CMEV to deploy 4,500 poll monitors

The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) fielding 164 election monitors in each one of the Polling Divisions. They have been filing reports regarding the situation in their respective areas regularly over the past three weeks. On election day, the CMEV will field 4,500 local monitors islandwide, except in areas under

LTTE control. In addition, 17 international monitors have been deployed in the north and east, a release by the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence said.

Since October 7, the Centre has received a total of 389 complaints of election related violence as at midnight on Sunday November 13.

Of these, 134 were categorised as major incidents, which include murder, attempted murder, arson and causing hurt and 255 as minor incidents that include threats and damage to property.

These figures show a substantial reduction of election related incidents as against previous elections. For instance in the Presidential elections of 1999, the Centre had recorded a total of 1,483 incidents of election related violence, including 712 major incidents, in the pre-election period.

During the period from October 7 to November 13, CMEV has recorded 3 murders, 3 attempted murders, 1 case of grievous hurt, 5 cases of arson and 1 case of abduction which have been linked to the

election process. Three murders occurred in the Trincomalee, Digamadulla and Colombo districts respectively. All these victims were supporters of EPDP which is in support of the premier's candidacy for the forthcoming presidential election.

The reduction in number of incidents of election-related violence is something to be welcomed, as it indicates a better response from political parties and their supporters to the repeated appeals from civil society groups to desist from resorting to violence as a part of political strategy.

It also reflects the strong position taken by the Elections Commissioner who has reiterated that he will not hesitate to invalidate the polls in any polling station from which irregularities or incidents of violence are reported.

CMEV received three reports of election related violence on November 13, which however, point to the fact that the potential for acts of violence in the next few days before the election, as well as in the post-election period remains something that calls for our constant vigilance.

In one incident, police teargassed a gathering of UNP supporters at Viharagoda in Badulla on the grounds that it was an illegal gathering.

One woman civilian was injured and hospitalised with a broken arm as a result of this incident. In the second incident, in Deraniyagala, the SLFP organiser for the area, H. R. Mithrapala, was injured during a clash between supporters of the UNP and the UPFA near the central bus-stand in Deraniyagala.

The police have declared an unofficial curfew in Deraniyagala for the 13th night.

The third incident was the murder of EPDP member Rasanayagam close to his home in Colombo on the night of the 13th, the release said.