not a mandatory requirement in this country, though it is hotly debated on the eve of every election.

In some countries, voting itself is a mandatory requirement. In Sri Lanka, we have a choice - which in itself is a true sign of democracy: one can either vote or stay at home. Voter apathy is a significant factor in any election.

The voter turnout at some recent elections was low. However, the people can raise their voice only by marking that ballot paper. As the saying goes, bad governments are elected by good citizens who do not vote.

As we head to the polling booth, spare a thought for those people oppressed by authoritarian regimes which do not hold elections at all. They will never really know the awesome power of the ballot. Vox populi, vox dei.

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