There has been an increase in the levels of violence experienced by civilians in the east, following the Sri Lankan government’s decision to go ahead with polls in the volatile region, despite cautions and warnings against the plans by local politicians and political groups and boycotts by the major opposition groups.
Late last year the Sri Lankan government announced plans to hold elections in the eastern province to elect 101 members to the Batticaloa Municipal Council and nine Pradeshiya Sabhas. The election is scheduled for March 10 and the deadline for filing nominations closed on January 24.
In July last year the Government of Sri Lanka announced the ‘liberation’ of the east and claimed that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been driven out and it is in control of the province.
However the continuing attacks on the Sri Lankan military by LTTE forces and violent human rights abuses perpetrated by Army-backed paramilitary groups have raised questions about the government’s claims.
Even though the ground situation is not conducive for free and fair elections, the government believes that holding elections would send a positive image of the east to the international community and attract foreign funding.
However, the United States has already expressed doubts if the upcoming local elections in district of Batticaloa would be free and fair.
"The US does not believe that free and fair elections can be held if some (political) parties are armed," US Ambassador Robert O. Blake speaking at a function organised by USAID in Batticaloa said.
He further said that if "paramilitary" groups carrying arms illegally were allowed to intimidate others, it would hamper private investment that is so much needed to develop war-affected Batticaloa.
The US believes that groups like the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP), headed by breakaway LTTE leaders Karuna and Pillayan, should not be permitted to bear arms while fighting elections.
However, Sri Lanka’s ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has gone into an alliance with the paramilitary TMVP, which is accused of gross human rights abuses including, abduction, extortion and murder.
The largest Tamil political party – Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the main opposition party –United National Party (UNP) have both cited the ground situation and are boycotting the election.
The TNA Parliamentary Group Leader, R. Sampanthan noted that it was easy to predict that the poll would take a violent and undemocratic turn with paramilitary groups ruling the roost.
Terming the elections as a ‘political fraud’ Sampanthan said: "We believe in the democratic process and elections are a vital part. But there is no chance of people electing their representatives of their own free will. The show is run by armed thugs."
The paramilitary TMVP, which has in the past killed TNA supporters and abducted relatives of TNA parliamentarians, has threatened to kill any TNA parliamentarians from the eastern province if they returned to their constituencies.
Sampanthan believes that non-contesting would not cause the TNA to lose electoral ground simply because the TMVP has appeared on the scene.
"The Tamil people won’t be fooled. The community since 1956 has voted for a certain political stance. That has not changed. The TMVP is not likely to change it, with or without guns," he added.
UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said his leadership has serious concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the area. He added some armed groups operating in the area were also posing threat to the conduct of a free and fair election.
He further added that the election is simply geared towards conferring legitimacy upon the TMVP for overtly and covertly supporting the government.
"The conditions are not conducive. There is widespread violence, a breakdown in the law and order situation and political unrest. This is an attempt to hold a poll in an area that is yet to begin true resettlement," Attanayake observed.
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has fielded candidates in five councils. However, with attacks on its candidates and supporters, it has already complained about harassment and violence by the TMVP.
Two weeks before nominations closed, M. Hisbullah, a senior member of SLMC was attacked by a group of unidentified men and a van belonging to him was torched.
SLMC Leader Rauf Hakeem reacted angrily to the attack and demanded that the government plays its role in protecting candidates and ensuring normalcy.
"We predicted a blood bath. We also said there were different warlords ruling different areas of territory in the east despite the government’s rhetoric about conducive conditions for polls. The SLMC is the key party in the fray and our candidates are getting attacked," Hakeem remarked.
According to latest reports, with continuing attacks, the SLMC is also considering boycotting the elections.
The SLMC General Secretary told The Nation newspaper that unknown men have emerged suddenly in Batticaloa to harass SLMC candidates. He said these strange men might be from the underworld.
“We do not know who is behind this. But we are targeted,” he said.
He said his party will not like the candidates face such high risks to contest elections in areas, especially where militants operate with state assistance.
“So, we might take a decision to withdraw our candidates if the situation turns out to be too bad,” he said.
Late last year the Sri Lankan government announced plans to hold elections in the eastern province to elect 101 members to the Batticaloa Municipal Council and nine Pradeshiya Sabhas. The election is scheduled for March 10 and the deadline for filing nominations closed on January 24.
In July last year the Government of Sri Lanka announced the ‘liberation’ of the east and claimed that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been driven out and it is in control of the province.
However the continuing attacks on the Sri Lankan military by LTTE forces and violent human rights abuses perpetrated by Army-backed paramilitary groups have raised questions about the government’s claims.
Even though the ground situation is not conducive for free and fair elections, the government believes that holding elections would send a positive image of the east to the international community and attract foreign funding.
However, the United States has already expressed doubts if the upcoming local elections in district of Batticaloa would be free and fair.
"The US does not believe that free and fair elections can be held if some (political) parties are armed," US Ambassador Robert O. Blake speaking at a function organised by USAID in Batticaloa said.
He further said that if "paramilitary" groups carrying arms illegally were allowed to intimidate others, it would hamper private investment that is so much needed to develop war-affected Batticaloa.
The US believes that groups like the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP), headed by breakaway LTTE leaders Karuna and Pillayan, should not be permitted to bear arms while fighting elections.
However, Sri Lanka’s ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has gone into an alliance with the paramilitary TMVP, which is accused of gross human rights abuses including, abduction, extortion and murder.
The largest Tamil political party – Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the main opposition party –United National Party (UNP) have both cited the ground situation and are boycotting the election.
The TNA Parliamentary Group Leader, R. Sampanthan noted that it was easy to predict that the poll would take a violent and undemocratic turn with paramilitary groups ruling the roost.
Terming the elections as a ‘political fraud’ Sampanthan said: "We believe in the democratic process and elections are a vital part. But there is no chance of people electing their representatives of their own free will. The show is run by armed thugs."
The paramilitary TMVP, which has in the past killed TNA supporters and abducted relatives of TNA parliamentarians, has threatened to kill any TNA parliamentarians from the eastern province if they returned to their constituencies.
Sampanthan believes that non-contesting would not cause the TNA to lose electoral ground simply because the TMVP has appeared on the scene.
"The Tamil people won’t be fooled. The community since 1956 has voted for a certain political stance. That has not changed. The TMVP is not likely to change it, with or without guns," he added.
UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said his leadership has serious concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the area. He added some armed groups operating in the area were also posing threat to the conduct of a free and fair election.
He further added that the election is simply geared towards conferring legitimacy upon the TMVP for overtly and covertly supporting the government.
"The conditions are not conducive. There is widespread violence, a breakdown in the law and order situation and political unrest. This is an attempt to hold a poll in an area that is yet to begin true resettlement," Attanayake observed.
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has fielded candidates in five councils. However, with attacks on its candidates and supporters, it has already complained about harassment and violence by the TMVP.
Two weeks before nominations closed, M. Hisbullah, a senior member of SLMC was attacked by a group of unidentified men and a van belonging to him was torched.
SLMC Leader Rauf Hakeem reacted angrily to the attack and demanded that the government plays its role in protecting candidates and ensuring normalcy.
"We predicted a blood bath. We also said there were different warlords ruling different areas of territory in the east despite the government’s rhetoric about conducive conditions for polls. The SLMC is the key party in the fray and our candidates are getting attacked," Hakeem remarked.
According to latest reports, with continuing attacks, the SLMC is also considering boycotting the elections.
The SLMC General Secretary told The Nation newspaper that unknown men have emerged suddenly in Batticaloa to harass SLMC candidates. He said these strange men might be from the underworld.
“We do not know who is behind this. But we are targeted,” he said.
He said his party will not like the candidates face such high risks to contest elections in areas, especially where militants operate with state assistance.
“So, we might take a decision to withdraw our candidates if the situation turns out to be too bad,” he said.
