Military

DATE=03/01/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-313701

TITLE=SRI LANKA BUDDHIST ELECTIONS (L-ONLY)

BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA

DATELINE=NEW DELHI

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Dozens of Buddhist monks are contesting next month's general elections in Sri Lanka in a bid to become an influential political force. But as Anjana Pasricha reports, their plunge into politics has drawn fire from several quarters in the predominantly Buddhist country.

TEXT: Red-robed monks chanted prayers and made offerings to Buddha as they launched their election campaign Tuesday in the historic temple town of Kelaniya, on the outskirts of the capital Colombo.

About 260 Buddhist monks are vying for Parliament's 225 seats under the banner of the National Heritage Party. The elections will be April 2nd.

They vow to cleanse politics, to establish what they call a "righteous state," and to protect the rights of the country's Sinhalese community, which makes up 70 percent of the population.

Buddhist monks oppose granting concessions to Sri Lanka's minority Tamil community, which is Hindu. They are severely critical of efforts to end a two-decade long conflict with Tamil rebels by granting more autonomy to Tamil-dominated areas.

The government and the rebels have agreed to pursue a federal model to end the separatist war, which began with complaints of discrimination against the Tamils by the Sinhalese.

Rohan Edresinghe, a political analyst at Colombo's Center for Policy Alternatives, says Buddhist monks have traditionally held a hard-line stand toward the Tamil rebels.

/// EDRESINGHE ACT ///

They would probably start off by questioning whether Sri Lanka has an ethnic conflict, they would argue that Sri Lanka has just a terrorist problem. They would argue that there is nothing wrong in the majority community having certain advantages in the political and constitutional makeup of the country because they would argue that by virtue of being a majority, the majority is entitled to certain rights and privileges.

/// END ACT ///

President Chandrika Kumaratunga has blasted the monks for their decision to enter the electoral fray, calling it "horrible." She told The Hindu newspaper that clergy from any religion should have nothing to do with politics.

Mr. Edresinghe says Sri Lanka's Buddhist clergy have always had some involvement in politics, but the monks' decision to enter the campaign is controversial.

/// INSERT EDRESINGHE ACT ///

More orthodox Buddhists would have serious reservations about Buddhist monks actually coming forward at an election as political candidates.

/// END ACT ///

The monks are unfazed by the criticism, and say they expect to win enough seats to acquire an influential voice in Parliament. Political analysts say if that happens, it is likely to complicate the fragile peace process between the government and the rebels. (signed)

NEB/HK/MK/KPD