Mahinda set stage for UPFA to violate election laws

– Attanayake
by Zacki Jabbar
President Mahinda Rajapaksa by making an election speech on the eve of the Eastern Provincial Council Election(EPCE), set an example for UPFA candidates to violate all laws and win the EPCE hook or by crook, the UNP said yesterday.
General Secretary of the UNP, Tissa Attanayake addressing a news conference in Colombo, said that UPFA candidates having observed the manner in which the President of the country circumvented election laws and campaigned on their behalf, used all State resources at their disposal to defraud the UNP-SLMC of a certain victory."
"The entire might of the government was unleashed on opposition candidates contesting the EPCE. Ministers, Government MP’s, the armed TMVP and their goon squads moved about like a small army, terrorising and assaulting anyone who was opposed to them."
The EPCE, was a re-enactment of the November 2005, Presidential Election which Mahinda Rajapaksa won by entering into a secret agreement with the LTTE, he alleged."The only difference this time was that his partner in crime was the TMVP, who just like the LTTE, helped prevent a UNP victory by resorting to intimidation and violence."
Attanayake, said that they would not only challenge the EPCE verdict in courts, but also enlighten the international community of the threat to democracy by the Rajapaksa Government.
"In addition, a series of street protests would be launched, the first of which will be held in Maradana on Friday."
Demanding that Parliament be reconvened immediately, he urged the Speaker to permit a debate on the election fraud foisted on the eastern people,who had waited patiently for 20 years to elect the leaders of their choice.
"We will also move for debates on the EPCE in provincial, district and local bodies."