EU monitors call for violence free election
 

BY MANJULA Fernando

THE EU Election Observation Mission Chief John Cushnahan warned that he will not hesitate to issue a very critical report if they observe "serious violations" during and at the November 17 presidential poll.

"I would like to make it absolutely and abundantly clear that if serious malpractices or incidents occur which fundamentally alter the outcome of this election, I will have no hesitation in issuing a very critical report," he stressed at a media conference at the Trans Asia Hotel yesterday.

Cushnahan who arrived in Colombo on Thursday is heading a 66 member EU observation mission from Brussels to monitor the forthcoming presidential polls.

Expressing frustration over lack of follow up to their previous observation missions, the EU expert said: "If at the end of this mission, no attempt is made to implement our recommendations, any future requests from Sri Lanka is likely to fall on deaf years."

Among their key recommendations, last year, had been a code of conduct for the members of political parties to minimise polls violence and violations. He said they were disheartened to see it being neglected.

Responding to questions the EU Chief observer, however, said the results of the 2004 election despite experiencing a significant amount of violations, "did reflect the political will of the people".

In his opinion on the North and East situation and the impact of LTTE's conduct on the election, Cushnahan said "there were very many individuals and organisations that can cause problems to this election."

He also observed that there were problems earlier in the North East. Other Tamil parties were not allowed to campaign in the run up to the election. "This was unacceptable."

Cushnahan appealed to all stakeholders to refrain from infringing the peoples' right of franchise to elect the President of their choice.

Paying a glowing tribute to the present Elections commissioner

Dayanada Dissanayake he said the polls chief 'behaved impeccably' during the last election. EU deployed EOMs in the 2000, 2001 and 2004 elections and it deployed the largest monitoring team of 65 at the last parliamentary election.

The current mission will have 22 long term observers who will arrive on October 29 and a team of 44 short term observers on the election day to monitor polling and counting procedures. Their core team includes a Deputy Chief observer, a legal/electoral expert, operations expert and a security expert.

The EU's preliminary report based on their ground level observations will be issued soon after the election and the final draft is to be presented to the Elections commissioner and the political parties in January.