The Fifth Column

4th Apirl 1999

Decent election: can we ensure it ?

"Thaaththa", Bindu Udagedera asked, "what do you think will happen on Tuesday?"

"Well" said Percy Udagedera, Bindu's father, "I don't know what will happen on Tuesday but I know what will happen on Wednesday…"

"And what's that?"

"Almost certainly there will be curfew on Wednesday…"

"Why do you say that?"

"Why, Bindu, that has been the tradition in all the elections held recently…"

"Why, thaaththa, do you think there will be a repeat performance of Wayamba?"

"I'm not so sure about that but whoever wins the allegations will be there…" Percy said.

"What allegations, thaaththa?" Bindu wanted to know.

"Why, Bindu, the allegations of thuggery, intimidation and impersonation…"

"What makes you say that?"

"Why, Bindu that is the fashion these days at any election, even if it's at the Cricket Board…" What do you think happened there, thaaththa?"

"Whatever happened, it is not a good sign for the government…"

"Why is that?"

"Why, if the President's uncle says he couldn't stop others from rigging that election, just imagine what will happen in the rest of the country…"

"Are you saying that the Opposition will win by a large margin?" Bindu wondered.

"No, of course not" Percy said, "but it seems Satellite can't stop her own ministers from supporting someone running against her uncle…"

"And that is precisely what is happening at the Provincial Council elections…" Bindu noted.

"Why do you say that?"

"Why, party members are fighting among themselves for the 'manaape' and the leadership of both parties is unable to stop the fighting…"

"And" said Percy; "this election will also end like the Cricket Board election…"

"And what do you mean by that?"

"The losers will go to courts challenging the validity of the election…"

"And the winners will somehow try to justify their victory showing some statistics as usual…" Bindu said. "And we the people will forget all about it in a fewweeks…" "But" Bindu wanted to know, "what will happen to the government after the election, thaaththa?"

"Well, win or lose, Satellite and her government will carry on…"

"But there is already talk of a cabinet reshuffle and early elections…"

"Satellite might have to reshuffle her cabinet" Percy agreed, "but there will be no early elections…"

"Why do you say that?"

"Bindu, those who have power won't let go of it even a day earlier if they can help it…"

" But Dearly Beloved did that four years ago…" Bindu pointed out.

"And his party is still paying for that decision…"

"But thaaththa," Bindu said, " isn't there any way in which we can ensure a decent election without any of this violence or rigging?"

"No Bindu" Percy shook his head sadly.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because" Percy said, "elections are now like cricket in this country…"

"Why do you say that?"