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Major
role by 20,000 monitors
Riggers beware! Polls detectives
watching you
By Shelani Perera
Some 20,000 officials from a polls monitoring group
will keep a close watch and give immediate reports to the Commissioner
of Elections so that he could use his powers to cancel voting in
any booth where there is evidence of malpractice, an official said.
People's
Action for Free and Fair Elections Executive Director Kingsley Rodrigo
in an interview with The Sunday Times also said he believed free
and fair elections could not be held in uncleared areas. Mr. Rodrigo
said that in other areas, at least two PAFFREL monitors would be
deployed in every booth and he hoped this would minimise impersonation,
rigging or intimidation of voters.
Excerpts:
Q: What will your monitors do in the polling booths?
Earlier, our 10,000 officials waited around the polling
booths. Now they will be in the booths from the start of polling
to the end. We hope to mobilise about 20,000 officials this time.
They will be in the booths by 6.30 a.m. to see that everything is
in order when the ballot boxes are brought. They will also monitor
logistical arrangements. After polling ends, they will monitor the
sealing of the boxes until they are taken to counting centres.
Q:
On what basis are you selecting monitors? What about party affiliations?
All our monitors sign a declaration that they are not affiliated
to any party. We also screen them at their area level. This is the
18th poll we will be monitoring and we have hundreds of experienced
and proven officials. Since going into a booth to monitor polling
is a new experience, we will be giving the monitors a new training
course.
Q: With the monitors working inside the polling booth, will they
be able to curb malpractice?
The Commissioner of Elections has wide powers under the
17th Amendment and could cancel the voting in any booth where there
is evidence of widespread rigging or intimidation. We also will
be playing a key role in giving evidence before the commissioner
takes such decisions.
Q: Will the evidence of PAFFREL monitors be valid to annul a poll?
Yes, but we will need to act promptly instead of issuing
a report after some days.
Q:
What is the situation in the areas controlled by the LTTE?
The situation was okay until a week ago when a candidate
and an activist were killed creating tension and turmoil in the
north and east. Some candidates have withdrawn. It seems only a
small percentage of people living in uncleared areas will be able
to cast their vote. More buses would need to be provided for them.
Q: With so much uncertainty will the polling in those areas be free
and fair?
I don't think so. Even at this stage, we are able to say
that there won't be a free and fair election. I don't know whether
we will be able to get local monitors from the northeast. Earlier
we wanted to have two monitors in every booth. But we may have to
manage with mobile monitoring only.
Q: The PAFFREL first supported proposals put forward by the LTTE
to hold elections in uncleared areas, but you later changed your
mind. Is it correct?
We were told that the LTTE wanted to come to the democratic
path and people in areas under its control should be given a chance
to express themselves. The LTTE wanted to have the polling booths
in uncleared areas with international monitors and the commissioner
being able to cancel the poll if there was malpractice. We conveyed
the LTTE's view to the Commissioner. He is yet to take a decision.
Q: The JVP has called for the postponement of polls in uncleared
areas. What is your view on it?
This is not possible, under the election law. But the
JVP has a point. The party states that if the Commissioner can postpone
the local government poll why cannot he postpone the poll in uncleared
areas?
Q: How do you assess the polls campaign and the general situation
so far?
We look at it in a positive way. The police are doing
a good job, at least to minimise violence. When compared to the
2001 poll, violence is less. I think the reason for this is that
both major parties are in power and thus the power is balanced.
Police are also taking immediate action against the offenders.
Q: Is there a law allowing your monitors to enter polling booths?
There is no law as in countries like the Philippines,
Bangladesh and Thailand. But the Commissioner of Elections has the
power to allow this. |
