More than 1000 officers sent under the instruction of the Economic Development Minister, Basil Rajapaksa have been involved in the intimidation of Tamil and Muslim voters in three districts of the eastern province, Ampaarai, Batticaloa and Trincomalee, reports TamilNet.
According to complaints made by the leaders of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Sri Lankan Muslim Congress, R.Sampanthan and Rauff Hakeem, voters were warned of serious consequences should they not vote for the ruling United peoples Freedom Party (UPFA) in the upcoming Eastern Provincial Council election.
The gangs of intimidators dispatched by Minister Basil Rajapaksa, known as ‘social service officers’, are said to be roaming in villages and visiting every household with local candidates of the UPFA.
Both Mr Sampanthan and Mr Hakeem have requested the commissioner General of Elections to take steps to stop unruly elements creating terror and to ensure peaceful and fair election in the eastern province.
The reports of voter intimidation came as the government announced that it will deploy 21000 officers to the eastern provinces for ‘security duties’ during the elections.
