Monthly Archives: January, 2010
Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake making a statement prior to announcing the final results of the presidential election noted the conduct of the state media even in the face of guidelines issued by him, but commended IGP Mahinda Balasuriya for taking necessary steps when matters were pointed out.
“It has to be stated with much reluctance that the co-operation received from some of the candidates and their supporters in ensuring a peaceful, free and fair election during the two months period of the election campaign was much less than desired.
It became necessary to issue directives and guidelines to prevent misuse of State resources and the State media. A Competent Authority had to be appointed to ensure observation of the guidelines by the media. The lack of positive response shown to the directives and guidelines is regretted. This attitude was the subject of much criticism and amusement of both the civil society and rival parties,” he said. (more…)
By Sumaiya Rizvi
Foreign observer and Mission Director of the Asian Network for Free Election (ANFREL), Ichal Supriady said yesterday the Elections Commissioner should investigate and call for a voter registration audit if the local monitors allege fraud in the counting of votes and disfranchisement of voters.
“We expect the Election Commissioner to announce and clarify allegations of fraud,” Supriady said. If there are suspicions of malpractice in the counting process then the political parties should reach a consensus to recount or the option of re election, Supriady said. The common opposition candidate is entitled to make complains and the Elections Commissioner should look into them, he added. (more…)
By Yohan Perera
The Cenre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) yesterday called on the Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Dissanayake to annul the poll in the Kathariya Vidyalaya polling station in Digamadulla where rigging was reported.
The report put out by CMEV last night said that two people had come on a motor bike and distributed ballot papers among the people who were entering the polling station. It was reported that a woman had voted twice at this polling station
The pasting of posters was reported from the Monaragala District in the Monaragala Electorate at 1.25pm — an Uva Provincial Council minister and his supporters were alleged to have pasted a poster of the UPFA candidate.
There were also reports from Batticaloa, District of assaults on several people: an SLMC supporter had been assaulted and a shop owner threatened with death for supporting common Opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka.
CMEV also said some of their monitors had been threatened and prevented from carrying out their duties at the Damana Maha Vidyalaya in Digamdulla District.
It was also reported that a man dressed in robes was canvassing and influencing the voters to vote for the ruling party candidate at the Damana Mahavidyalaya.
Source: Daily Mirror – 27.01.2010
By Kelum Bandara
The percentage of voter turnout in the North, particularly in the Jaffna Peninsula, was as low as 20 percent according to election monitors. However, Jaffna district politicians said the percentage should be 40-45 percent if it is based upon the actual number of voters living in the district.
Suresh Premachandran MP TNA told Daily Mirror last night that, though there were over 700,000 voters registered in the Jaffna district, more than 200,000 of them had left the country now, around 100,000 now live in Kilinochchi. Only around 400,000 voters live in the Jaffna district now. Of these I believe 40-45 percent have voted. We should not calculate the percentage polled on the basis of the total number of registered voters in the district,” he said.
Meanwhile, TNA leader R. Sampanthan said that several explosions had taken place in the Jaffna district and this had affected the voter turnout. Mr. Sampanthan said that he had requested the Elections Commissioner to ensure a peaceful atmosphere in Jaffna so that the voters could exercise their franchise without fear. He said the bomb blasts had adversely impacted on the voters.
“I geard about these bomb blasts at around 9.00 am., I sent a fax message to the Commissioner regarding this by around 10.30 am. It is up to the Commissioner to make a decision,” he said.
Mr. Sampanthan said that no transport facilities were provided for voters in the Vanni and Kilinochchi to get to the polling stations despite the initial arrangements made for such. (more…)
South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) vehemently condemn the violence and other election malpractices that have taken place in the past few weeks in Sri Lanka. We fear that this threatens the possibility of a free and fair Presidential election.
Sri Lanka is at a pivotal point where the end of the war has given hope for a fresh start, in which rights of all citizens are promoted. The upcoming elections have presented an opportunity for every citizen to exercise their sovereign right to vote and thus make it integrated and inclusive process. All citizens should be able to vote in a secured environment, especially those in the recently liberated areas in the North and East. However, given the turn the campaigns have taken, the reality of the situation appears to be otherwise. (more…)
With the race for the presidency getting increasingly close and uncertain, there has been a considerable increase in tension throughout the country. This gives rise to the danger that there can be obstructions to the exercise of the franchise on the day of election which needs to be effectively countered as the electoral process is the main source of legitimacy in a democracy. Election monitoring and media organizations have been reporting a sharp increase in election-related violence including several killings accompanied by a flagrant disregard of election laws including abuse of state resources.
The violation of election laws and the practice of violence at election time are not new phenomena and have taken place in previous elections under previous governments as well. However, on this occasion our concern is greater as the Election Commissioner himself has publicly bemoaned his helplessness and has threatened to give up his duties as his orders are being disregarded. (more…)
20th January 2010, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is deeply concerned by the developments this week that suggest the remainder of the election campaign and the presidential election itself would not be conducted according to the legal procedures and limitations established by the Constitution and the law.
By S.S.Selvanayagam
The Supreme Court yesterday granted leave to proceed with the fundamental right violation petition filed by a UNP election campaigner against the police officers who allegedly assaulted him.
The Bench comprising Chief Justice Asoka de Silva, Justices Shirani Tilakawardane and S.I.Imam granted leave to proceed with the application for the alleged infringement of the fundamental rights of the petitioner K.A.Hemasiri (61) who is a retired school teacher. (more…)
By Supun Dias
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has deployed several teams to Chilaw and Kurunegala to further investigate and arrest the suspects involved in election violence which resulted in the deaths of two youths.
Six police teams under the direction of CID Director DIG Nandana Munasinghe have been deployed to Madurankuliya in Chilaw where a 19-year-old youth was killed when the van he was travelling in came under gunfire and also resulted in ten other supporters of the UPFA sustaining injuries, police media spokesman SSP I.M Karunaratne said.
The van carrying the UPFA supporters came under gunfire as it passed an election office of opposition common Presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka.
In the other incident in Kurunegala one person was killed and four others injured when a hand grenade exploded on Monday in the residence which is also the election office of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Minister Jayaratne Herath.
The victim was Suranga Indrajith (28) a driver attached to the Health Ministry. Four police teams attached to the CID are investigating into the incident, SSP Karunaratne said.
The police believe that the grenade was thrown from a passing motorcycle and so far no evidence has been gathered regarding the incident. Subsequently investigations were handed over to the CID.
DIG Crimes Anura Senanayake is also in the area to direct the investigations.
The police elections desk has received 764 complaints relating to election violence, head of the police elections desk senior DIG Gamini Navaratne said. Most of the incidents reported were where supporters of major political parties engaged in removing or tearing down cut-outs, banners and other election propaganda material of opposing candidates, DIG Navaratne said.
The police have so far arrested 289 suspects who were involved in election-related violence. The police are conducting investigations to arrest another 164 suspects who are on the run and also for not appearing in court.
Of the complaints lodged at the desk 93 cases has been settled without going to courts, he said.
So far four election violence related deaths have been reported from Hungama, Chilaw, Wariyapola and Kurunegala.
“We as the police have advised all the relevant parties to prevent such incidents and advised supporters not to engage in violating the prevailing election laws. The police have taken steps to prevent unauthorized protests that violate elections law and therefore we have informed party high rankers to urge their supporters not to engage in violent protests,” DIG Navaratne said.
Source: Daily Mirror – 21.01.2009
Amnesty International calls on all candidates standing in Sri Lanka’s Presidential elections on January 26th to end widespread human rights violations and the culture of impunity that continues to plague the country.
On Monday, the organization issued a 10-point Human Rights Agenda for all candidates.
“Candidates should commit to restoring respect for basic rights, like life and liberty, ending arbitrary arrests and detention, enforced disappearances and torture, and to restoring respect for freedom of expression, said Yolanda Foster, Amnesty International’s Sri Lanka specialist. “In the longer run, what’s needed is to rebuild Sri Lanka’s institutions so that they can protect efficiently and without discrimination. That’s the only way to restore public faith in the justice system.” (more…)
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