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UPC post-poll violence a dress rehearsal for the Presidential election
View(s):Two weeks after the conclusion of the Uva polls the situation is yet to return to normal, with fresh incidents of violence and threats amidst fresh incidents of political violence ahead of the expected Presidential and Parliamentary polls, election monitoring groups said.
In an incident reported this week in the Nawalapitiya area, a UNP supporter’s house came under attack, hours before a political meeting was due to be held there.
The meeting was organised to welcome the new electoral organiser, Ananda Aluthgamage. MPs Lakshman Kiriella and P. Harisson were due to attend the meeting.
Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (Caffe) Executive Director, Keerthi Tennakoon said the attacks are because of Opposition gains at the UPC elections.
The day after elections: A TV grab of violence in Badulla. Pic by Palitha Ariyawansa
He said there were two other attacks on MP Range Bandara’s hotel in Puttalam and on the vehicles of Harin Fernando while passing through the Giriulla, Pannala, areas this week.He said they have received 29 complaints of post-polls related violence to date.
“The post-election violence has been converted to the run up to the Presidential election next year. The media and other civil rights organisations are facing huge difficulties to function independently in the province. It seems this trend is spreading to other provinces too, “he said.
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), a local election monitoring body said, action taken by the police to minimise post-election violence was not satisfactory.
Meanwhile, a statement released by the Elections Commissioner at the end of the elections, described election day as a “relatively peaceful election period”.
“Many laws, regulations and powers are in place to ensure a proper election. A free and fair election is possible only if the leaders of political parties, secretaries of political parties, candidates of political parties and electors give their fullest cooperation and assistance. A voter turnout of over 75% can be considered as a high percentage under any circumstances.” the statement said.
| Winners, losers, family connections and lessons learnt
The first assembly of the Uva Provincial Council (UPC) will be held on Thursday (9) at 10.30 am in Badulla. UP Governor Nanda Mathew said that the UPFA is set to decide on its ministers after the President returns to the country. Chief Minister (CM) Sasheendra Rajapaksa has already taken oaths. He said the Council will select a Chairman and a Vice Chairman at this meeting. Opposition party members of the UNP and JVP are due to take their oaths within the next two days. Harin Fernando said UNP members will take their oaths on Tuesday (7). He said the Opposition is yet to decide whether they would propose a nominee for the Vice Chairman’s post where the UPFA has a majority of four. Kumarasiri Ratnayake, who secured the second highest number of preferential votes in the Moneragala District, after CM Sasheendra Rajapaksha, is a relative of Minister Sumedha G. Jayasena while Minister Jayasena’s son Saliya Sumedha Silva too has been elected from Moneragala. Former Minister Dharmadasa Banda’s son Hareen Dharmadasa won on the UPFA ticket, while Senarath Attanayake, who won in the Moneragala District is a relative of the former minister. UPFA’s Anura Gamage Vithanage, who obtained the highest number of preferential votes in Badulla is MP Thenuka Vidana Gamage’s brother. A.M. Buddhadasa, who won is the father of MP Samika Buddadasa. His wife is Chairperson of the Uva Paranagama Pradeshiya Sabha. UNP’s Ex-MP Harin Fernando, who got the highest number of preferential votes in the Badulla District, is former minister Vincent Dias’ son-in-law. The Samaraweera brothers, Upali and Raveendra, nephews of former Uva CM Percy Samaraweera also won. Around 30 female candidates contested and only Hema Ratnayake was elected. Former Councilors who crossed over from one Party to the other, at the last minute, were rejected this time by the people. Among them were former Councilors Mihimal Munasinghe UPFA and Ravi Gunawardena UNP. Former Councilor W.A. Udayakumara and Vishwanatha Kulathunga, and UNP’s former Bandarawela organiser contested independently and lost. JVP Councillor Sudath Balagalle failed to secure his seat too. Meanwhile the Upcountry People’s Front (UPF) which jointly contested with the UPFA, failed to secure a single seat, but Party sources said they have been promised that its defeated candidate A. Aravindakumar will be appointed a Presidential advisor. In the 2004 and 2009 UPC polls, the UPF secured one seat when it contested separately. |
