{"id":142197,"date":"2024-05-30T15:23:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-30T22:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=142197"},"modified":"2024-05-30T15:23:02","modified_gmt":"2024-05-30T22:23:02","slug":"is-sri-lankas-election-commission-compromised-after-visit-by-us-envoy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2024\/05\/30\/is-sri-lankas-election-commission-compromised-after-visit-by-us-envoy\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Sri Lanka\u2019s Election Commission \u201ccompromised\u201d after visit by US envoy?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shenali D Waduge<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n
\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An official tweet was released on 28 May 2024 by the outgoing US envoy highlighting a meeting held with members of Sri Lanka\u2019s election commission on the importance of voting in free & fair elections\u201d. Expectedly there is no response from Sri Lanka\u2019s Foreign Minister who we presume is in charge of all the diplomats & diplomatic protocols that all in the diplomatic community must abide by as per Geneva Diplomatic Protocols. Is the Foreign Minister tasked to protect the interests of Sri Lanka or the interest of other countries?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Needless to say, this meeting automatically takes our memories back to the time Britain\u2019s High Commissioner David Gladstone was unceremoniously declared persona non grata for interfering in local elections & packed off back to the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason \u2013 10 May 1991 Local Government Elections<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The incident \u2013 lodging a complaint at the Police Station about SLFP supporters being denied entering polling booth by UNP thugs at the Dickwella polling centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gladstone was given 10 days to leave Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ironically, Gladstone\u2019s next appointment ended up Ukraine!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ironically days later 21 May 1991 Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increasingly, we see diplomats not only visiting everywhere & anywhere they please without informing Sri Lanka\u2019s foreign office & having a member of the foreign office accompany them as was a practice in the past, envoys are crossing the line of diplomacy. Their interference\u201d has become a common occurrence. It may come to a point where people in positions begin to function according to the dictates of the diplomats than the politicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While, we can fault the diplomats and highlight their lack of diplomacy, the bigger fault lies in our own people who fail to see how such meetings can compromise their own position and the Independent role expected of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is little point brandishing a signboard INDEPENDENT\u201d if they do not function as an independent body. There is little point bragging about being independent\u201d if they do not act independent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If judges do not attend or mix & mingle with ordinary citizens in view of any conflict of interest, can they wine & dine with diplomats & hold regular meetings with them. Do their funding & training programs warrant loosening of that distance that should be kept?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exactly how independent\u201d are elections in the US for the US envoy to be concerned about free & fair elections in Sri Lanka?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elections were held for women in 1931 when US disenfranchised black people from voting. American blacks got to vote only in 1965 (black Americans have been voting only for 59 years!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While 20,000 Sri Lankan prisoners do not get voting rights because of a lethargy in arranging voting for them, the US by law denies 5.1million felons voting rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our concern regarding the meeting with the election commission follows a timeline of US meddling in elections of other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

US interference in foreign elections<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2015 Presidential Elections \u2013 Sri Lanka<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regime change in 2015 was jointly planned by the Indian intelligence & US to oust Mahinda Rajapakse\u2019s govt. It was this operation that presented a common candidate & a pro-US alliance that became the common opposition. Maithripala Sirisena was selected as the common candidate & won enabling a string of pro-US\/Indian decisions thereafter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

India appears to be copying everything US is doing as interference in UK\u2019s 2019 election by India was highlighted by Times of India with BJP supporters campaigning for the Conservative Party via whatsapp messages across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2002 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Bolivia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

US is said to have financed eradication of cocoa farms & warned voters not to vote for Evo Morales. USAID created a political party reform project\u201d with motive to create pro-US political parties camouflaged as pro-democracy\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1996 Presidential Election \u2013 Russia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

US assistance for Boris Yeltsin\u2019s election campaign is no secret. US had sent a team of campaign experts & were given an unlimited budget. US used their influence in IMF to grant Russia a $10.2billion loan to keep the Russian pro-US govt afloat. Though Yeltsin\u2019s inner circle misused the funds, IMF turned a blind eye. Many view the election as being rigged to Yeltsins advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1996 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Mongolia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NED (National Endowment for Democracy) is accused of helping unite several political parties, intellectuals, businessmen, students & other activists into a Democratic Union Coalition\u201d & given training in grassroot campaigning & membership recruiting. NED had also helped distribute 350,000 copies of a manifesto calling for private property rights, free press & foreign investment. The NED enemy was Mongolian People\u2019s Revolutionary Party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1992 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Albania<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

USAID, NDI, IRI provided anti-socialist political groups \u2013 funding, training & media support & US embassy publicly supported Albania\u2019s Democratic Party<\/strong>. According to Los Angeles Times, US also provided advisors & vehicles for their campaign & threatened to withhold aid<\/strong> <\/strong>if Socialist Party of Albania won the elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1990 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Czechoslovakia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

New York Times reveals NED $400,000 funding for pro-US political parties to buy computers, fax machines copiers for their campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1986 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Costa Rica<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IRI (International Republican Institute) supported the Social Christian Unity Party giving grants of $75,000, $100,000 & $145,000 for elections in 1986, 1987 & 1988 through the Association for the Defense of Liberty & Democracy in Costa Rica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1984 Presidential Elections \u2013 El Salvador<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington Post reveals US diplomatic pressure, media support & covert funding to the campaign of Jose Duarte.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1984 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Grenada<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investigative journalist Bob Woodward says CIA spent $675,000 on education & campaigns after the Grenada invasion in 1983 & used opinion polls to swing voters towarsd a pro-US candidate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1984, 1989 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Panama<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As per Manuel Noriega\u2019s trial, CIA & drug cartels funded the election campaign of Nicolas Vallarino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CIA is also accused of covertly campaigning to oust General Noriega from office. Radio & tv transmitters were given to opposition groups while US slapped sanctions on Panama after US failed coup in 1988.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1984 & 1990 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Nicaragua<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

US is accused of funding & bribing anti-Sandinista opposition leaders to boycott the 1984 elections.<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Funds also flowed to anti-Sandinista opposition groups to oust him from power in 1990.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1983 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Italy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Journalist Bob Woodward says CIA requested Saudi to spend $2m to assist a secret operation to prevent victory of the Italian Communist Party in 1983 elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1982 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Mauritius<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CIA is said to have given financial support to Ramgoolam\u2019s election campaign to defeat Anerood Jugnath thinking he would close Muauritian ports to US Navy as well as challenge Diego Garcia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1980 Presidential Election \u2013 Iran<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

US is accused of covertly supporting campaign of Ahmad Madani who later fled to US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japanese elections in 1952, 1855, 1958, 1960, 1963, 1967, 1969, 1972 & 1980<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CIA is accused of interfering in Japan\u2019s 1st<\/sup> elections, withholding details of the new US-Japan security treaty from public, funding the Liberal Party, later Liberal Democratic Party, CIA is accused of offering payments to Japan Socialist Party members to weaken potential anti-US campaigns, sending US advisors as US-based businessmen\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1955, 1958, 1987 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Laos<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

US State Dept documents reveal US funded the Royal Lao Army,  the Govt & provided food aid to villages to discourage them supporting communism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former CIA agent & US diplomat James Liley says we pumped a relatively large amount of money to politicians who would listen to our advice\u201d \u2013 CIA-friendly politicians won 54 out of 57 seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1971 Presidential Election \u2013 Vietnam<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

US is accused of running a number of covert operations to get Nguven Thieu elected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1970 Presidential Elections \u2013 Chile<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As per Church Committee, CIA supported the kidnapping of the Chilean Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Rene Schneider to prevent him confirming Allende as President<\/strong>. Kidnapping attempt failed & Schneider was shot & died 3 days later. US took pains to undermine Allendes presidency which paved way for his overthrow by coup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1966 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Bolivia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CIA had covertly funded groups that supported Gen. Barrientos for elections. Thereafter Che Guevara was killed in 1967.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1966 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Costa Rica<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

US supported Costa Rica\u2019s National Liberation Party<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1966 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Dominican Republic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

US State Dept Office of Historian documents reveal US support for Joaquin Balaguer \u2013 assistance cover advice, media, information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1964 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Bolivia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CIA had covertly financed media, political groups, trade unions, student groups, youth groups<\/strong> <\/strong>to ensure a pro-US government came to power. $1.150000 had been allocated over 3 years for this operation. US is said to have covertly funded Gen. Barrientos in the military coup of 1964.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1964 Presidential Elections \u2013 Chile<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

US govt is said to have given $2.6m to candidate Montalva who opposed Salvador Allende & to character assassinate Allende<\/strong>. The Church Committee in 1975 exposed US involvement<\/strong> in Chile\u2019s elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1964 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Somalia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

US is accused of covertly influencing elections & ensure officials were pro-West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1962 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Brazil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time Weiner\u2019s book Legacy of Ashes speaks of a plan by US President JFK & US envoy in Brazil Lincoln Gordon to spend $8m to swing the election & prepare for a military coup<\/strong> against President Goulart. The funding went to Brazilians who opposed Goulart<\/strong>. Goulart was deposed in 1964 by military coup which ruled Brazil till 1985.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1962 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Peru<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

US State Dept historians office reveals CIA funded the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance in 1962 & even supported the labor movement against President Alvarado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1960 Congo<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the victory of Patrice Lumumba, he was assassinated<\/strong> in a US-led covert operation in January 1961.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1959 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Nepal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CIA is accused of covertly assisting Koirala & Nepali Congress to win 1959 elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1958 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Guatemala<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CIA is accused of covertly aiding campaign of Jose Salazar to the tune of $97,000 to oust govt of Miguel Fuentes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1955 Presidential Election- Brazil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

US began educating\u201d Brazilians against communism\u201d & gave grants to parties that agreed to be pro-US<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1955 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Indonesia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CIA is accused of covertly giving $1m to Muslim political parties to cut support for Sukarno.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1953 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Philippines<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

US & CIA are accused of influencing the 1953 elections with candidates competing for US support. CIA agent Edward Lansdale is credited with running the campaign of Ramon Magsaysay to election victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1952 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Iran<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

US declassified documents in 2017 reveal US strategy to undermine Mohammad Mossadegh with CIA spending lots of money to get their 18 favorite candidates elected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1948 Parliamentary Elections \u2013 Italy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The US in alliance with the Roman Catholic Church is accused of funneling millions of dollars to the Christian Democracy Party & other parties to support the Popular Democratic Front to win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its upto the Sri Lankans to ask themselves whether US is also rolling out the same campaigns in Sri Lanka?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • How far has USAID, NED, NRI, IRI penetrated Sri Lankan society to influence their thinking & involved in grassroot campaigning?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Was IMF used in 2022?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Are US advisors, vehicles, equipment, social media training, media training being used?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • What are the campaigns that have been launched so far? How is US influencing surveys & opinion polls?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Are their US advisors\u201d posing as US investors\/businessmen?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Who are the politicians listening to US advice\u201d & are favorites\u201d of the US\/India<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Who are the politicians, political parties, student groups, youth movements, media, intellectuals, activists, trade unions, businessmen taking advice\u201d from US\/India?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Who are tasked & paid to character assassinate? Who else are getting covertly paid?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The US didn\u2019t need to kidnap the army general as in Chile, but a US-trained one was imported & made army commander after regime change in 2015!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    In looking at the timeline of US interference in numerous countries, their judiciary has remained somewhat out of any conflict of interest. However, can we say the same about Sri Lanka? The BASL scandal, the manner USAID is funding the legal system\u2019s administration & digitalization\u201d provides a clue to the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In such a scenario, what can we deduce from the US envoys meeting with the supposed to be independent\u201d election commission. Do commissions wish to be independent so they can be not answerable or questioned for such actions that can easily undermine the sovereignty of the nation as can be seen by the examples highlighted from open source material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Shenali D Waduge<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Shenali D Waduge An official tweet was released on 28 May 2024 by the outgoing US envoy highlighting a meeting held with members of Sri Lanka\u2019s election commission on the importance of voting in free & fair elections\u201d. Expectedly there is no response from Sri Lanka\u2019s Foreign Minister who we presume is in charge of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-142197","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shenali-waduge"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142197","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=142197"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142197\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=142197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=142197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}