Letter
Joint Services Command admits past mistakes due to political pressure, say committed to upholding law tomorrow
COMMUNIQUE
07th January 2015
1. The Joint Services Command consisting of patriotic senior officers of the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force, with the support of Junior Officers and Other Ranks hereby hold presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksha, the Cabinet of Ministers, Speaker of the Parliament, Members of Parliament, Members of Provincial Councils, Regional Councils, the Election Commissioner and officials of the Election Department responsible to hold a free and fair election, at least on election day (08thJanuary 2015).
2. The Police Department including the Special Task Force are duty bound to uphold and enforce the law. Though it has failed to do so in the past due to political pressure and political patronage, the Inspector General of Police and all sub-ordinate Police Officers will be held personally responsible and accountable for their actions and/or inactions for dereliction of their duty.
3. The Civil Security Department (Civil Defence Force) whose role includes ‘special tasks by the Ministry of Defence’ are advised to refrain from carrying out any task that is illegal and is in violation of election and other laws of the country.
4. As in many previous elections, we witnessed that in the run-up to this Presidential Election the election law has been more honoured in the breach than in its observance by the incumbent government. The illegal actions include the display of cut-outs, hoardings and posters in support of presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksha, utilizing state resources including members of the armed forces, particularly those of the Presidential Guard and Presidential Security Division.
5. The military victory achieved by us, the Tri-Services, together with the Police, Special Task Force, continues to be used to mobilize support for presidential candidate Rajapaksha. While, the military and the people allowed President Rajapaksha to benefit from the war victory and obtain a second term in office in 2010, the war victory is not to be considered by one person and his family to be used and abused, particularly when the military defeat of the LTTE was not followed-up by a political solution. Instead, divisive political and anti-social actions were the norm with religious extremists being allowed to incite disharmony.
6. The use of false and deceptive tactics to destroy and prevent the possibility of a free and fair election will be considered a serious violation and deprivation of the democratic rights of our people.
7. Any attempt to utilize sections of the military in a post-election situation where the choice of the people is to be robbed will be countered and the conspirators will face serious consequences.
Signed
Media Unit
for Joint Services Commander
Joint Services Command
NOTE: this is published subject to verification of authenticity. In any event, the thoughts expressed are sound, and one hopes, will be adhered to during tomorrow’s election.