In-fighting between rival candidates of the same party contesting the Western Provincial Council (WPC) elections is reaching dangerous levels, say independent observers.
With the elections just six days away, tensions are growing between rivals and the potential for violence is increasing by the day.
Keerthi Tennakoon, media spokesman for the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE), told The Sunday Times that the in-fighting is most marked within the ruling UPFA party, and to a lesser degree in the main opposition UNP.
According to reports, a UPFA candidate contesting for the Colombo district has warned other hopefuls, including candidates belonging to his own party, to stay away from certain parts of the city or face the consequences, Mr. Tennakoon said.“This candidate is also believed to have commandeered several underworld figures for his campaign in order to intimidate the others, and he is being reportedly financed by senior persons in the government,” Mr. Tennakoon said.
“As a result of the threats and attacks, frustrated candidates are trimming their personal campaigns. It is a jittery ground situation,” he said. “What is especially disturbing is that these attacks are taking place in the so-called high-security zones, where there is a strong security forces and police presence. Despite mounting complaints, there have been zero arrests so far,” he said.
Some 85 incidents of polls-related violence have been reported, 65 of them cases of serious assault.
According to UNP candidate Sujeewa Senasinghe, there is a campaign by the government to attack members of the old guard in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).
“A pattern of intimidation is emerging in all three districts covered by the Western Provincial Council, and Colombo is the worst affected,” Mr. Senasinghe said. “The government is trying to create a new order while pushing the veterans into limbo.”
In the Gampaha district, UPFA candidates are carrying out acts of violence against each other, including abduction and arson, and trying to pin the blame on opposition parties, Mr. Senasinghe said.
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Gampaha group leader Waruna Rajapakse told The Sunday Times that certain elements were trying to provoke the JVP by trying to implicate his party in these acts of violence.
“It won’t work,” Mr. Rajapakse said. “And everyone knows who’s behind the attacks.”
Meanwhile, the police said they were investigating all complaints relating to violence and other irregularities. |
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