Astro- poll portends bloodshed, turmoil

As a soothsayer warned Julius Caesar to beware the Ides of March, many wonder what the stars portend for this island nation as we brace ourselves for another bitterly-contested general election. 

Leading astrologers are united in their view that the country faces a period of turmoil and bloodshed in the run-up to the December 5 poll. There is little comfort too for the war-weary citizenry as the stargazers see no prospects of peace or an speedy end to the ethnic conflict, whoever should win the election.

And who would be the winner is the crucial question, The Sunday Times posed to a few 'experts' in the planetary orbit.

After much deliberation and detailed calculations, here are the answers they gave us.

Jayatissa Dharmadasa of Hewa Astrology Bureau:

This government will struggle back into power according to my chart worked out on the time of 7 a.m. December 5, when polling would commence. This is the horary time (thath kaalaya) and the chart indicates Scorpio. 

Sun and Mercury are in parallel positions in rapt conjunction in the First House, with Venus also in the same house. Kethu is in the Second House, Mars in the Fourth, Saturn in the Seventh, Jupiter and Rahu in the Eighth and Moon in the Ninth. . 

It is a major period of Saturn and sub-period of Moon which will continue till mid-May 2002.

This is favourable to the present government which will be returned with a small majority amidst many obstacles. Thaniyama ba (they can't go it alone). Hence the stars indicate an alliance.

After mid-May next year, the sub-period becomes Mars. Mars being in the Fourth House denotes the strengthening of the opposition. There is a possibility of the opposition then becoming more powerful and throwing in their lot with the government. 

There are strong indications of more foreign investment flowing into the country during this period. 

The country may also see new and tougher laws being enforced. Neethi venas venewa. Daradandu paalanayak. (No room for people to play the fool, laws will be strictly enforced). There will be a more disciplined society.

From November 22 to December 15, the positions of Mars, Uranus and Moon are conjoined in Capricorn and this forebodes a critical period for the country. There could be much violence and unexpected disturbances.

A woman astrologer (name withheld on request):

The Greens will gain prominence, but with only a marginal edge. There will be a big tussle before the winner is declared, but it will be the UNP for sure. 

The JVP will not gain significantly, possibly only winning a maximum of 12 seats. There are maaraka (danger) for at least two leaders from among those in the political arena and a time of instability for the country, with the possibility of strikes indicated. Poverty will worsen with the cost of living being an increased burden on the people.

The grim situation could improve slightly after February 17, 2002 with the likelihood of a joint PA/UNP alliance. There is a glimmer of hope for the country after July 27, 2002.

Peace will remain a distant dream until 2015. 

Wilfred Gunasekera:

My calculations are based on the planetary positions on nomination day (October 27) and election day (December 5).

The present government will continue with a smaller majority. I see much violence before the polls and imminent danger for two or three leading politicians. 

An alliance will be needed to rule the country because under the present Constitution no party can gain a clear majority. The JVP will make further inroads into the political scene gaining between 12-15 seats.

Sri Lankans are not fortunate to have a leader like Lee Kuan Yew (former President of Singapore). 

An amateur astrologer (name withheld on request):

From October 17 to December 15, the coun try will face a lot of violence. Most astrologers have drawn up Sri Lanka's chart based on the time that our first Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake raised the Sri Lankan flag when the country gained independence in February, 1948. According to this, the country's star sign is Aquarius

However, I believe that Sri Lanka's chart is Leo, based on the time the documents ceding independence were signed in Whitehall.

If one looks at the 1959 assassination of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, the 1958 riots and even the 1983 riots analytically, one has to come to the conclusion that Sri Lanka's chart is not Aquarius but Sinha. 

The lord of Leo is the Sun and from mid-July to mid-August this year, Sun was in the Twelfth House of Cancer. It was a time of weakness for the government as proven by the Katunayake attack.

From October 17 to November 16, Sun was in the Third House of Libra which is neecha or debilitated. Therefore, the government was weak. 

From November 16 to December 15, Sun is in Scorpio, from November 30, Mars is in Aquarius and from November 15 to 30, Saturn continues in Taurus. 

Saturn aspects Scorpio on November 30, with Mars moving to Aquarius. Then Sun, Mars and Saturn are in quadrant houses that is evil for the country. During this time, there will be unexpected eruptions of violence.

My prediction is that the People's Alliance will be returned to power. 

After drought, political devastation

By Chris Kamalendran and Nilika de Silva in Hambantota

The relief baskets being generously distributed contained two 10 kilo bags of rice, flour, milkfood, Sugar, and Dhal.

Struggling under the weight of her parcels Kanthi, told us this was the first time she was receiving dry rations as drought relief and she was pleasantly surprised though also less pleasantly aware of some hidden agenda. Until today she had received only rice. 

Now the drought is over but the relief had come, "I know why this has suddenly come at this time," she said grinning showing the general sarcasam among the common people over the same old and now sometimes stupid games politicians play.

Outside the Co-operative shop at Nettolpitiya on Tissa Road, in Hambantota bicycles and hand tractors were parked and the crowds were clamouring as they awaited their turn to collect the drought relief bonanzas.

The farmers and farming families comprising upto 75 percent of poverty stricken Hambantota are still having a rough time in the aftermath of the drought with their fields still unproductive or dead. With three harvests having failed they are now anxiously waiting for the anticipated rainfall next month to salvage the coming Maha season. 

With their eyes on the weather the people don't have much time for politics. But tension caused by political terror is showing signs of holding the district to ransom for some party to clinch the December 5 election.

Minister Mahinda Rajapakse the PA political commander in the district alleges that an imaginary terror psychosis is being created by rival candidate UNPer Sajith Premadasa whose house was shot at on Monday night. But Mr. Premadasa says he has lost faith in the police, the political structure and other mechanisms except the people. 

Last Monday night usually unidentified gunmen shot at the former president's son's house when his wife Jalani was near the gate. The Premadas's claimed the police had taken a suspiciously long 45 minutes to come to the scene.

On Wednesday when we went to Hambantota for an on the spot investigation, DIG D.W. Prathapasinghe had called a meeting of party leaders in the area for crisis talks on the escalating violence. 

Forty-nine incidents had been reported upto Wednesday - 9 cases of assault, 10 threats, 28 instances of arson, and two cases of robbery connected to the election campaign.

Minister Rajapakse attended the meeting but an angry Mr. Premadasa only sent a lawyer while the JVP was represented by Nihal Galappaththi.

Mr. Galappaththi challenged the DIG, asking whether he was in a position to give an assurance that what happened at last year's elections would not happen again.

Going to the people we heard complaint after complaint that police were unwilling to record statements let alone making investigations, when incidents of violence were reported.

Hambantota resident Ananda Perera charged that vehicles carrying spies were regularly doing the rounds of the area keeping a check on what people were saying or doing. Apparently hesitant or fearful to speak Mr. Perera asked us to leave as soon as possible saying, "Onna denuth mehata oththu balanna enava". 

As we toured the area we saw that blue and red decorations were very much in evidence while there was a remarkable shortage of green. Most of the red was from the JVP but the party's campaign was as usual on a low profile.

The district of Hambantota sends seven members to Parliament and top names in the race include Mr. Rajapakse, Mr. Premadasa, Mr. Galappaththi along with Ananda Kularatne and Chamal Rajapakse.

Last year the UNP won four seats , the PA two and the JVP one.

Mr. Premadasa who won a huge preference vote last year said he believed he was the prime target of rival parties.

Desperate election officials are trying to do their best in a bad situation. Returning officer Ananda Amaratunga said they were urgently seeking more police personnel to restore order.

He said he was concerned because the situation last year was much calmer with only a few incidents before the elections in contrast to what was happening now.

His concern was echoed by trader Mohamed Farook who has worked in Hambantota for several decades and seen the election campaigns of the fathers of some of the present day candidates. 

"It was never so bad. We never had such fear and tension," he warned.

Not political but personal

While PA supporters said it was a political killing by UNPers, some of the victim's family members and friends said they believed it was more a personal matter. 

The victim's brother G.G. Jayasekera said he was unaware of political connections in the November 12 shooting. 

H.M.G. Chandrasena and K. Jayaweera childhood friends of the victim said they did not know the motive for the killing but they believed it was not political. Investigations by The Sunday Times indicated the killing might be linked to a previous killing in Beliatte.

JVP wants people friendly police

District leader Nihal Galappaththi asked "if the police don't give us justice where do we go?"

He cited the case of Angunukolapelassa Sub Inspector Silva who he claimed had carried out his duties impartially during the last elections but was transferred.

"What we require is not a JVP Police, a UNP Police, or a PA Police but a Sri Lanka Police, who will be people friendly rather than party friendly.

Stressing that even during an election it is humanity that is most important, Mr. Galappaththi said, "Rather than kill a supporter of another party or have our own killed, it would be better to cut our stomachs and die."

Mahinda shootsdown 'celluloid' incidents

"He appears to have a well planned strategy. He is trying create a scenario of violence and make this another Wayamba," Mr. Rajapakse charged.

Claiming that his supporters were being harassed by Mr. Premadasa's thugs brought down from other parts of the country, the Minister said the problem with his people of Hambantota was that they did not wish to go to the police". 

Alleging that most of the violence was coming from the Premadasa camp, Mr. Rajapakse warned "I only see one alternative, but we haven't started yet". 

He claimed Mr. Premadasa's personal popularity was on the decline and therefore he was trying to concoct stories to revive his popularity.

"He is going to create a lot of terror in the final two weeks. His camp might get two people killed, either his own people or ours," the minister charged.

Scoffing at reports that his supporters had shot at Premadasa's wife Jalani, Minister Rajapakse said, "This is a joke".

"You don't even find it in Hindi films. Not even in Superman, where people shoot at such close range and miss their target," he said sarcastically adding "We sure have people who can't shoot." 

Explaining the incident where some UNP supporters had allegedly being stripped Mr. Rajapakse said the village boys had done something like that because those supporters had come from areas outside the district.

Sajith calls for the army

Mr. Premadasa hammered the police saying he had lost faith in them and he believed that an independent brigade of the army should step in to provide security.

"I heard that Mr. Rajapakse had a lunch for the OIC's and allegedly told them not to accept any complaints,"Mr. Premadasa charged. 

"They hammer our supporters and tear down our posters.In Mr. Rajapakse's motorcade, there's one unmarked vehicle which comes right at the back and does the attacking," he alleged.

Saying he did not want a conflict with armed morons Mr. Premadasa asked "Do You think I want to face the fate of Nalanda Ellawala ?"

Responding to Minister Rajapakse's allegation that he was concocting an imaginary scene of terror he asked, "Why should I ? It's to my disadvantage to do so. I'm not a lunatic. The greater the voter turn out, the better for me." 

Denying counter allegations by the PA camp that he was destroying polls decorations, Mr. Premadasa said "It's so ludicrous and preposterous. Why then has the Asgiriya Mahanayake asked them to stop." 

Mr. Premadasa said there has been no investigation regarding the shooting incident which took place early this week near his gate. His wife Jalani was close to the spot where the firing took place. "They placed a road block near my house, then they moved the road block down the road," he said.