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| Sunday, 22 February 2004 |
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Elections Commissioner to be strict on polls-rigging Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake warned he would strictly follow the directives set by the Supreme Court at the forthcoming general election and hold re-elections if he was satisfied that elections were rigged at any polling station. He appealed to the two major political parties, the candidates, polling agents and the general public to refrain from undemocratic practices at elections and help his officials to conduct election in a violence free atmosphere. He called upon all those concerned for violent-free election to help his officials to conduct and manage the duties at the election in an orderly manner. Addressing the media at his office in Borella on Thursday, the Polls chief said that if there were any poll abuse at any polling station he would annul casting of votes at that particular station and will hold fresh polls as that was the legally constituted procedure that he had to follow. "The Election has to be held in a violent-free atmosphere and measures will be taken to prevent any illegal acts. Undemocratic practices and illegal acts will lead to cancellation of the polls and hold fresh polls at any polling station. This will delay the announcement of results of the respective district", he pointed out. The condition that would to lead re-polling include incidents taking place beyond the control of the presiding Officer, intimidation, harassment, preventing the officials performing their duties, chasing away election officials, non-reporting to election duty by the officials due to threats, disturbing atmosphere and illegal stuffing of ballot boxes by force. Citing Wyamba Provincial Election as one instance of violation of election laws he told the media that he held discussions with the police and service chiefs to plan out strategies to prevent abuse and said that he could not divulge the measures but act on the directives issued by the Supreme Court to conduct re-polls if elections were interfered. He named Puttalam, Kandy, Matale, Ratnapura and Hambantota as areas with the worst record of polls riggings. He also said that the 17th Amendment to the Constitution had spelt out the guidelines to be observed by the electronic media specially by the State controlled media. But if the media violates the directives he, as Commissioner had no powers to take action against them as laws necessary to act on such instances had not be enacted by the Parliament. If the powers were vested in the Commissioner of Elections by an Act of Parliament the Commissioner could appoint a competent authority to the respective media institution. But up to date there have been no enactment of new laws to empower the Commissioner as desired by the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, he said. Making reference to empowering recognised monitors to monitor election, Commissioner said that there was no need to bring down foreign or local election monitors if the political parties followed the directives issued by the Department of Elections Commissioner. He further said that the monitors had been coming to the country from 1988 on request and up to 2000, the monitors were chosen on personal basis and that had caused problems. Hence we have decided to invite the monitors from world recognised bodies such as European Union and Common Wealth and also from Bangladesh, Japan, Nepal and Pakistan. Locally we have invited the PAFFEL and CMEB he said adding, "Bringing monitors from abroad is a luxury. But on the other hand if the political parties abide by a Code of Ethics we need not invite anyone from other countries. It is good if the two major political parties come to a consensus and others fall in line, the Commissioner said. He also reminded the media of efforts he had taken to enforce election laws at the previous elections, prohibiting pasting of posters, banners but he had found it to be a waste of public funds and man power as posters and banner re-appeared faster than the removal of the posters. - E.W. |
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