CAFFE’S NAMING AND SHAMING CAMPAIGN WORKS – VIOLENT CANDIDATES ARRESTED
2014-02-11
Vehicles without number plates roam Kalutara– Misuse of public property continues
The lobbying efforts of Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) led to the arrest of two United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) candidates of the Southern Province for incidents of election related violence.
Ajith Prasanna, a retired major of the army, was charged with assaulting a police officer after handing over nominations on February 6 while DV Upul is linked to the assault of two supporters of the United National Party (UNP) MP Sajith Premadasa, one of the victims is still undergoing treatment. In the case of Prasanna the police did not react to the assault of one of their own and the police spokesman used the conjunction ‘if’ when describing the incident. CaFFE presented photographic evidence to prove such an assault did take place and pressured the police to take action against Prasanna through continuous lobbying though media. It was only after our protracted naming and shaming campaign that police took action to arrest him, however Prasanna was given time to arrive in Colombo and admit himself the a private hospital thus preventing police from placing him in a cell.
Meanwhile DV Upul was also arrested after continuous lobbying through media, (first incedent of election violance after the nomination) however he was granted police bail soon after the arrest although normally an accused is not given police bail if the victim is undergoing treatment in a hospital. Nevertheless CaFFE is happy with the results of its lobbying action as police was compelled to take some form of action against election law violators and we believe that if continuous pressure can be applied the pre election environment can be made relatively peaceful due to the effects of law enforcement.
Meanwhile CaFFE has received a large number of complaints regarding the use of vehicles with garage number plates and the misuse of public property in Kalutara and Negombo. Misuse of public property during elections has been endemic in Sri Lanka and preventing this is vital for assuring a level playing field, which is a hallmark of a free and fair election.
CaFFE has written to the Commissioner of Elections and the IGP that the deputy mayor of Negombo SM Mohammed Sakaulla who is contesting for Gampaha District in the coming provincial council elections is using the vehicle (WP PE 7462) given to him by the state, for electioneering throughout the week. Previous experience has shown that former provincial councilors and candidates who are holding positions in the local government authorities are prone to misuse public property, as most have not handed over the assets given to them by the state during their tenure. CaFFE has informed election authorities that only a few former councilors have returned their official vehicles and other state properties and requested the elections commissioner and other administrative officials to take action to prevent this.
Meanwhile there have also been reports that candidates, of both main political parties, are using vehicles with number plates blatantly violating directives of the elections commissioner and the IGP and the motor traffic act. CaFFE wrote to the commissioner that United National Party (UNP) provincial council candidate PD Abeyratne, a resident of Ingiriya, is using a vehicle with a garage number plate for electioneering in the Kalutara district with photographic evidence. The use of vehicles without number plates was widely seen during the provincial council elections held last year and these vehicles were widely used during incidents of election related violence. Noting that the districts in which candidates used vehicles with garage numbers and false number plates were the most violent during last years elections CaFFE wrote to the Commissioner of Elections and the IGP on February 10, 2014 informing them that their directives are not implemented on the ground.
On January 16, 2014 the Commissioner of Elections issued the circular PCE/2014/4B requesting all government officials to take action to prevent the misuse of state property and state officials.
By 9 am, February 10, 2014 CaFFE has received 117 complaints, while the Police elections secretariat has received 7 complaints. The Election Commissioner has resived 111 complains according to the media.
CaFFE Media
2014-02-11
Vehicles without number plates roam Kalutara– Misuse of public property continues
The lobbying efforts of Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) led to the arrest of two United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) candidates of the Southern Province for incidents of election related violence.
Ajith Prasanna, a retired major of the army, was charged with assaulting a police officer after handing over nominations on February 6 while DV Upul is linked to the assault of two supporters of the United National Party (UNP) MP Sajith Premadasa, one of the victims is still undergoing treatment. In the case of Prasanna the police did not react to the assault of one of their own and the police spokesman used the conjunction ‘if’ when describing the incident. CaFFE presented photographic evidence to prove such an assault did take place and pressured the police to take action against Prasanna through continuous lobbying though media. It was only after our protracted naming and shaming campaign that police took action to arrest him, however Prasanna was given time to arrive in Colombo and admit himself the a private hospital thus preventing police from placing him in a cell.
Meanwhile DV Upul was also arrested after continuous lobbying through media, (first incedent of election violance after the nomination) however he was granted police bail soon after the arrest although normally an accused is not given police bail if the victim is undergoing treatment in a hospital. Nevertheless CaFFE is happy with the results of its lobbying action as police was compelled to take some form of action against election law violators and we believe that if continuous pressure can be applied the pre election environment can be made relatively peaceful due to the effects of law enforcement.
Meanwhile CaFFE has received a large number of complaints regarding the use of vehicles with garage number plates and the misuse of public property in Kalutara and Negombo. Misuse of public property during elections has been endemic in Sri Lanka and preventing this is vital for assuring a level playing field, which is a hallmark of a free and fair election.
CaFFE has written to the Commissioner of Elections and the IGP that the deputy mayor of Negombo SM Mohammed Sakaulla who is contesting for Gampaha District in the coming provincial council elections is using the vehicle (WP PE 7462) given to him by the state, for electioneering throughout the week. Previous experience has shown that former provincial councilors and candidates who are holding positions in the local government authorities are prone to misuse public property, as most have not handed over the assets given to them by the state during their tenure. CaFFE has informed election authorities that only a few former councilors have returned their official vehicles and other state properties and requested the elections commissioner and other administrative officials to take action to prevent this.
Meanwhile there have also been reports that candidates, of both main political parties, are using vehicles with number plates blatantly violating directives of the elections commissioner and the IGP and the motor traffic act. CaFFE wrote to the commissioner that United National Party (UNP) provincial council candidate PD Abeyratne, a resident of Ingiriya, is using a vehicle with a garage number plate for electioneering in the Kalutara district with photographic evidence. The use of vehicles without number plates was widely seen during the provincial council elections held last year and these vehicles were widely used during incidents of election related violence. Noting that the districts in which candidates used vehicles with garage numbers and false number plates were the most violent during last years elections CaFFE wrote to the Commissioner of Elections and the IGP on February 10, 2014 informing them that their directives are not implemented on the ground.
On January 16, 2014 the Commissioner of Elections issued the circular PCE/2014/4B requesting all government officials to take action to prevent the misuse of state property and state officials.
By 9 am, February 10, 2014 CaFFE has received 117 complaints, while the Police elections secretariat has received 7 complaints. The Election Commissioner has resived 111 complains according to the media.
CaFFE Media
