Most incidents of election violence directed towards UNP -PAFFREL

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 May 2008, 15:10 GMT]
Commenting on the sharp rise in the incidents of election related violence in the East Peoples Action for Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL), a monitoring group has stated that so far Forty one complaints of election related violence have been reported from the three districts in the East.

Excerpts from the press release follow:

“Many of the candidates contesting in the forthcoming Provincial elections have been making use of their supporters and indulging in a series of election related violence in order to disrupt the election laws and regulations. The highest number of such incidents was recorded in Ampaa'rai district.

“We now learn that a significant number of election related violence have been happening in Batticaloa district too and according to reports reaching PAFFREL, most of these incidents involve the supporters of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC). Many of these acts of violence are directed against the candidates of United National Party (UNP).

“Though police have been notified of these incidents no action has been taken to put an end to such activities. If peaceful and fair elections are to be held, the officers in charge of the security should discharge their duties effectively. Otherwise the elections in the east cannot be held in the proper manner," the press release added.

Meanwhile, according to the latest figures released by the police complaints regarding at least 55 incidents of violence related to the forthcoming provincial elections have been lodged at various police stations in Eastern province.

The highest number of incidents was recorded in Ampaa'rai district where police have been notified of 27 violent incidents. In Batticaloa 18 complaints have been received while 10 incidents were reported in Trincomalee.

Meanwhile, the police said it would deploy about 10,000 police personnel in the east for election duty to curb violence and maintain law and order during the election period and on the polling day.

A top level meeting will be convened by the Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Dissanayake with election officials in the Eastern province in Colombo Monday to assess the overall situation and the polls related arrangements made by the Department of Elections in the region. sources in Colombo said.

Commissioner Dissanayake will brief senior election officials from the districts of Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampaa’rai on the arrangements that were in place to hold the Provincial Council polls in the East on May 10 where around one million voters are expected to cast their votes, informed sources said.

Election campaign which began with the submission of nominations for the polls on March 13, will end on May 7 midnight.

The provincial elections for Eastern Province is scheduled to be held 10 May.