Increasing Poll Violence Blamed On Non Functioning Commissions
By Nirmala Kannangara
In the absence of the independent commissions particularly the National Police Commission, the number of election related violence in the run up to the January 26 presidential polls have increased alarmingly compared to the 2005 election related violence statistics, election monitors said.
The failure on the part of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to re-activate the independent Police Commission, which expired its tenure in April this year has worsened the situation they claimed, adding that they believe the last few weeks before the 2010 January election could see a drastic increase in the number of election related incidents.
“In comparison with the 2005 election, the increasing election related violence reported so far has been due to the Police Department’s failure to hold impartial inquiries and to arrest those who were behind these incidents in the run-up to the January polls,” claimed the election monitors of CaFFE and PAFFREL.
Election monitors accused the two main candidates and their allied political parties of failing to abide by election guidelines that has resulted in the increase of violence.
“How could people expect good governance from candidates who violate election regulations openly? If they are law-abiding citizens they should order their supporters to abide by the election regulations. Their failure to act accordingly and continue to violate the country’s election rules and regulations clearly shows that they do not heed the country’s law and in that backdrop, such candidates are not suitable to hold the office of Executive President,” they said.
CaFFE and PAFFREL pointed out the importance of having an independent police force and accused the new Inspector General of Police (IGP) of having failed to carry out the orders of the Commander in Chief of the country.
“Although the President who is also the Commander in Chief ordered the IGP to remove all hoardings and billboards relating to the presidential election campaign, the IGP has totally failed to carry out orders. One could clearly see as to how the IGP has ignored the hoardings that carries the ruling party slogans all over the country especially in the metropolitan areas. Who is responsible for these acts of election violations? Was it the IGP or his men or the ruling party headed by none other than the presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa?” PAFFREL Spokesperson Rohana Hettiarachchi told The Sunday Leader..
CaFFE Spokesperson Keerti Tennakoon told The Sunday Leader that the non-implementation of the independent commissions was the main reason for rising election related violence in the country.
“Since the nominations were handed over we have received nearly 50 complaints from both sides but mainly against the ruling party. The most number of incidents has been reported from the Gampaha District where many JVP supporters were assaulted and threatened. In addition the police, particularly in the Sabaragamuwa Province have completely failed to act on election regulations and have allowed the ruling party to erect several hoardings and billboards, which would no doubt lead to more violence in the days to come.
All attempts by The Sunday Leader to contact DIG Elections Gamini Navaratne and Police Spokesperson SSP I. M. Karunaratne to get the statistics relating to election related violence were unsuccessful.
