CMEV is greatly disturbed by several reports of the use of fire arms in incidents of violence linked to the on-going election campaign. Among the recent incidents in which the use of fire- arms arouses our concern are:

On March 13, two vehicles parked at the home of UPFA candidate for Batticaloa, M.S.M. Fizar, at Meeravodai in Kalkudah Electorate were shot at and damaged, at about 3.45 a.m. The vehicle from which the shots were fired (56-5050) was apprehended while parked in front of the office of Ameer Ali, SLMC candidate for Batticaloa. 5 persons were arrested. Following this incident, a group of SLMC supporters demonstrated in front of Mr. Fizar's house and threw stones at the Police team providing security to Mr. Hisbullah, UPFA candidate for Batticaloa, who was visiting Mr. Fazir at the time. In response, the Police fired shots and teargas at the crowd. Mohamed Niyas, a SLMC supporter, was injured in the shooting. He was first admitted to Pollonnaruwa Hospital and later transferred to Colombo General Hospital where he has undergone surgery.

On March 13, another incident has been reported from Arachchikkatuwa in the Chilaw Electorate. UPFA supporter W.A. Sudath Rohana and UNP supporter A. Nihal Silva have both filed complaints with the Chilaw Police alleging that they had been shot at. Sudath Rohana alleges that he and a friend W.D. Sunil were fired at by UNP supporters including Nihal Silva and Nalaka; Nihal Silva alleges that he was shot at by Sudath Rohana and 'Kadira'. Nobody has been injured. Sudath Rohana has been taken into custody on the basis of Mr. Silva's complaint.

On March 15, UPFA supporter Ranjith Indralal from Moneragala lodged a complaint that a group of about 50 persons came outside his home in vehicles and motor bicycles at about midnight, shouted out threats and fired shots from a T 56 in the air. Subsequent to a Police complaint (EIB143/86), the Police who came to inquire into the incident found 3 empty shells of the variety used in a T 56 weapon outside Mr. Indralal's home the next morning.

On March 16, an altercation between UNF supporters and supporters of the UPFA led by UPFA candidate for Nawalapitiya, Mahindananda Aluthgamage was reported from Kurunduwatta in Gampola. Vehicles belonging to the UNF supporters were damaged. Mr. Aluthgamage is reported to have shot into the air during the incident. Following a Police complaint (EIB 197/97) about the attack made by the UNF, two UNF supporters have been taken into custody including the driver of a vehicle belonging to a UNF supporter in which a grenade was found. UNF alleges that the grenade has been planted there in order to incriminate them.

Although there have been sporadic attempts made by the authorities to recover unlicensed fire arms in the hands of politicians and their supporters, CMEV is of the opinion that the presence of large numbers of such weapons in the hands of unauthorised persons continues to constitute a grave threat to the carrying out of a free and fair election.

CMEV calls on the Police to accelerate their campaign to recover unlicensed weapons and urges all Police officers to use their own fire arms with caution and avoid the inflicting of injuries by shooting as far as possible.

CMEV also notes with concern a complaint made by the SLMC that the death of Kaldeen (Sana), a worker in the office of SLMC candidate for Digamadulla M.I.M. Mansoor, under suspicious circumstances on March 17 should be further investigated. Mr. Kaldeen’s body was found with head injuries at Weeramunai. The SLMC alleges that the Sammanturai Police are not acting impartially in this matter. A fellow SLMC worker has said that Kaldeen had been threatened on a previous occasion by persons he identified as supporters of the UPFA. If it is found that Kaldeen has been murdered, this would be the third violent death to take place in the Eastern province since the election campaign began.

CMEV one again appeals to all political parties and leaders to act with responsibility during the election campaign and to ensure that none of their supporters uses violence and intimidation as a part of political action. Any information regarding supporters using unlicensed weapons should be immediately brought to the notice of the authorities and visible public actions should be taken to reassure the public that those responsible for acts of intimidation and violence are being dealt with. This will be the only way to restore public confidence in the electoral process as being free and fair.

CMEV was formed in 1997 by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), the Free Media Movement (FMM) and the Coalition against Political Violence as an independent and non-partisan organization to monitor the incidence of election related violence.

Dr. P. Saravanamuttu Co-Convenor	Sunila Abeysekera Co-Convenor	Sundanda Deshapriya Co-Convenor