|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Thursday, 1 April 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Politics | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
| 540 Major incidents The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence, in its interim report on the General Election 2004 issued yesterday states, that of a cumulative total of 1485 incidents, 540 (36.4%) have been classified as Major Incidents. The highest number of incidents of violence, both Major and Minor have been recorded in the Colombo District (152 or 10%). The highest number of major incidents have been recorded in the Digamadulla District (56 or 10.4%) followed by the Kurunegala District with 55 or 10.2% and Puttalam with 44 or 8.1%. The highest number of Murders has been in the Batticaloa District with 4 or 80% of all Murders. The highest number of complaints have been made by UPFA (726 or 49%). The party which has been identified in the most number of complaints as the Alleged perpetrator is the UNF (714 or 48%). The corresponding statistic with regard to Major Incidents only, is the UNF (286 or 53%). The largest number of complaints made against the UNF has been by the UPFA - 547 or 75% of all complaints made by the UPFA. The UNF has made 266 complaints against the UPFA or a total of 66% of all complaints made by the UNF. The Police have lodged 224 or 15% of all complaints made. Of these 89 each or 39.8% are against the UPFA and UNF respectively. The largest number of complaints made against the UNF has been by the UPFA - 547 or 75% of all complaints made by the UPFA. The UNF has made 266 complaints against the UPFA or a total of 66% of all complaints made by the UNF. The Police have lodged 224 or 15% of all complaints made. Of these 89 each or 39.8% are against the UPFA and UNF respectively. With regards the North and East, the C.M.E.V. report states the situation in the North and East have been a special area of focus in our work. In the North, we are extremely disturbed by reports that the TNA supported by the North, by the LTTE has made it virtually impossible for other Tamil parties and groups to carry on with a campaign. We have received many reports of attacks and intimidation of supporters of Mr. Anandasangaree of the TULF and of members of the EPDP and reiterate that in such an environment, conducting a free and fair election in the Jaffna district remains extremely doubtful. In the East, we have seen five murders - a UNF candidate Mr. S. Sunderampillai, an EPDP member Mr. P. Rajendran, SLMC supporter Mr. Haldeen Sana, TNA candidate Mr. R. Sathiyamoorthi and TNA supporter Mr. Kangasabai. CMEV condemns these murders. We note that in none of these cases have any of the assailants been apprehended. The shooting of Mr. Maunaguruswamy, Batticaloa GA and Chief Returning Officer for the district as the election campaign reached its conclusion is equally contemptible and once again cast a shadow over the holding of a free and fair election. We have previously reiterated that the Police and the LTTE are the two actors who have the capacity to ensure the safety and security of all candidates and supporters in the North and East. Sadly, they have not been able to fulfil their obligations on this regard. Although we had hoped that the Amnesty International note of caution that 'candidates and supporters of the Tamil political parties not allied to the TNA may become targets of assassination' would turn out to be misplaced, the tragic reality has been that the election campaign in the North and East has turned out to be fraught with violence and flagrant disregard for the democratic rights of the citizens of these areas. The rights of voters in those areas of the North and East that are under LTTE control have become a major focus of attention especially in the international community. While the focus has been on the establishment of clustered polling stations in areas outside the military control of both the Sri Lanka Army and the LTTE and the provision of transport and other facilities to enable the more than 200,000 voters in these area to exercise their franchise for the first time in over 15 years, there has been no focus on the right of these voters to receive information regarding the different political parties and groups that seek their vote, in order to enable them to make an informed and free choice of candidate. Given a situation where no group other than the TNA has been able to enter and canvass for votes in these areas, once again the issue of whether an election held under such circumstances could be considered to be free and fair remains an issue. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
