Independent monitoring groups hit out at both the Police and the Election Commissioner’s office for remaining inactive as polls violations continued unabated on all sides of the political divide.
“The posters are still there along with the cut-outs, etc., while the government side continues to misuse state resources from logistical equipment to manpower and the authorities are doing nothing to stop it,” said Rohana Hettiarachchi from the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL).
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| An injured supporter of Ferial Ashraff at Ampara. |
He said the main culprits according to the incidents reported to the monitors so far are the candidates and supporters from the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) who are racing against each other in the so-called ‘manape’ war and in several instances this has led to violent confrontations.
So far at least two dozen people had to be treated at hospitals following these ‘home and home’ clashes and the worst could be feared as voting day nears, Mr. Hettiarachchi pointed out.
In addition there has been damage to property, mainly propaganda offices and vehicles causing millions of rupees worth of damage in incidents reported from most parts of the country with the exception of the Jaffna peninsula where the situation is relatively peaceful, he added.
He also drew attention to the recent sacking of some 10 policemen, saying it was a dangerous trend. “Toe the line or face the consequences, seems to be the message of the day,” Mr. Hettiarachchi said.
Dr. Anura Karunatilleke with the Network for Election Monitoring said that the poster and cut-out campaign was being dominated only by a handful of persons who could afford to invest millions of rupees towards this end. “At the end of the day it is unfair by the majority of candidates who have limited finances and thereby are left far behind with their faces barely noticed. This is a disadvantage to their campaign and not fair,” Dr. Karunatilleke said.
He added that what was sad was that those spending big money in the campaign always get the highest preferential votes, irrespective of their character, nature of their business or their education. “The people seem to prefer these persons,” he said.
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| Vehicles damaged in election violence at Badulla. |
According to Keerthi Tennakoon from the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) senior Cabinet ministers are even being prevented by their own party men from campaigning in certain areas.
“This is the extent of the ‘manape’ fight and things may go out of hand on the night of counting. Every election law has already been flouted. There is no democracy and nothing is free and fair in this ongoing campaign,” Mr. Tenakoon said.
“The same issues cropped up even in the earlier elections. Election Chief Dayananda Dissanayake gives orders to the police, but beyond that nothing is being really implemented. So much so that a life-size cut-out of a UPFA candidate stands at the entrance to the Kandana police station situated at the main junction,” he added. “Even the opposition is violating the laws, to a lesser extent with their posters and cut-outs. The whole set up is a big joke,” Mr. Tenakoon further said.
Senior DIG Gamini Navaratne who is in charge of the Police elections desk could not be reached for comment. |
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