Opposition activists and their families have been forced to flee their homes and go into hiding in the jungle and chenas to avoid attacks by political opponents, the opposition and independent poll observers said yesterday.
Rampaging armed mobs are on a witch-hunt of people who openly sided with or worked for the opposition's common candidate, General (Retd.) Sarath Fonseka, at the controversy-ridden presidential elections, they said.
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| A JVP-sposnored school at Ratgolla in Kurunegala was set ablaze by goons in post-election violence |
Opposition party sources and poll monitors said they had so far received more than 300 complaints which included raids on homes, serious assault, shootings and threats.
"The situation in some places is frightening and the law enforcement authorities are stretched to the maximum in trying to maintain the peace," said Themiya Hurulle, spokesperson for the National Democratic Party (NDF), the party from which Gen. Fonseka contested the January 26 poll.
He expressed grave concern over the situation in Kalawewa, Rajangana, Thambuttegamuwa, Thalawa, Kurunegala, Pannala, Hanguranketa, Nawalapitiya, Galewela, Hambantota and, to a lesser degree, Galle.
"Incidents are reported on a daily basis, and what is more disturbing is that a large number of people are on the verge of quitting their jobs, fearing reprisals in their own work places," Mr. Hurulle said.
He said seeking police protection also had become a problem because in most rural areas the nearest police station was some 30 kilometres away.
"So by the time the police reach the troubled spot, the damage is already done," he explained.
Mr. Hurulle said opposition party supporters were afraid of staying in their homes after dusk and were forced to take shelter deep inside the jungles or in chena cultivations despite the threat from wild elephants. "It is a sad situation," he said.
Sunil Mendis, a local Pradeshiya Sabha Member of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) in the Thalawa electorate telephoned the Sunday Times office to say that his house had come under repeated attacks.
He said the police action in providing security for them was inadequate and the goons were still roaming freely in the area threatening opposition supporters.
Mr. Mendis charged that the goons were being cheered on by a powerful government politician in the North Central Province.
He said the goons had not only attacked the houses of opposition party supporters but also set fire to several shops, causing millions of rupees in damages. "Even the crops in the fields have not been spared with gangs digging up and damaging the yields," he said.
Mr. Mendis said if the police and the relevant authorities failed to arrest this trend, then the only option would be to re-group for a counter attack purely in self defence. "This would lead to a free -for-all situation," he warned.
Reports also said that a school at Ratgolla in Kurunegala came under arson attack by goons. The school received financial and material support from the JVP.
Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) Coordinator Keerthi Tenakoon said violence and intimidation were being carried out in a well orchestrated manner, possibly with the aim of frightening the opposition prior to the upcoming general elections to be held some time in April.
He said that in most cases, the attackers had come from outside areas and ruling party supporters in the village usually picked the target.
Police Elections Chief Gamini Navaratne dismissed the bulk of the allegations made by the opposition, saying that apart from a few sporadic post-election incidents the situation was relatively calm and peaceful.
However, the senior DIG said that in certain cases logistical shortcoming and rural terrain had delayed police teams from arriving at trouble spots in time to prevent violence. "But here again these are just a few cases," he said. |
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