Archive for the ‘Final Report’ Category
Local Authority Election 2011: Final Media Communiqué on Election Day
17th March 2011 Colombo, Sri Lanka, 6:00PM: At the end of polling, CMEV has recorded 56 election violations in the elections to the 91 local bodies it monitored. Of these 27 are major incidents and 29 are minor incidents. The major incidents included one report of murder, a grenade attack, seven incidents of assault, seven incidents of intimidation including five reports of an intimidatory presence around the polling station, the obstruction of polling agents, voters and election monitors, as well as the chasing away of voters. The alleged perpetrators identified as being responsible for major incidents of violence are the UPFA (16), UNP (2), TMVP (1) and the Police (1).
As CMEV did not monitor the election to all bodies that polled today, it is not in a position to make an overall comment on this phase of the Local Government elections. However, we note the recurrence of incidents of violence and violations of election law including as a consequence of intra-party competition both at the personal level and the level of constituent parties of the ruling alliance. We also note that as a consequence of a lacuna in the law, the Department of Elections could not provide transport to IDPs to polling centres. As a result, political parties did so especially in the Puttalam area. CMEV hopes that in the future the participation of all citizens in Sri Lanka in the electoral process will not in anyway raise questions about undue partisan influencing of their exercise of the franchise.
CMEV has received the following reports after the release of our second media communiqué:
Assault
Northern Province, Mannar District, Mannar PS, around 10.00PM
A CMEV monitor reports that a voter named Robel has been assaulted in front of the Sullukudirippu Roman Catholic Maha Vidyalaya by two policemen and four people who arrived in a white van. When CMEV contacted Mannar Police Station, Sergeant Upali claimed that they did not receive any complaints regarding the incident and further stated that the police station will inform the mobile police unit to conduct further investigations.
Southern Province, Hambanthota District, Tangalle UC
UNP parliamentarian Dilip Wedaarachchi reported to CMEV that UNP candidate Abdul Rahuman was attacked by UPFA supporters near the President’s residence Carlton. The victim received serious injuries and has been admitted to the hospital.
Western Province, Gampaha District, Wattala PS, at around 9.30am
UNP candidate Charles Ranmuthu reported to CMEV that he and his supporters were attacked by an unidentified group consisting of 25 persons who came in two vehicles (WPHH 3000, 5668) near the Nayakanda Good Shepherd Convent polling centre. The victims have not received injuries and at the time of the incident there was a policeman present. UNP candidate Ranmuthu alleged that the perpetrators are supporters of UPFA.
North Western Province, Kurunegala District, Nikaweratiya PS, from 12.00 – 1.00pm
UNP candidate R.B Ekanayaka (NO. 08) reported to CMEV that a group of UPFA supporters including the Secretary of Minister Jonston Fernando, Sunil Jayaweera, had tried to attack him with an iron rod near the Diwulagoda Maha Vidyalaya polling centre. When Mr. Ekanayake escaped on his motorbike they fired 6-8 gunshots. The perpetrators have smashed the victim’s motorbike (NWWM FB14) and his uncle’s Nissan Vehicle (301-1626 FB14). They also attacked neighbouring houses. The victim was not injured. He has complained about the incident to the SPO, but has failed to lodge a complaint with the police due to a fear of reprisals.
Voter transportation
Southern Province, Hambantota District, Lunugamwehera PS, around 12.40PM
A CMEV monitor reports that posters of UPFA candidate Walgama Wadduge Ajith Kumara aka Chooty Malli (NO.08) have been dispersed around the Kudagammana Prathamika Vidyalaya polling centre. His supporters are involved in voter transportation in a jeep (52-8486).
Voter intimidation
Southern Province, Hambantota District, Tissamaharama PS, at around 2.45PM
CMEV monitor reports that a group of 15 UPFA supporters are stationed near the Mahasenpura Maha Vidyalaya polling centre with a list of voters’ names.
Continuous campaigning on Election Day
Southern Province, Hambantota District, Tissamaharama PS, at around 12.40PM
Leaflets of UPFA candidate Wijenayaka (NO. 04) have been dispersed near the Muthiyammagama Kanishta Vidyalaya polling center. Leaflets of UPFA candidate R.A Gayan Sadharuwan (no.08) have been distributed by his supporters in a cab (WPPP 4313). A three-wheeler pasted with stickers of UPFA candidate Wijenayaka (NO.04) has been transporting voters into the polling centre.
Final report on election related violence and malpractices: Parliamentary Election 2010
Final report on election related violence and malpractices: Presidential Election 2010
Total voter turnout figures: Parliamentary Election, April 2010
Download this as a printer-friendly PDF here.
CMEV Final Report – Major Incidents in the Southern Provincial Council Elections, 10th October 2009
At the close of polls, CMEV reports a provisional voter turnout of 63.66 %. A breakdown of the districts indicates 66% in Hambantota district, 68% in Matara district and 57% in Galle district. This is to be compared with the 2004 Southern Provincial Council Elections where the total turnout was 55.64% with a breakdown of 55.99% in Hambantota district, 54.43% in Matara district and 56.5% in Galle district.
On Polling Day, CMEV monitors reported 29 incidents in total with 8 major incidents and 21 minor incidents.
Download the full CMEV election day report here. Download the report in Sinhala here.
Report of CMEV field visit to Vavuniya, 30th July 2009
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) made a fact finding visit to
Vavuniya from 23-24th July to assess the situation there with regard to the Urban
Council Election on 8 May 2009. CMEV met with political party leaders, candidates, the
Assistant Election Commissioner, Police, members of the Bar Association, Chamber of
Commerce, Civil Society leaders, activists and members of the general public.
One hundred and thirty five (135) candidates from six political parties and three
independent groups are contesting the election for the 11 seat Vavuniya Urban Council.
Most of the political parties engage in house to house visits, pocket meetings and
campaigning in vehicle convoys using loudspeakers. Posters and cutouts of all political
parties except the Sri Lanka Progressive Front and independent groups can be seen
almost everywhere.
Download the full report here.
Report of CMEV field visit to Jaffna, 30th July 2009
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) visited Jaffna from the 19 -22 July
2009 in the lead up to elections for the Jaffna Municipal Council which will be held on
the 8th of August 2009. CMEV will monitor the elections to the Jaffna Municipality
throughout the campaign and on the Election Day through the deployment of Field
Monitors, Polling Booth Monitors on Election Day as well as Mobile Teams. During the
visit CPA met with political party leaders, candidates, the GA and the Assistant
Commissioner of Elections, leading civil society actors including religious leaders, the
media, the business sector, lawyers, representatives from the fishing community,
academics and university students.
Read the report in full here.
Final Report on election related violence: Central & North Western Province
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) commenced its monitoring for the Central and North Western Provincial Council Elections on 10th January 2009. CMEV focused its monitoring on election related malpractices, irregularities and incidents of electoral violence in three phases:
1. Campaign
2. Polling Day
3. Post election violence
CMEV monitoring is founded on the belief that the electoral process is the basic mechanism for choice and change in a functioning democracy. Furthermore, political parties bear a responsibility for protecting the integrity of the electoral process through their choice of candidates and electoral practices. Individual candidates, likewise. Accordingly, the integrity of the electoral process is of pivotal importance for the legitimacy of the governance and government that it produces. Electoral violence and malpractice and discrimination in favor of any political party or section of the electorate will erode public trust and confidence.
The basic modus operandi of CMEV is the deployment of monitors in the field attached to each of the relevant Polling Divisions in a District. They report back to the CMEV Secretariat for the further corroboration of information pertaining to electoral violence and malpractice. The Secretariat releases the information to the public through the media after this further process is completed.
Overall, in the elections to the two Provincial Councils, there was a sizeable decrease in the number and nature of incidents, especially on Election Day. There were however, a number of incidents reported during the campaign that adversely affected the environment for conducting a free and fair election.
In these two elections, the highest number of complaints related to the disenfranchisement of voters on account of the lack of proper identification documents. This was also the case in the previous provincial council elections- the Eastern Provincial Council Election held on 10th May and North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Election held on 23rd August 2008.
CMEV consistently highlighted the issue and the importance of taking steps to rectify it. The problem however has persisted. Other issues identified are the misuse of public resources and biased print and electronic media coverage – mainly by the State media. This has become a common feature of elections held in Sri Lanka and is yet another reinforcement of the argument constantly advanced by CMEV regarding the urgency of the
full implementation of the 17th Amendment.
CMEV believes that the establishment of independent commissions for the Police, the Public Service and Elections amongst others provided for by this amendment, is necessary for the protection of the integrity of the electoral process. The Commissioner of Elections acted decisively in response to malpractices being confirmed at one Polling Station. The Commissioner declared the results of No. 47 Polling Station at P/ Nayakkarchenai Tamil Vidyalya in the Puttalam Polling Station (Puttalam District) null and void and ordered a re-poll in that station. CMEV welcomed the decision of the Commissioner of Elections and reiterates that it will serve as a strong precedent and effective deterrent against future electoral irregularities and malpractice. CMEV deployed a special team to monitor the re-poll and recorded 12 incidents of election related violence on the day of the re poll.
Read the report in full here as a PDF.
