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PAFFREL all set to monitor local council polls
Following an escalation in election related violence an independent election monitoring group has decided to deploy some 15,000 observers with additional personnel to be sent to violence-prone areas.

In its interim report the Peoples Action for Free and Fair Elections states that it had already taken steps to strengthen its network to monitor the local government elections and educate and encourage people to be vigilant.
PAFFREL has appointed nine district coordinators, to represent each of the administrative districts except Jaffna, Wanni and Batticaloa.

Commenting on the activities of the political parties contesting the polls, PAFFREL said though the main parties have begun their propaganda campaigns, the voter-interest was somewhat low.

It said in comparison to last year’s Presidential election, the incidents of election law violations had increased. One such area was the displaying of posters.

“We note that the removing of illegal posters etc. by the police is not being done in a satisfactory manner unlike during the Presidential poll. Election related violence is flaring up. Interference by candidates in the disputes of party supporters is an ominous characteristic.

PAFFREL said the setting up of temporary election offices might create a situation where political rivalry would be heightened resulting in the escalation of political violence.

“The Elections Commissioner has given his consent for each political party and independent groups to put up temporary election offices at the rate of one office for each candidate. At this rate a vast number of makeshift offices amounting to more than 100,000 may be opened, based on the number of candidates contesting the March 30 local government elections” the report said. The interim report commenting on the need for the establishment of the Independent Elections Commission to conduct free and fair elections said:

“That, unless the relevant authorities including members of the legislature and the members of the Cabinet, initiate the process to make the Independent Election Commission a reality, the possibilities for malpractices in relation to elections will not be completely erased by the mediation of a single Elections Commissioner. Therefore, a collective effort of a well established body is urgently required to curb the discrepancies associated with elections”.
The report said another aspect that needs to be looked into was the transfer of government officials during election time.

“Regrettably, PAFFREL has observed this to have happened in some of the important government institutions including the Police Department -- after the Independent Police Commission ended its term of office on November 26 last year, as provided by the Constitution. During the time the Independent Police Commission was functioning, all the administrative duties including promotions and transfers were affected by the Commission.

“Therefore, it is evident, that unless effective steps are taken to reconstitute the Independent Police Commission, politically motivated transfers and promotions within the Department will continue to prevail. PAFFREL does not see this as a productive trend”, the report said.

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