uva provincial council elections 2014 communiqué on post-election violence
TRANSCRIPT
Uva Provincial Council Elections 2014: Communiqu on
Post-ElectionViolenceCentre for Monitoring Election Violence
(CMEV)Centre for Monitoring Election Violencein Sri LankaDownload
this PR as a PDFhere.
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25 September 2014:The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence
(CMEV) has been informed of 9 incidents of violence after the
conclusion of the Uva Provincial Council elections held on
20thSeptember 2014. The incidents reported to CMEV include
incidents where UPFA supporters were involved in making threats to
and/or damaging property of opposition candidates (particularly JVP
and UNP). CMEV is concerned with the ongoing violence and the lack
of accountability for it, which denotes the prevailing culture of
impunity.
Although the Department of Police claimed to have a strict security
apparatus to deal with post-election violence, these measures have
been insufficient to deal with the violence that has erupted.
Subsequent to the outbreak of post-election violence, the Police
took action to deploy additional officers to neutralise the
situation. It is evident that due to this action further violence
was prevented and communities who feared an escalation of violence,
reassured that this would not be the case. These incidents
highlight the need for pre-empting post-election violence and
taking necessary measures to prevent such situations.
CMEV is especially concerned by the incidents that transpired in
Mahiyanganaya. A significant number of incidents were reported from
the day of nominations to the post-election period. All three
independent election observer organisations: CMEV, Campaign for
Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) and Peoples Action for Free and
Fair Elections (PAFFREL), issueda joint statementhighlighting these
concerns. Following pre-election violence that transpired in
Mahiyanganaya, the Election Commissioner, at a meeting held on the
10thSeptember requested that the Inspector General of Police (IGP)
takes necessary measures to respond to the situation and to take
pre-emptive measures against any outbreak of violence.The IGP
thereafter deployed 30 STF personnel to the area. CMEV learns that
the STF personnel were withdrawn a day prior to the election
redeployed on Election Day and withdrawn once more soon after the
election. These measures are contrary to what the IGP agreed to at
the meeting convened by the Election Commissioner on 10thSeptember
where he gave an undertaking that the Uva province DIG would
provide security to opposition parties and take steps to prevent
violence in the remainder of the campaign, on Election day and the
post election period. CMEV condemns continuing violence and urges
all law enforcement agencies and political party leaders to take
necessary measures to prevent further violence and to take action
against those who are involved in and complicit in such
violence.
Following are some of the incidents recorded by CMEV in the
post-election period:
Attack on the residence of JVP Provincial Council candidate
The residence of JVP Uva Provincial Council candidate P. P. G.
Wijesiri was attacked by an unidentified group at 12.30 a.m on the
22ndSeptember. The said residence is located at Singhasiripura,
Madurukatiya, Kumbukkana in Moneragala District. Subsequent to
switching off street lights, the attackers shattered three windows
and partially damaged a room. Mr. Wijesiri has lodged a complaint
(No. 51) regarding the incident with the Moneragala Police. When
contacted by CMEV, the Moneragala Police Division- Election
Operation Centre confirmed that the incident was recorded.
Attack on UNP Provincial Council candidate
Roy Kalinga, former opposition leader of Wellawaya Pradeshiya Sabha
and candidate of the UNP for the Uva Provincial Council, was
assaulted by an unidentified group using clubs at his residence in
Athili-wewa, Dambarawa, Wellawaya on the 22ndSeptember. The group
arrived in 2 white defender vehicles at 2 a.m and also attacked his
vehicles. He was subsequently admitted to the Sirigala hospital in
Moneragala and is being treated at ward No. 02 (photosavailable).
The hospital confirmed that 2 persons were admitted and the
condition of Mr. Kalinga is not serious. Mr. Kalingas spouse lodged
a complaint (No. 52) on the incident with the Wellawaya police.
When contacted, Moneragala Police Division- Election Operation
Centre confirmed that the incident was recorded.
Attack on the residence of JVP Provincial Council candidates
father
The residence belonging to the father of JVP Provincial Council
candidate W. M. A. K Wickramasinghe Bandara was attacked by an
identified group at 12.45 a.m on the 22ndSeptember. The residence
is located at Obbegoda, Dambagalla, in Moneragala District. When
contacted by CMEV, Mr. Bandara claimed that the attack was due to
his fathers involvement in his election campaign. The Moneragala
Police Division- Election Operation Centre confirmed that the
incident was recorded as complaint No. 53.
Attackon UNP Pradeshiya Sabha member
UNP member of Hali-Ela Pradeshiya Sabha, Chandana Ranmuthugala was
assaulted allegedly by UPFA supporters, identified by Mr.
Ranmuthugala as Nihal and Jayaweredana. The incident occurred on
the 20thSeptember when Mr. Ranmuthugala was on his way to the
Badulla counting center close to the Lunugalla polling center. Mr.
Ranmuthugala was admitted to ward No. 9 in Badulla hospital.A
complaint regarding the incident has been made to the Badulla
Police.
Attack on UNP supporter
R.M. Gunathilaka, supporter of UNP Provincial Council candidate
Harin Fernando, was assaulted at his residence at midnight on the
20thSeptember subsequent to threats made at 7 p.m allegedly by a
group of persons led by vice chairman (UPFA) of Badulla Pradeshiya
Sabha. A complaint regarding the incident has been made to the
Badulla Police.
Attack on the vehicle of UNP Provincial Council candidate
Following news that the UNP party office in Hali Ela was set on
fire, UNP Provincial Council candidate Harin Fernando and
supporters were rushing to the area when an armed, unidentified
group stoned the vehicle convoy. The incident took place around 5
p.m on 22ndSeptember when the convoy was passing Hali Ela junction.
3 vehicles were damaged in the incident but no casualties were
reported. A spokesperson for Mr. Fernando claimed that the Badulla
Police took almost 2 hours to take the complaint.
The situation subsided without further violence or damage caused by
the sharp weapons that were carried by the mob, due to the Police
being deployed to disperse the mob. The incident took place in an
area with a heavy Muslim population. The community was apprehensive
about the violence. Mr. Fernando has informed CMEV that the mob
blamed villagers of Hali Ela for UPFA electorates defeat. Mr.
Fernando further informed CMEV that UPFA Badulla district MP Dilan
Perera was amongst the mob. CMEV could not reach Mr. Perera for a
statement.
During the incident, a journalist from the Lankadeepa newspaper,
Chandana Kuruppuarachchi, was attacked by the mob. He claimed that
the mob chased him for a distance of almost 1km and pelted stones
at him. He was admitted to the Badulla hospital with a few broken
teeth.
Attack against the Supporter of UNP Mahiyanganaya Organizer
CMEV received reports both from the field as well as through a
complaint made by Upali Senaratne, UNP organizer for Mahiyangana
electorate, that politicians were threatening opposition supporters
in the Mahinaganaya area.
One incident was recorded at 7 p.m from Adaulpatha, Redeemaliyadda,
Mahiyanganaya, where the driver of Mr. Senaratnes, Chaminda
Sampath, was allegedly attacked by supporters of UPFA MP for
Badulla district, Thenuka Vidanagamage. He was later admitted to
the Badulla hospital.
Another incident was recorded from the same area. Mr. Senaratne
alleged that a three-wheeler belonging to Priyantha Kumara, one of
his supporters, was damaged by UPFA supporters on the
22ndSeptember.
A further incident was reported from the Mahiyangana police
station, when Mr. Senaratne and his supporters were attempting to
make a complaint to the Police officer in charge of elections. Mr.
Senaratne and his supporters alleged that they were threatened and
beaten by supporters of UPFA Provincial Council candidate Anura
Vidanagama. Mr. Vidanagama himself had at the Police station
threatened Mr. Senaratne and supporters. This incident took place
in the presence of ASP S. Wedamulla from the Mahiyangana Police
division. When contacted by CMEV, Mr. Vidanagama claimed that these
were false allegations. He directed any further inquiries to the
Mahiyangana Police who he claimed was conducting an impartial
investigation into the complaints.Posted byThavam