CMEV received a number of reports from its monitors on Saturday 27th March which have a bearing on the election in the North and East.

Batticaloa District

The Government Agent (GA) of Batticaloa Mr R. Maunagurusamy was shot in the head around 1815 hrs on Saturday 27th March 2004 in Pillaiyaradi, Batticaloa, when returning home from work. Two unidentified gunmen on a motor bicycle are reported as being the perpertrators of this act of Attempted Murder. Chief Inspector Bandara of the Batticaloa Police told CMEV that he suspected LTTE cadre from the Vanni as being the responsible for the act of Attempted Murder. CMEV learns that Mr Maunagurusamy has been airlifted to Colombo for further surgery.

Colombo District

Former UNF Hindu Affairs Minister and UNF MP from the Jaffna District, was shot and wounded by unidentified gunmen on Saturday 27th March 2004 at around 2000 hrs.

CMEV also received a report on the shooting of Mr Kandiah Sangaran, EPDP National List candidate at Wellawatte, around 1600 hrs. The perpertrators of the Attempted Murder are reported to have been on a motor bicycle. Mr Sangaran escaped injury. CMEV spoke to Mr Thavarasa of the EPDP who accused the LTTE of the Attempted Murder of its candidate.

Jaffna District

A group of supporters of Mr Anandasangaree, TULF leader, Independent Group 1 leader and candidate were encountered by a group of people in Kaithadi who surrounded their vehicles and damaged them with iron rods. Police who were providing the Independent Group with protection, shot into the air and dispersed the attackers.

CMEV unequivocally condemns these Major Incidents of violence and sees them as an attempt to seriously frustrate, even prevent the exercise of the franchise in the North and East. It calls upon the LTTE and Karuna and his supporters, to demonstrate their declared commitment to the free and fair exercise of the franchise, not just in word alone but in deed as well. CMEV also calls upon the two political actors to respect the integrity of the electoral process as fundamental to democratic politics. The LTTE and Karuna and his group must ensure that the violent power struggle between them does not further seriously jeopardize the exercise of the franchise on 2nd April 2004.

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