Sri Lankan voters urge Police to be neutral, BT poll reveals
View(s):Most Sri Lankans, who responded to a Business Times pre-election survey held this week, say the top priority for voters is the Police acting as an independent and neutral force.
Asked to list their preferences from a choice of five options that voters would like to see in force at Thursday’s Presidential poll, most respondents chose as their first preference “a firm assurance from the Inspector General of Police that the Police Department will act independently, by the law and without malice to any candidate”.
The email survey, which drew close to 250 respondents, may not reflect the views of a larger mass of the people but gives some idea of what voters want in the conduct of a free and fair poll.
The poll sought the views of the people on ‘respecting the voter’ and offered the following preferences: (a) Casting your ballot without intimidation, harassment or interference; (b) An assurance from candidates and their political parties that there won’t be any barging or storming of polling booths or other irregularities; (c) Firm assurance from the Elections Commission that Police will act impartially on polling day and arrest even candidates, their relatives or supporters who violate laws; (d) Firm assurance from the Elections Commission that ballot boxes would be protected against any irregularities at the polling centres and counting centres, and the one on an independent police.
Concern over whether the police would act without bias is growing by the day. “This is the most important aspect in conducting an impartial election. Up to date, in all incidents the Police has been astonishingly partial towards the incumbent (President),” said one respondent in the poll.
The second-most preferred choice of the respondents was also a police issue: A firm assurance from the Elections Commissioner that the Police with act without bias.
There were also other preferences suggested by respondents. One said ‘respecting the voter’ also means that the elected candidate “keeps to his manifesto promises, as the public (voter) would expect him to fulfill the promises”.
Here is a cross section of the views expressed:
- All political party leaderships ensuring their nominated candidate is honest and credible and therefore starts by making his/her declaration of assets and liabilities public, immediately after nominations.
- On the campaign trail, regularly declare campaign expenses and details of funding the campaign
- S/he himself/personally provides voters a fair and adequate time/space to ask questions on the election manifesto and related political issues, over public media.
- In no way display propaganda material, big or small that pollutes environment and stands as visual aberrations.
- Refrain from insulting and defaming opponents and stick to political arguments and explanations instead.
- It is impossible to think or expect the Elections Commissioner or the IGP to be impartial when there is so much pressure from the top.
- The utmost disrespect to the voter is unilateral bribery. For instance, if any candidate sends me a wall clock with his/ her propaganda printed on it (without my request or consent) – that is unilateral bribery – which is showing utter disrespect to me as a voter.
- I was in US when Obama was fighting his campaign to become the first Black President. At a TV interview in response to what were the burning issues, he said: “. If we do not have money, we cannot do any of the things that you quote or ask from me. The first thing I will do is to get this country out of this financial crisis”. This is exactly what Obama did and that pledge was enough to get him through. This is the same situation for Sri Lanka. Finances should be our priority too – we need money generation, not loans. If we are financially secure – Sri Lanka will flourish.
- Only MR can decide whether to have a peaceful, free and fair election since public servants such as the IGP or the EC are his servile servants who must do what MR wants.
- Respecting the voter means respecting the intelligence of the voter and refrain from uttering falsehoods, unrealistic/empty promises, and deceive the underprivileged vulnerable groups in society for pure personal/political gain.
- Unfortunately today we have only a few leaders who on face value seem genuine, will respect people and their thinking and will be in a position to gain respect. Left with a Hobson’s choice every voter needs to use his/her vote in an intelligent manner at this crucial juncture.
- This is the last chance we have got to restore human dignity where all communities irrespective of their race can be proud to be Sri Lankan and help rebuild the nation as a whole.
- We need MPs whom we are proud of to represent us in parliament and not a bunch of hooligans who do not care two hoots about the public opinion of decent people. We do not want this beautiful island to be in the clutches of a family who think they can act as if they own this land. That’s why we need a change. Please vote for a change.