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Police allowing attacks on Opposition, watchdog charges
Police sat on their haunches while attacks on opposition activists occurred with impunity over the country, an election watchdog charged as the
Attack on the UNP headquarters, Sirikotha, in Kotte on Thursday
Elections Department said violence was on the rise in the presidential election contest between incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa and Mr. Maithripala Sirisena.
The Campaign for Free and fair Elections (CaFFE) Executive Director, Keerthi Tennekoon said there had been more complaints of violence in the period since polls were called than over the same time in the 2010 and 2005 elections.
“Police took no action to stop attacks on opposition activists in many parts of the country including Eppawala, Hambantota and Haputale. We urge law enforcement authorities to take necessary action to minimise election violence and the political authorities to allow policemen to carry out their duties,” Mr. Tennekoon said.
Attacks in Gampaha (above) and Matara (below)
The Elections Department said it had received as many as 603 complaints related to election violence to date of which 55 were of a serious nature and involved firearms.
Mr Tennekoon said police inaction resulted in the violent attack on the opposition United National Party (UNP) headquarters, Sirikotha, in Kotte on Thursday.
About 30 people were injured in the clash between a pro-government group and UNP supporters.
The Federation of National Organisations, an umbrella group covering 32 organisations, held the demonstration in front of Sirikotha. Each side blaming the other for the clashes that ensued.
Patriotic National Movement Secretary Wasantha Bandara said his members had been protesting peacefully against the alleged agreement signed by Mr. Sirisena and UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe. Both leaders say the document is a fabrication.
“While we were protesting outside [Sirikotha] a group of well-built persons came out and brutally attacked us. We told our supporters to run away but some were caught in bylanes and they threw stones at us. The police was helpless to take any action,” Mr. Bandara claimed.
UNP leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya said the attack had been planned and well organised and had not spontaneously occurred.
Pic by Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk
“I was there myself on that day. The people who were brought there later told us that they were told that they are going to a protest somewhere else, not in front of the UNP head office.
“Some high-ranking officers from Minister Wimal Weerawansa’s party were leading them,” he said. Mr Weerawansa leads the Jathika Nidahas Peramuna (National Freedom Front), part of President Rajapaksa’s ruling coalition.
Opposition leaders were also angered by the attack in Beruwela the following day.
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) yesterday said supporters of President Rajapaksa’s United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) had attacked Ms Kumaratunga and Ms Premachandra at about 10 p.m. after a rally for Mr. Sirisena.
CMEV said the police and the Special Task Force (STF) who were present during this incident had run for cover. A fight had ensued resulting in damage to property including Ms Bandaranaike’s vehicle.
CMEV was informed that the STF and police were able to disperse the crowd after some time.
Police said so far they had arrested 47 persons in connection with election violence following 89 complaints.
Police spokesperson Ajith Rohana said two police officers have been suspended following a shooting incident of an opposition rally in Kolonnawa.
He said the police officers who were on duty had failed to take action when a group of unidentified persons had arrived in a van had opened fire at the stage prepared for Mr. Sirisena.
The NDF campaign office in Batticaloa was attacked on Wednesday morning by a gang that threw petrol bombs at the office, setting it ablaze.