'Reject LTTE gun culture'

Batticaloa polls campaign gathers momentum

By our political correspondent

Tamil political parties contesting the forthcoming Local Government polls in the Batticaloa district have called upon voters in the region to reject the LTTE and its 'gun culture' to build a civilised society where democracy could prevail.

Informed sources told the Sunday Observer that the polls campaign in the district was gathering momentum with posters and cut-outs of the parties in the fray coming up in a big way.

The candidates have engaged in a door-to-door campaign along with the distribution of leaflets in public places.

According to the Assistant Commissioner of Elections T. Krishnanathalingam postal voting for the local polls in the Batticaloa district was held in 72 centres without any hindrance on February 21 and 22.

"The response was satisfactory and the turnout was around 95 per cent", Krishnananthalingam said.

He said that the Elections Commission was actively engaged in making the local polls for nine local bodies including the Batticaloa Municipal Council on March 10 a success. Krishnananthalingam said that 285 centres have been earmarked as polling stations and 260 were schools.

Meanwhile, the three-party coalition EPDP, PLOTE and EPRLF (NABA) contesting under the apple symbol and the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP), the breakaway party from the LTTE contesting under the boat symbol have taken a common stance in getting rid of the LTTE violence despite policy differences.

All Tamil political parties which are ex-militant outfits have emphasised the need to build peace in the North and East by getting rid of LTTE terrorism.

"Let the local polls in the Batticaloa district be a starter to annihilate LTTE violence in the North and East". This is the core slogan of the campaign of the Tamil parties in the Batticaloa district polls, the sources said.