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| Wednesday, 31 March 2004 |
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| UPFA says acts of violence against it on the increase by Uditha Kumarasinghe The United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) yesterday said acts of election related violence have been reported against UPFA supporters countrywide and according to information received these violent acts are to escalate in the next 48 hours. According to the UPFA, certain Policemen were acting in a partisan manner creating an environment for the UNP to launch a wave of violence against UPFA supporters. The UPFA categorically stated that the Elections Commissioner should directly intervene and provide guidelines to control the rapidly deteriorating situation. The Freedom Alliance urges the President and Elections Commissioner to deploy Armed forces to augment Police security in identified trouble spots. The UNP in the face of its impending defeat was attempting to create a violent situation in a large number of electorates. "We call upon the Police to immediately intervene to control this situation," UPFA Secretary Susil Premajayanth told a media briefing yesterday. He said Police have arrested nine underworld figures with a live grenade at Matale who had been hired to cause harm to Matale district UPFA leader Janaka Bandara Tennakoon. According to Premajayanth they have been carrying out a contract for a UNP politician in the area. These underworld thugs had also been given lodgings at the Laggala and Dambulla rest houses. Another six thugs who are still at large are roaming in Dambulla, he said. Premajayanth said:" If a complaint is made against someone under the Offensive Weapons Act, he should be immediately produced before the court. However, the Police has not yet conducted any investigation in this regard." Meanwhile, a number of shooting incidents have been reported from Mawathagama in the Kurunegala district. These incidents have been launched by the supporters of a local UNP politician in order to frighten the Freedom Alliance supporters. In addition, three Freedom Alliance supporters at Hiriyala have been reportedly killed, he said. He said the UNP commenced election campaign in a situation where it could not attract it's supporters. The crowd attendance at UNP meetings held under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe clearly indicates the failure of the UNP to attract people towards their campaign. Massive crowds participated in many provincial level rallies organised by the Freedom Alliance compared to the UNP national level rallies. "Out of the 22 districts, the Freedom Alliance will win in more than 18 districts. At present the number of targeted seats of the Alliance has increased to 125 Premajayanth said adding that people from all fields were acting with firm determination for the victory of the Alliance," he said. JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa said at present the UNP was in a demented state in the face of its defeat. The intention of the UNP is to create a violent situation throughout the country within the next two days. Compared to previous elections, election laws are being strictly enforced this time. Bringing the Armed forces and Police under the purview of the President has directly contributed to this situation. Therefore, the UNP has failed to launch its violence as planned, he said. Weerawansa said at present the UNP campaign has descended to low levels. The UNP through its lawyers had gone before the Colombo Magistrate Courts seeking the arrest of JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe. This kind of low tactics shows the UNP's was unable to bear its defeat. He said nearly 16,000 government employees have not been able to cast their postal votes. The necessary arrangements have not been made in several places for the public servants to cast their postal votes. "We request the Elections Commissioner to make the necessary arrangements which will allow these Government employees to cast their vote. This is the first time that nearly 50 per cent of the postal votes have not yet been cast. Therefore if these 16,000 voters lost their opportunity to cast their postal vote before the General Election, the Elections Commissioner should take the entire responsibility for it," he said. President's Counsel M.M.Zuhair said in a situation where continuous allegations are made against the private media, the appointment of a competent Authority only for the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) and Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) was a negation of a free and fair poll. Before the appointment of a Competent Authority, the Elections Commissioner should have given a warning to the Heads of the SLRC and SLBC on how to conduct their functions. According to Section 104 (B) of the Constitution the private media are also bound to provide a fair media coverage. The Elections Commissioner has not yet effectively responded to these matters relating to private media institutions, he said. "Therefore the appointment of a Competent Authority only for SLRC and SLBC at this critical time is unfair and it is a violation of the freedom of expression of State media institutions," he said. |
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