Election violence on the rise

Incidents of elections violence have ramped up with the New Year as the campaigns hit top gear, monitors told Perambara.

“Incidents during the past few weeks indicate there has been a considerable increase in election related violence”, Executive Director of the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Rohana Hettiarachchi said,

Election monitors of Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) observe that election related violence has recorded an increase on a daily basis.

“Election related violence has badly increased during the last three days,” CAFEE Spokesperson, Keerthi Tennekoon said on January 4.

However, DIG Gamini Navaratne of the Police unit at the Election Secretariat said there has been a decline in the number of incidents of election related violence in comparison to the 2005 Presidential election.

He said that while 288 complaints were received for the first few weeks after nominations day during the 2005 Presidential election, this time around, there have been only 250 complaints.

“There has been a 30% decline in election related incidents,” the DIG said.

The increase in election related violence has resulted in several serious incidents taking place in the Kiribathgoda and Navalapitiya areas.

Several supporters of common opposition candidate (Retd.) Gen. Sarath Fonseka who were distributing leaflets, were attacked by UPFA supporters on January 3 at Kiribathgoda. The clash resulted in several vehicles being damaged and traffic on the main Colombo-Kandy Road coming to a standstill.

The police riot squad had to be deployed to arrest the situation.

Meanwhile, 19 persons had to be hospitalized following a clash between supporters of the President and the common candidate in Nawalapitiya.

CaFFE reported that the UNP election office in Negombo was burnt down, while the JVP office was attacked on January 4.

PAFFREL has recorded 107 election related incidents while CaFFE has recoded 124 such cases in the period between nominations day and January 4.

Among the incidents recorded by PAFFREL are 30 cases of assaults, 29 attacks on party offices, nine cases of illegal propaganda activities, nine cases of breaking down cut outs, eight cases of misuse of public property and six shooting incidents. The organization has also recorded one incident of a transfer made during the period of the election.

The highest number of election related incidents recorded by PAFFREL has been from the Southern Province – 31 incidents from the Southern Province, followed by 19 from the Western Province and 15 from the North Central Province.

Of the incidents recorded by the CAFFE organization, the highest number of complaints has been on the violation of election laws. According to CAFFE there have been 59 incidents where election laws have been violated and 39 incidents of misusing public property.

PAFFREL’s Hettiarachchi voiced concern over the use of fire arms in some of the election related incidents reported to the organization.

He said that most election related violence incidents are connected to propaganda activities, especially when pasting posters.

“Election propaganda should be aimed at promoting the policies of each candidate. However, pasting posters does not do that,” he said.

CaFFE’s Tennekoon observed that the increase in election related incidents is due to the violation of election laws.

According to him, the delay in removing election related cut outs in line with the election laws has caused violent incidents.

“There are problems when the cut outs of one candidate are removes leaving behind those of another. Supporters then start to throw oil and try to destroy the cut outs of the member of the opposing party. Such actions result in violence,” he said.

CaFFE has also recorded election related incidents from areas like Negombo where there have not been such incidents during previous elections.

“It seems that members of both parties are prepared to attack each other,” Tennekoon said. He added that such a scenario was witnessed during election in the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces.

Election monitors say that election related incidents could increase during the next few weeks as it has done during the past few days.

PAFFREL says that the police would have to play a more active role during the election period. “This situation could be controlled if the police is active,” Hettiarachchi said.

DIG Navaratane notes that the police was dedicated to act to reduce the number of election related incidents.

CaFFE Spokesperson says that the implementation of the election laws would help minimise the incidents of election related violence.

By Sanjaya Nallaperuma