Complaints of threats and intimidation have been pouring in in connection with the upcoming elections in the North Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces, with cases of elections-related violence being especially noticeable in the Polonnaruwa district, say election monitoring bodies.
Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE) spokesman Keerthi Tennakoon told The Sunday Times that CAFFE had so far received 45 elections-violence related complaints – 21 from Anuradhapura, nine from Polonnaruwa, 10 from Kegalle and five from Ratnapura. There were another 28 complaints relating to the misuse of state-owned vehicles.
“On Friday alone, five incidents were reported from Polonnaruwa,” he said. “There were two complaints from the UPFA, two from the UNP, and one from the JVP. We have also received reports of clashes, especially from Hingurakgoda. Cases of violence are on the increase in Polonnaruwa, where it had been relatively quiet for a couple of weeks.”
Mr. Tennakoon said CAFFE had also received a complaint alleging that more than Rs. 6 million in government funds, allocated by the North Central Province education department for printing examination papers, had been used to print posters for a UPFA candidate. He said CAFFE was looking into the matter.
“Cases of thuggery have been reported from Ratnapura, Anuradhapura and also Polonnaruwa. Incidents of centralised violence were reported from Anuradhapura. We also noted that the JVP and JVP supporters were being targeted in certain areas, especially in Kegalle district.”
Mr. Tennakoon added that a number of complaints of elections-related violence had been made against the UNP in Anuradhapura.
Peoples’ Alliance for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) deputy director Rohana Hettiarachchi said PAFFREL had received 52 complaints of elections-related violence – 23 from the North Central Province and 20 from Sabaragamuwa Province.
“We have received a special request from the Opposition leader to look into reports that armed groups were intimidating village people in parts of Polonnaruwa district. We hope to discuss this matter tomorrow with the Elections Commissioner,” Mr. Hettiarachchi said.
Meanwhile, MPs from the four districts expressed their views on election campaigning and violence in their respective areas.
UNP organiser for Polonnaruwa district, MP Earl Gunasekara, said armed groups were intimidating residents from the Manampitiya hospital area up to the Batticaloa border.
“We have heard that an armed group is operating from about 16 bunkers. Most of the villagers in these areas are Tamil and Muslim, and they are being prevented from attending UNP meetings and inviting UNP candidates to come their area,” Mr. Gunasekera said.
Polonnaruwa district JVP, MP S. K. Subasinghe, said several cases of elections-related violence, including thuggery, were reported in the district, especially from the Dimbulagala Pradeshiya Sabha and the Hingurakgoda Pradeshiya Sabha.
Kegalle district UNP MP Kabir Hashim told The Sunday Times that open thuggery had been observed in many areas, with party candidates being assaulted and threatened.Although the police have acted on complaints, persons taken in for questioning have been later released for lack of evidence, thus further jeopardising the safety of Opposition candidates, Mr. Hashim said.
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