Election result is the biggest ever unpatriotic crime– Bahu

Common Left Candidate Vickramabahu Karunaratne called the declared result of the presidential election in Sri Lanka as the biggest ever betrayal of the country.

 

Addressing a media briefing in Colombo on Sunday, Comrade Vickramabahu said that the result has been manipulated using sophisticated computer technology to show the world that the Sinhala electorate is totally racist and against any agreement, while the Tamils are not prepared to work alongside the Sinhalese. He said that the spread of variance in the declared result appears unnatural.

He charged that the result was achieved by a ‘daylight conspiracy’ specifically targeting the Tamils of the North East combined with a ‘midnight conspiracy’.

“The midnight conspiracy was launched by state officials who manipulated the result while the daylight conspiracy was visible in the intimidation of Tamils.” He called the manipulation of votes a ‘Blanquist’ conspiracy run by a select group of officials.

Shivaji calls not to dissolve parliament 

Tamil Presidential Candidate MK Shivajilingam speaking at the media briefing said that bombing in the North East and filming those queuing to vote discouraged people from voting. The small number of internally displaced who were allowed to vote officially could not get to their polling stations due to lack of transport.

Shivaji and I will get a substantial vote to fight both reactionary camps – Bahu

Common Left Candidate Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne of the Left Front contesting under the Table symbol said that he is confident of obtaining a substantial vote that will enable to mobilize against both camps.

In a video address Dr. Vickramabahu said that the Tamil Presidential Candidate MK Shivajilingam who represents Tamil Liberation along with him who represent the left and the proletariat will get a vote that can be combined for a “progressive liberation force prepared to fight back”.

Bahu in English 

Bahu in Sinhala

He emphasized the need to build a force that will fight against global capital and Sinhala chauvinism represented by Mahinda Rajapaksa and Sarath Fonseka.

Vickramabahu represents Tamils -British Tamil Forum

The British Tamils Forum (BTF) says that there are only two candidates including the Common Left Candidate Vickramabahu Karunaratne in the presidential election that represents Tamils.

Suren Surendiran representing BTF in a live discussion with Al Jazeera television on the Sri Lankan presidential election pointed out Dr. Vickramabahu saying that Tamils in Sri Lanka need self determination.

Listen to Suren Surendiran

The BTF spokesman also referred to the Tamil Presidential Candidate MK Shivajilingam describing President Rajapaksa and General Fonseka as war criminals.

"I will uphold rights and fight for them" Bahu’s pledge to AI

Common Left Candidate Vickramabahu Karunaratne gave a written pledge to Amnesty International (AI) that he would be committed to respecting basic human rights and is prepared to fight for them.

Dr. Vickramabahu was responding to an appeal made by Amnesty International’s Sri Lanka specialist Yolanda Foster to all candidates in Sri Lanka's presidential election. 

In the appeal AI said, “Candidates should commit to restoring respect for basic rights, like life and liberty, ending arbitrary arrests and detention, enforced disappearances and torture, and to restoring respect for freedom of expression”.

“I totally agree,” wrote Dr. Vickramabahu adding that he is prepared to “struggle for such rights in the coming period”.

The Sri Lankan voter goes to elect an executive president on the 26th of January.

Police repression directed against Left Front

Comrade Manikasothi, the electoral agent in Jaffna for Common Left Candidate Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne has been arrested by police while distributing the election manifesto.

Com. Vickramabahu says that this is a clear demonstration of police repression directed against Left Front, whereas both candidates Mahinda Rajapaksa and Sarath Fonseka are allowed to carry on their publicity without hindrance.

This is the second time during the run up to the election where a representative of Dr. Vickramabahu was arrested by police in Jaffna.

Earlier, Dr Vickramabahu's representative Dharmasiri Lankapeli, the only Sinhala speaker addressing the gathering at LTTE leader V Prabhakaran's father's funeral was also arrested and later released due to local and international pressure.

The full statement by Comrade Vickramabahu on Thursday is given below

My election agent comrade Manikasothi was taken into custody by the Chunnakam police station for distributing my election manifesto.

The police Officer In Charge has given the lame excuse that the leaflet has not indicated the printer though Manikasothi has clearly indicated his name and address in the leaflet. Subsequently he was taken to jaffna hospital unnecessarily .

The JMO has refused to inspect as there was no complaint of assault or any other ailment. Then he was then taken to courts.

This is another example of police repression directed at us .

Both Mahinda and Sarath distribute leaflets freely as they want.

US want to replace failed President with a General – Bahu

The US that lost faith in President Rajapaksa who could not confront the massive strikes in the petroleum sector and the port that came in the wake of the plantation sector strike have decided to replace him with a new leadership said Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne.

Addressing a public meeting in Wellawatta, the Common Left Candidate said that international masters have decided to replace Rajapaksa who failed in the face of workers with another man who was in the same camp, General Fonseka.

“After General Fonseka was taken to the Pentagon to cleanse the blood on him from killing Tamils in the north, he was passed over to Delhi to be anointed by the Brahmins, before returning to Sri Lanka dressed up in white,” said Bahu.

Therefore, Comrade Bahu pointed out that Fonseka is the new man sent by the global masters to safeguard the same oppressive system that is today led by Rajapaksa.

The power of minorities

Addressing the gathering Tamil Presidential Candidate MK Shivajilingam said that the vote of minorities in Sri Lanka is crucial.

He pointed out that the Sinhala majority is made up of only 70% of voters.

“Even among them over five percent are non Buddhists. They too are a minority,” said Shivajilingam MP.

He further said, “If we are to build a strong movement to fight for minority rights, we need to get together and stop Rajapaksa or Fonseka getting 50%”.

A mandate to force governments to either deliver or quit –Bahu

Common Left Candidate Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne called upon voters to give a mandate that would enable him to compel those ruling the country to deliver the pledges they announced on political platforms.

“We need to get a significant mandate in order to force those in power to either deliver or quit,” said Dr. Vickramabahu addressing workers and trade union representatives who gathered at “Kamkaru Sevana” in Ratmalana.

Dr. Bahu pointed out that both President Mahinda Rajapaksa and General Sarath Fonseka are promising everything under the sun to the electorate.

However, he drew attention to the fact that so far people have achieved nothing from promises alone. “Every thing has been won only through struggle,” he said.

Nothing comes free

A substantial number of votes for candidates opposing Rajapaksa and Fonseka, Dr. Vickramabahu emphasised, can be utilised to challenge those in power to deliver the promises they made on election platforms.

“If they don’t, the mandate you give us will be used to kick them out of office,” he added.

Sajith Lakmal of the United Workers Party and Nadaraja Jenagan of the Left Front also addressed the meeting chaired by General Secretary of the United Federation of Labour Saranapala Silva.