CMEV is gravely concerned about the situation that is developing in the North and East with serious acts of violence, including murder, and widespread intimidation, that raise a number of critical issues regarding the possibility of holding a free and fair election in these areas.

The Parliamentary elections of April 2004 have a special significance for people living in the North and East of Sri Lanka, many of whom will cast their vote for the first time in over 15 years. It is in this context that CMEV has monitored the situation in these areas with a special focus during the past weeks.

The murder of TNA candidate Mr. Rajan Sathyamoorthy in Batticaloa this morning, along with another TNA supporter, Mr. Kanagasabai, brings the total of election-related murders in that District to four. The earlier murders were of Mr. S. Sunderampillai, UNF candidate and EPDP activist Mr. P. Nagendran. Four (4) UNF candidates resigned as a consequence. There was a fifth murder in Amparai District, of Mr. Kalam, a SLMC worker. All these murders took place within the past four weeks. The attempted murder of Batticaloa GA Mr. Maunaguruswamy, who is the designated Chief Returning Officer for the District is equally contemptible.

These murders as well as many other incidents of attempted murder, assault, harassment and intimidation have created an environment in which the ability of voters in the North and East to make an informed choice of candidates is seriously impaired. The recent split within the LTTE and the subsequent realignment of forces in the North and East have also contributed towards the intensification of tension surrounding the elections in these areas and have had a disastrous impact on the conduct of this campaign.

Among the most disturbing of the reports that we have received concerns the actions of some candidates and supporters of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) allegedly with LTTE backing that have made it virtually impossible for other Tamil parties and groups to carry on with an election campaign throughout the North and East. From the Jaffna District in particular, we have received many reports of attacks and intimidation of supporters of Mr. Anandasangaree of the TULF and members of the EPDP. In the East, Mr. J. Pararajasingham, TNA candidate, has also complained of his inability to carry on with propaganda activities.

The rights of voters in those areas of the North and East that are under LTTE control have become a major focus of attention especially among the international community. The focus has been on the establishment of cluster polling stations in areas outside the military control of both the Sri Lankan army and the LTTE (in the 'no man's land') and the provision of transport and other facilities to enable the more than 250,000 voters in these areas to exercise their franchise for the first time in many years. However, there has been little focus on the rights of these voters to receive information regarding the different political parties and groups that seek their vote in order to enable them to make an informed and free choice of candidate. Given a situation where no group other than the TNA has been able to enter and canvass for votes in these areas, once again the issue of whether an election held under such circumstances could be considered to be free and fair remains an issue.

CMEV has, from the beginning of the present election campaign, reiterated that in the North and East the major responsibility for a violence-free election campaign rested on the Police and the LTTE, as the two main actors with the capacity to ensure the safety and security of all candidates and supporters. Sadly, they have been unable and perhaps sometimes unwilling to fulfill their obligations in this regard.

Although we had hoped that the Amnesty International note of caution that 'candidates and supporters of Tamil political parties not allied to the TNA may become targets of assassination' would turn out to be misplaced, in fact the tragic reality has been that the election campaign in the North and East has turned out to be fraught with violence and flagrant disregard for the democratic rights of the citizens of these areas.

CMEV urges all parties contesting the elections in the North and East to ensure that voting is carried out without any acts of intimidation or violence or other malpractice on April 2, 2004. It is only if divergent views and opinions are allowed to be expressed, and are seen to be expressed, that these elections can go on record as being conducted in a free and fair atmosphere. It is only then that all those who emerge victorious can truly claim to be the legitimate representatives of their constituencies.

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