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| Wednesday, 31 March 2004 |
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by Nadira Gunatilleke A group of ex-People's Action For Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) employees accused PAFFREL Chairman Kingsley Rodrogo of sacking PAFFREL workers who did not agree to support the UNP. They also claimed that 53 PAFFREL employees were deprived of EPF and ETF. The group has complained to the Elections Commissioner and the Labour Commissioner in this regard. At a press briefing at Hotel Nippon, Colombo, yesterday, the employees said it is important to reveal the true face of the PAFFREL to the public as it says it claims to stand for democracy. "We call this press conference as a group of civilians who love this country and its people. The PAFFREL worked for this country sincerely for about 15 years and its services were significant". But two days after the President called the Parliamentary General Election 2004, PAFFREL Chairman Kingsley Rodrigo had called a special meeting for the employees and told them that if peace should be continued the country needs a UNP Government. "He said there will be no peace if the UPFA comes to power as the JVP and the SLFP had two different ideas on the peace process. He pointed out that all PAFFREL projects depended on the peace process and if peace is lost all PAFFREL employees would lose jobs. Afterwards, we withdrew from election monitoring but continued with other projects," they added. "Rodrigo wants to hold the election in LTTE held areas. He has stated several times that even if the UPFA wins, the UNP could form a Government with the help of the TNA which may win about 20 seats. We have been instructed to fill a special form related to election violence after the election. The observers have already been given instructions to state that the reason for election violence is the President's decision to hold snap polls. If the UPFA wins, arrangements have already been made to produce reports stating that the election had been rigged". They stated that PAFFREL received US $ 600,000. "Funds have already been allocated and everything was finalised when the organisation received this money. Therefore nobody knows the purpose for which this money will be used. There are several irregularities in the manner that PAFFREL has handled funds received from foreign donors for different types of projects related to peace. PAFFREL completes all one year projects within a few months and saves funds to be spent over the second half of these projects. But nobody knows what happens to these funds as these projects are never completed." The group of ex-employees were the National Coordinator, PAFFREL, R.T.N.Lasantha Kumara, Anuradhapura-Polonnaruwa Cordinator, Dharmawansha Liyanage, Hambantota-Moneragala Coordinator. |
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