{"id":340,"date":"2019-11-13T05:34:08","date_gmt":"2019-11-13T05:34:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/?p=340"},"modified":"2022-02-21T10:10:00","modified_gmt":"2022-02-21T10:10:00","slug":"fact-check-second-preference-vote-for-gota-or-sajith-hisbullah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/fact-check-second-preference-vote-for-gota-or-sajith-hisbullah\/","title":{"rendered":"Second Preference Vote for Gota ? Sajith ? – Hisbullah"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Social media streams were abuzz on 3rd November with a statement that claimed Former Governor of Eastern Province Dr. M.L.A.M Hizbullah had stated that his second preference vote should be given to Gotabya Rajapaksa. Number of Facebook users and pages had shared this news since there were already rumors that M.L.A.M Hizbullah is only contesting as a dummy contestant and the real agenda behind his candidacy for the elections is to ensure support for SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below is one of such instances where a Facebook page called \u201cPolitics \u0db4\u0dd2\u0dc3\u0dca\u0dc3\u0dcf<\/strong>\u201d among many others <\/strong>had shared this news with a screenshot of the Sunday Observer online edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Facebook Link<\/strong><\/a><\/td>Archived Link<\/strong><\/a><\/td>Facebook Link 2<\/strong><\/a><\/td>Archived Link 2<\/strong><\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

These claims were revisited when some users shared a video of Hisbullah claiming he is a \u201c\u0dbb\u0dcf\u0da2\u0db4\u0d9a\u0dca\u0dc2 \u0dc4\u0dd4\u0dbb\u0dad\u0dbd\u0dcf\u201d translating to \u201cRajapaksa Pet\u201d and that he had indeed quoted as saying to cast second vote for Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Whereas few others quoting similar video content mentioned \u201c\u0dc4\u0dd2\u0dc3\u0dca\u0db6\u0dd4\u0dbd\u0dca\u0dbd\u0dcf\u0d9c\u0dda \u0dc3\u0dc4\u0dcf\u0dba\u0dad\u0dca \u0dc3\u0da2\u0dd2\u0dad\u0dca\u0da7… \u0db8\u0dd9\u0db1\u0dca\u0db1 \u0dc3\u0dcf\u0d9a\u0dca\u0dc2\u0dd2!\u201d translating to \u201cHisbullah supports Sajith \u2013 here\u2019s the proof\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Facebook Video Link<\/a> <\/td> Facebook Video Link<\/a> <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

Since there are multiple claims stating Hisbullah had requested to vote for both Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Sajith Premadasa we decided to do a fact-check on these claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fact Check <\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since it was a newspaper article which had been the root cause of all the social media posts we decided to have a look at the original news published by the Sunday Observer as shown below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sundayobserver.lk article<\/a><\/td>Archived Link<\/a><\/td>Epaper Observer<\/a><\/td>Archived Link<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

The article claimed that \u201cLaunching his manifesto last Monday (28th October) Presidential candidate M L A M Hizbullah called for his voters to cast their second preferential vote in favour of Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the November 16 poll, appearing to confirm speculation that the Eastern Province strongman was being fielded at the behest of the SLPP\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Since MLAM Hizbullah is usually quite active on social media with many of his speeches being broadcast live on his official Facebook page we decided to have a closer look at the statements he had made during the launch of his manifesto. Below is the Facebook live video of the same<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Facebook Live (MLAM Hisbullah Manifesto launch)<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

In this presidential candidate MLAM Hisbullah speaks from 77th<\/sup> minute to 130th<\/sup> minute. We listened to this entire speech and were not able to find a place where, he specifically mentioned to cast second preferential vote for Gotabaya Rajapaksa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However in this lengthy speech, MLAM Hisbullah had spoken about casting second preferential vote using example like A & B without mentioning any individual names. Also in his speech, Hisbullah mentioned that the Muslim community were attacked many times during past four and half years hence to think carefully before choosing to cast the second preferential vote. Hence he requested the gathering to cast the second vote to which ever candidates\u2019 manifesto which addressed the Muslim community needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below is an extract from MLAM Hisbullah Manifesto where he elaborates on one instance about the Muslim community.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MLAM Hisbullah Manifesto (Sinhala)<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

Follow up to the article and the Social Media posts we had noticed a video released by the Dr. MLAM Hizbullah<\/a> official Facebook page in which Attorney Ajantha Lakmal and Hiraz Hisbullah commented after filing a formal complaint at the Election Commission condemning the statement made by Sunday Observer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Facebook Link \u2013 Complain at EC<\/strong><\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, we came across a twitter statement made by Lisa Fuller, including a voice recording said to be of MLAM Hisbullah, who appears to be stating in response to a question that it is “completely false” and “we never informed anyone that we were going to support a particular candidate.” Tweet is shown below <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hizbullah denies Sunday Observer story that he told voters to cast their 2nd vote for Gota in #PresPollSL<\/a>, saying it is "completely false" and "we never informed anyone that we were going to support a particular candidate."https:\/\/t.co\/qcIgKQRXfR<\/a>#lka<\/a> #SriLanka<\/a> #presspollSL<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Nc37wopPCX<\/a><\/p>— Lisa Fuller (@gigipurple) November 3, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>