|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 7 March 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Civil organisations concerned over rising election violence Civil society has expressed deep concern over the two recent General Election-related murders which took place in Batticaloa, a predominantly Tamil area in the Eastern part of the country, and the imminent disenfranchisement of tens of thousands of persons who belong to specific categories of citizens of Sri Lanka. Issuing a joint statement, People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), Movement for Free and Fair Elections (MFFE) and Trans International (TI) said they deeply regret the increasing incidents of violence. "As the election campaign gathers momentum, it is with deep regret that we note the increasing incidents of violence including murders, shootings, assaults and intimidation. "We wish to state that every voter in Sri Lanka must be able to exercise their right to vote without intimidation and violence. In order to do so, all candidates and political parties including those contesting the North-East of the island should be able to carry on with an election campaign. This is essential if the voters are to make a free choice between all contesting political parties and candidates, which is integral to a free and fair election. "We also view with concern the imminent disenfranchisement of tens of thousands of persons who belong to specific categories of citizens of Sri Lanka. Among them are the internally displaced, especially Muslims of the Northern Province, plantation workers whose granting of Sri Lankan Citizenship has been delayed, and the migrant workers". Given that the election takes place in the absence of an Independent Elections Commission, the group has urged the Elections Commissioner to use the powers granted to him by the 17th Amendment to the Constitution and by various Supreme Court judgements to ensure a free and fair election. "In this context, we note with appreciation the steps taken by the Elections Commissioner, the Police Commission and the Police to ensure that violations of election law do not take place during the campaign period, and that violence related to the campaign is minimised". "However, given the rise in incidents of violence since nominations closed, we call upon the Elections Commissioner to ensure that preventive measures are taken in all areas where violence has been recorded during previous elections and during this campaign. We also urge that immediate steps are taken to institute legal proceedings against those found implicated in election-related violence, regardless of their political status or affiliations," the statement said. While commending the actions taken by the Elections Commissioner to issue guidelines to all broadcasting and telecasting operations, the group has requested the Commissioner to "appoint a team of persons to monitor the implementation of these guidelines and to appoint a Competent Authority for the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation to ensure that the public-owned media institutions can truly serve the public during the campaign period." The CMEV, in a separate statement, stated that the second election-related murder points to the danger of the election being turned into a grim mockery of the electoral process. "The police and the LTTE are the two actors who have the capacity to ensure the safety and security of all candidates and their supporters in the North-East. They have the primary responsibility in ensuring this and demonstrating that rhetorical commitments in this regard are backed up with effective action. The CMEV reiterated the points made in its media releases of March 1, 2004 in which it cited the Supreme Court judgement on the exercise of the franchise and conduct of elections. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
