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Large scale misuse of state property during elections

The President has failed to maintain the decorum expected of her to prevent or minimise the abuse of State resources in violation of election laws, resulting in large-scale damage to public property, the Program for Protection of Public Property of the Institute of Human Rights (PPP\IHR) has revealed.

"The seriousness of the PA's violations and the attitude of politicians are reflected in the absolute disregard for laws and regulations by PA Cabinet Ministers exercising enormous powers including the show of firearms. The President has failed to maintain the decorum expected," PPP\IHR reveals in a series of special reports.

This unlawful usage of State resources has affected the conduct of a free and fair election.

The six PPP reports based on independent inquiries conducted by a team of private detectives hired by PPP/IHR with inputs from the public have already been sent to the Commissioner of Elections, the Commission on Bribery and Corruption and the Auditor General.

However, the PPP\IHR have expressed their concern that despite the submission of a communique to the Police Chief, highlighting the 'criminal nature' of these acts and misuse of state property and machinery with detailed accounts "no response has been received from the Police Chief todate."

According to the PPP\IHR, some of the more apparent and striking violations up to 4.00 p.m. on December 5, 2001, include the use of vehicles belonging to the Ministries and Departments of Education and Higher Education, Health, Mahaweli Development and Parliamentary Affairs, Urban Development and Fisheries, the Petroleum Corporation, Cooperative Wholesale Establishment, Urban Development Authority and the National Lotteries Board, for PA election propaganda.

These vehicles were used without number plates by introducing false and garage numbers with the blessings of the political leadership and certain police personnel, the organisation points out.

Other 'acts of abuse' instigated by the PA constitute the use of state buildings, utilisation of public resources for PA propaganda materials and costly advertisements in newspapers.

They also note that military resources were used to bolster the PA image through the distribution of PA leaflets to Army personnel in the North hours before postal voting began.

The use of the services of public servants and employees of public corporations, recruitment of employees and the release of these employees for election propaganda activities and the deployment of the Presidential Security division personnel are some of the other election violations highlighted by PPP/IHR.

Their Final Report is to be released within the next three weeks.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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