By Mohamed Jawahir –
Though this country is said to have had a violence – free election on the 17th, the situation in Kattankudy, in the Batticaloa district was different. There were a vast number of complaints of election violence against former deputy minister MLAM Hizbullah.
It was comprehensible that the voters were induced to cast votes for him through various forms of bribe such as money, water supply connections, food packs, false promises etc.
The major violence was that he even got assembled thousands of women in the area and openly issued gift packs to induce voting. The gifts even carried his name and the beetle symbol. An Assistant Commissioner of Elections who went to inspect the scene at the last moment of the three day long ‘women convention’ was assaulted by his thugs. Though the thugs responsible for this serious crime had been arrested they were released on bail even before the Election Day.
There have been even complaints against Hizbullah at the Bribery Commission.
Hence people had all the reasons to reject him at the parliamentary election and they did, but interestingly, he has been again made a national list MP on the UPFA list. The announcement came yesterday (21st August 2015) as a sock to the voters who had faith in the newly elected government which is expected to rule this country by good governance principles.
People in Kattankudy are not new to good governance policies. They have for the last 10 years been eager in seeing that this country practices the principles.
Yesterday’s appointment of Mr. Hizbullah as a member of parliament on the national list leaves the following questions unanswered.
1. Was the term ‘good governance’ used only as a tool to win the elections by UNP and even the president?
2. Is it the nature of the good governance to appoint a defeated, corrupt politician against the ‘verdict’ of the people?
3. “Having the same kind of corrupt people in the parliament again”. Will the next parliament have anything to do with good governance?
4. How can a leadership that has been seriously propagating good governance simply accommodate corrupt people merely because the position of the particular party has to be strengthened in a particular area?
Now that everything is over and the gazette notification is out today. Are you interested in in knowing much about the situation right after the announcement that Hizbullah has been appointed as an MP on the UPFA national list?
On hearing the news a mob loyal to Hizbullah assembled on the road and started ‘celebrating’ the ‘victory’ firing crackers and assaulting their ‘political opponents’ They even went to a mosque and attacked people who were in Mahrib prayers. The entire town was in panic.
The people called the police. But they were instructed to call 119 from a land phone and it took 2 hours to the police to reach the scene from a 1 km distance. No arrest has so far been made even though people have named the attackers.
Below is the list of some people who were attached. Around 13 people were affected and list is being updated.
1. MCM. Rilwan (25 Years) Periya Jumma Masjith Road, Kodaikaran Lane, New Kattankudy 03 – (Admitted to Batticaloa Teaching Hospital, has serious head injuries, blood vomiting, has continuous chest pain)
2. MM. Fairoos (32 Years), Muthuwappa vaithiyar Lane. 4th Cross, New Kattankudy03 (Admitted to Batticaloa Teaching Hospital, has serious head injuries, wounded legs)
3. Mohamed Sajahan (39 years old), (Admitted to Batticaloa Teaching Hospital, Al Ameen Road, Kattankudy – with head injuries)
4. Mrs. ML. Fasna, Muathin Lane, (A Pregnant, admitted to Batticaloa Teaching Hospital)
The same old floor is crushed, but this time in the name of good governance.
Rohan / August 22, 2015
Hizbullah should be taken out of the list and charged.
Imagine what he would have done to Tamil (and Sinhala) people!!!
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Amarasiri / August 22, 2015
Mohamed Jawahir
RE: Kattankudy Attack: Good Governance After Elections!
“An Assistant Commissioner of Elections who went to inspect the scene at the last moment of the three day long ‘women convention’ was assaulted by his thugs. Though the thugs responsible for this serious crime had been arrested they were released on bail even before the Election Day.”
“KattankudyThere have been even complaints against Hizbullah at the Bribery Commission.”
Looks like they have learned well from Mahinda Rajapaksa and his crobies well, theMaRa Palanaya.
Now Yaha Palanaya needs to make these corrections. It is Time now.
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Davidson Panabokke / August 22, 2015
President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremasinghemust note this and act on it immediately.
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Naga / August 22, 2015
Before the election Hisbullah was very confident that UPFA would get over 50 thousand votes in the Batticaloa district and would finish second to TNA at the 17th election. He even said he would get over 30 thousand preference votes and get elected as the MP for Batticaloa from UPFA.
UPFA finished a poor 4th after TNA, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and UNP. Three MPs were elected from TNA and one each from SLMC and UNP. Though UPFA missed the chance to get elected by a mere 127 votes, it nevertheless lost out. Hisbullah got just over 16 thousand votes (just little over half of what he previously predicted) and finished on top of the UPFA list above Pillaiyan who managed to get over 11 thousand preference votes.
His appointment as a nominated MP from UPFA is highly deplorable like several other nominations of defeated UPFA candidates from the final UPFA National List hijacked by Maithri.
I heard that Hisbullah’s thugs had attacked several people in Kattankudy who worked against Hisbullah. Hisbullh had always engaged in highly divisive politics and he is seen by the Batticaloa Tamils as anti-Tamil. However, he is a lucky guy who had again somehow managed to become MP of the district.
His nomination from the UPFA National List means that all the three Muslim pockets in the Batticaloa district, namely, Ottamavadi, Eravur and Kattankudy will now have an MP each. UNP’s Ameer Ali comes from Ottamavadi, SLMC’s Ali Zaheer Maulana is from Eravu and Kattankudy is going to get its favourite son Hisbullah as an MP again. Of the three, only Ali Zaheer Maulana is a sober and non-controversial politician and he is not seen as anti-Tamil. He comes from a very respected family from Eravur and had been an MP a couple of times. It is Muslim leaders like Ali Zaheer Maulana who can foster friendly relations between the Tamils and Muslims in the Batticaloa district where in the past Tamil-Muslim riots had broken out several times.
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James Chance / August 22, 2015
Thank you. This is very helpful information to have.
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justice / August 22, 2015
Election by thuggery, intimidation, & bribery have been a feature of elections for a long time.
Hisbulla with all this has supporters who celebrate his entry to parliament via national list.
This also shows that his political party ignores his actions.
What is it that makes him so indispensable so as to enable his entry via national list?
This is certainly NOT ‘good governance’.
Same goes for appointment of defeated candidates.
I hoped for a “clean” parliament – but my hopes have been in vain.
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Mussalman / August 22, 2015
Great article Mr. jawahir. No matter what party Hisbullah belongs to, if he and his thugs have resorted to violence against defenseless poor citizens and public servants doing their duty, then by all means take him out. It is that easy. Feed the bugger to the ISIS! Oh, I forgot, that may not work at all because this is the future Sri Lankan ISIS in the making.
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Pro-civilization / August 22, 2015
……”all because this is the future Sri Lankan ISIS in the making…..” Just
listen to these at this juncture:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjUXd4qW9mg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3lHueRXvh0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDyOcPdC_0Y
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Vetmahadeva / August 22, 2015
ON HIS Majesty’s Hisbullah has become his bull in Kattankudi, Baticoloa. If His Excellency overlooked his bully actions series right from the start of the election, and continued further coming into the national list of UPFA -faith in democracy will be shattered in the minds of the people of this area; never mind you recruited some lost candidates to strengthen your hold in the party, but this His-BULL appointment and continuing will not earn any respect for UPFA or SLFP in the region, remove him from the list and let the criminal law suit against him – wiser will prevail and it should be a guidance for all those became successful through the backdoor national list, – how to behave after they are drafted into grafted gift. Wiser should prevail to begin the GOOD GOVERNANCE by dealing legally against this HIS – BULL OF his own in Kattankudi, Batticoloa.
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Raj / August 22, 2015
It is to Ranil’s credit that the UNP refrained from allowing rejected candidates through the national list but MS has demonstrated that nothing has changed in UPFA. He is either a gutless leader or an opportunist who cannot be trusted. He sacked MR’s staunch supporters from the party in fear of MR influence, then appointed similar undesirables rejected by the voters to Parliament, obviously expecting their loyalty to safeguard his position.
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kumaran / August 22, 2015
My3 and RW, you lost perhaps a million votes because of the Central Bank issue and also not being decisive in matters of discipline. If your administration is make any head-way, ACT NOW. Do NOT allow this form of thugery.
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Vibhushana / August 22, 2015
As per “Good governance” the Police is responsible for inaction. The Police needs to submit a court order to take the guy into custody. A complaint must precede all this obviously.
The difference now is that higher up politicians will not interfere in Police discharging their duty.
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The Rogue Ayer / August 23, 2015
Vibhu,
“A complaint must precede all this obviously.”
My understanding is that according to the Police Ordinance every member of the police force has to stop crimes even without a complaint. If they don’t they are not doing their duty.
A complaint is not needed, for instance, to stop fighting in a mosque, throwing stones etc.
Note that this is the Police Ordinance from 1865.
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Mohamed / August 25, 2015
Seeking a complaint to act by the police is foolish. In that case how do they nab motorist without any complaint. the police is duty bound to act when they see some wrong in the society. I hope the yahapalan guys will put matters right
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Native Vedda / August 22, 2015
Vibhushana
“The difference now is that higher up politicians will not interfere in Police discharging their duty.”
Only when it suits them.
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gamini / August 22, 2015
I am appalled at the appointment of these candidates who have lost Public confidence. The sole purpose of an election is giving the public the right to reject any. If not why have an election but simply appoint the MPs the Party desires. Another case in point is of Thilanga Sumathipala from the National list of the UPFA. I trust all remember how Sumathipala’s side kick the underworld goon whom Sumathipala accompanied to the UK to see the matches, turned against Thilanga and gave evidence was murdered inside Hulftsdorp Court itself. Obviously at the behest of this Bookiepala fearing that Thilanga will be exposed. The assassin was caught and none seems to know what happened to the case? Thilanga is another Sajin Vass who robbed public funds to his heart’s content. Now these buggers are brought back and I can not understand the Logic of i
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Patriot / August 22, 2015
Sri Lanka is the only Country in the world where losers find a way to enter the August Assembly called ” Parliament” even after the defeat.I could not imagine why defeated candidates were again appointed by SLFP and UPFA chairman.It is indeed a disgraceful act and an insult to the voters of that Electorate/District.It is high time this nuisance should be deleted from the Any future amendments to the parliament.People’s (voters) wish is not implemented.
These appointments were like passing the students who have failed in the examination.We know the damages done by the quack doctors.
We are thoroughly disgusted just before we started our so called Yaha Palanaya.
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Razick / August 22, 2015
From what was stated in the above news item we have to wonder what the Commissioner of Election(EC) doing when all these things were taking place and after it was reported. Why EC has not taken any action when the election laws were violated.
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The Rogue Ayer / August 25, 2015
Razick,
“From what was stated in the above news item we have to wonder what the Commissioner of Election(EC) doing when all these things were taking place and after it was reported. Why EC has not taken any action when the election laws were violated.”
You are correct. What were the police and election monitors doing? Every DS was supposed to have a mobile monitoring patrol and all the polling places monitors and police.
Where is the documentation from all of them?
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Bruz / August 23, 2015
MR and his goons have spoiled the whole system and we still have a corrupt situation. It cannot be cleaned up overnight by any one. Even Mr clean RW or My3 cannot do much now , at this unsteady situation. Let them get strong enough to take serious action and deal with all the rotten evil things allowed by MR & Co to flourish. We have to give the present ruling coalition some time.
Ten years of messing up cannot be corrected in such a short time. Please be patient but show your displeasure when ever you have to. Remember, the government is still shaky and anything can happen with those evil vultures hoovering around to destabilize the government. Things will get better for sure by days to come. Let’s cooperate and give our full support to the new regime, which is absolutely a better one than what we had for the last ten lousy and painful years.
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The Rogue Ayer / August 23, 2015
Mohamed Jawahir,
Thank you for your article that clearly indicates that rule of law and good governance didn’t prevail in all areas of the country during and after the elections.
Apparently in this area the authorities did not manage to do their work properly. The reasons for this should be studied and the responsible public servants punished.
Why was this guy Hisbullah allowed to be a candidate?
“An Assistant Commissioner of Elections who went to inspect the scene at the last moment of the three day long ‘women convention’ was assaulted by his thugs.”
Why did the Assistant Commissioner of Elections only inspect the scene at the last moment? Were there no complaints? What did the monitors and police of the area do if the “convention” was not discovered before the last moment?
“The people called the police. But they were instructed to call 119 from a land phone and it took 2 hours to the police to reach the scene from a 1 km distance. No arrest has so far been made even though people have named the attackers.”
The police passivity should be have been recorded in the police log showing emergency call times and action. Phone records of the people who called the police must exist. The police responsible for the delay have to be punished. Did this election “hot spot” not have STF anywhere near it? People could have been killed.
If nothing happens to Mr Hisbullah, his thugs and the public servants neglecting their duties “good governance” has failed.
Can the election result of this area be accepted?
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The Rogue Ayer / August 23, 2015
The Sunday Island today has an article where the police partly disagree with the version of the events given by Mohamed Jawahir. The article also provides more background information. According to the police the STF arrived and the situation was not very serious. Six suspects have been arrested.
National Front for Good Governance (NFGG), a regional-based party aligned to Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) disagrees according to an anonymous activist.
http://island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=130436
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Minhaj Muhammad / August 23, 2015
This news is a hoax. The person who submitted this article is a high-profile member from an opposition party. A totally biased point of view. Actually it was just a clash between two religious groups. Nothing to do with Hizbullah. Please do some research before accepting this kind of misleading articles, Colombo Telegraph.
Read the truth here: http://island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=130436
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The Rogue Ayer / August 23, 2015
Minhaj Muhammed,
“This news is a hoax. The person who submitted this article is a high-profile member from an opposition party. A totally biased point of view. Actually it was just a clash between two religious groups. Nothing to do with Hizbullah. Please do some research before accepting this kind of misleading articles, Colombo Telegraph.”
CT and other media should try to confirm facts before publishing and they often don’t do this. In this case it might be best to wait for what the police and courts have to say. 6 persons have been arrested. What is their story if any?
The problem is that all of what happened is likely to 100% vanish from media attention in the usual way of SL.
What has happened to the accused in the Punguthivu rape&murder case and the related Jaffna court riot case?
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Mohamed Jawahir / August 23, 2015
It’s a pity to have people like Minhaj in our community. It is because of people like him only we have to struggle in this island to prove that Muslims possess good qualities. These nasty politicians in our community have set bad examples and have ruined the co – existence in this beautiful country for their political gains. The almighty God knows all.
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The Rogue Ayer / August 24, 2015
Mohamed Jawahir,
What bothers me is that not many seem to be interested in what happened. The fact that extra police including the STF was sent to the area before elections shows that the problems were known in advance. Why was not more done before, during and after the elections?
The comment from Minhaj Muhammed proves that people like him follow media and even social media. He replied fast. It is possible to influence people thru social media when we know that they read, reply and thus care.
I sincerelly hope that the victims make written police complaints and keep the heat on.
Please let us know of any progress. Thank you.
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Mohamed Jawahir / August 26, 2015
Thanks Rogue Ayer,
What bothers me is that not many seem to be interested in what happened. The fact that extra police including the STF was sent to the area before elections shows that the problems were known in advance. Why was not more done before, during and after the elections?
Yes, you got the point. STF was sent before election because the authorities had sensed the situation that awaited them. As far as I know, only in Kattankudy this much of election violence took place. After the incident police was deployed and still I could see a police bus in front of Hisbulla’s office. Around 16 of hisbullah supporters have been arrested I hear. I came to know that the person who was admitted to hospital with a serious head injury should have been hit in his head with a rod in which a nail like thing had been fixed at one end. (Now you may understand the motive). Things were that serious.
Complaints have been made, but brother, still, do you know anyone in Sri Lanka who can stick to good governance and take stern action? I earlier believed in MS but I am not now!!
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The Rogue Ayer / August 26, 2015
Mohamed Jawahir,
“Complaints have been made, but brother, still, do you know anyone in Sri Lanka who can stick to good governance and take stern action? I earlier believed in MS but I am not now!!”
Don’t give up hope yet. If 16 have been arrested some of them will tell the truth if questioned properly by the police. Then there should be a court case against the person who abetted the others.
This case needs maximum publicity so that my advice is that you try to keep it in the media.
I am also doubtful about how rule of law and good governance will be achieved despite the promises made. At the same time I understand that change needs time.
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Minhaj Muhammad / August 24, 2015
Mr. Mohamed Jawahir,
Can you reject the fact that you’re a high-profile member of PMGG (the party that opposes Mr. Hizbullah in Kattankudy)? You can’t. I know you personally. Don’t write this kind of misleading articles on a popular media website like Colombo Telegraph for your own political benefits. It is a sin.
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The Rogue Ayer / August 24, 2015
Minhaj Muhammad,
“Can you reject the fact that you’re a high-profile member of PMGG (the party that opposes Mr. Hizbullah in Kattankudy)? You can’t.”
What is wrong with opposing a politician? Are you maybe a supporter of Mr Hizbullah yourself?
“Don’t write this kind of misleading articles on a popular media website like Colombo Telegraph for your own political benefits.”
Can you please tell us which parts of the article are misleading and why?
There have been arrests, police complaints, accused in the court and victims in the hospital. Something went wrong in Kattankudy.
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Mohamed Jawahir / August 26, 2015
Minh,
Did I deny that at any point? How would you say that the article is misleading when around 16 of Hizbullah supporters are behind bars at the moment? Didn’t you notice Rauff Hakeem has said publicly that the OIC at Kattankudy Police has been partial and he must be transferred immediately? Do you still say that your boss Hisbullah is Mr.Clean? (lol)
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The Rogue Ayer / August 26, 2015
Mohamed Jawahir,
“Didn’t you notice Rauff Hakeem has said publicly that the OIC at Kattankudy Police has been partial and he must be transferred immediately?”
I have not seen this before but I am not surprised. I live far away but it looks like the local OIC, STF OIC, election department and monitors all should explain what went wrong.
Thanks for the information.
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baludeen / August 24, 2015
muslims killing each other..no wonder they are treated as animals all over the world
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