Now that the campaigning for the presidential election has ended, there are some areas of concern that needs to be flagged. Election violence is an old phenomenon that we are used to. What concerns us here are some new features which we have not seen at previous elections. The most serious concern is that misinformation, falsehoods and plain lies have probably played a bigger role at this election than at any previous election since universal franchise was introduced into this country. The use of modern means of communication such as websites, text messages and anonymous emails to disseminate lies and rumours raises concerns about the form future election campaigns may take.
The main culprit in this is the opposition. Although the government is guilty of using the state owned media exclusively for their campaign and not giving the opposition even a look in (literally!), this problem can be easily solved by privatizing the state owned media organizations. But the misuse of websites and emails to disseminate falsehoods and misinformation cannot be controlled, and is potentially a danger to the future of democracy in this country.
Elements obviously connected to the opposition first began to drum up resentment against the government by circulating rumours to the effect that the Rajapakse family had been buying up prime properties in the country with their ill-gotten gains. The properties mentioned were landmarks in Colombo and the outstations. Among them were the land on which the Australian High Commission once stood, a large property on Balapokuna Road in Colombo 5, the Tangalle Bay Hotel, Lalitha Hotel in Matara, the Lighthouse Hotel, the Fortress Hotel and many other such properties. Through this, resentment was created at what was supposed to be unjust enrichment of the first family. All these accusations were completely false, but since nobody scotched these rumours early on, the middle class was scandalized and resentment was created.
Misinformation
Along with the rumours of property purchases went anonymous emails and more rumours to the effect that the actual costs of the very visible mega infrastructure projects started during the Rajapakse regime, were heavily inflated so as to fill the pockets of the Rajapakses. Bogus figures relating to the costs of the infrastructure projects were circulated. The lies began to feed on one another and multiply. Later, all these bogus figures relating to corrupt deals were collated into one document which mentioned a colossal figure of 430 billion lost due to the corruption of the Rajapakses. Still later, calculations began to be made that if this ill gotten wealth could be recovered, the salaries of public servants could be increased and various other things done with the money. What we thus saw was the construction of a mountain of lies within a few months. What began as anonymous emails later became official propaganda of the opposition, even being quoted by opposition parliamentarians on talk shows.
for more: http://www.island.lk/2010/01/24/politics1.html
The main culprit in this is the opposition. Although the government is guilty of using the state owned media exclusively for their campaign and not giving the opposition even a look in (literally!), this problem can be easily solved by privatizing the state owned media organizations. But the misuse of websites and emails to disseminate falsehoods and misinformation cannot be controlled, and is potentially a danger to the future of democracy in this country.
Elements obviously connected to the opposition first began to drum up resentment against the government by circulating rumours to the effect that the Rajapakse family had been buying up prime properties in the country with their ill-gotten gains. The properties mentioned were landmarks in Colombo and the outstations. Among them were the land on which the Australian High Commission once stood, a large property on Balapokuna Road in Colombo 5, the Tangalle Bay Hotel, Lalitha Hotel in Matara, the Lighthouse Hotel, the Fortress Hotel and many other such properties. Through this, resentment was created at what was supposed to be unjust enrichment of the first family. All these accusations were completely false, but since nobody scotched these rumours early on, the middle class was scandalized and resentment was created.
Misinformation
Along with the rumours of property purchases went anonymous emails and more rumours to the effect that the actual costs of the very visible mega infrastructure projects started during the Rajapakse regime, were heavily inflated so as to fill the pockets of the Rajapakses. Bogus figures relating to the costs of the infrastructure projects were circulated. The lies began to feed on one another and multiply. Later, all these bogus figures relating to corrupt deals were collated into one document which mentioned a colossal figure of 430 billion lost due to the corruption of the Rajapakses. Still later, calculations began to be made that if this ill gotten wealth could be recovered, the salaries of public servants could be increased and various other things done with the money. What we thus saw was the construction of a mountain of lies within a few months. What began as anonymous emails later became official propaganda of the opposition, even being quoted by opposition parliamentarians on talk shows.
for more: http://www.island.lk/2010/01/24/politics1.html
