Throughout the campaign for General Elections in April 2004, CMEV had highlighted the need to pay special attention to the conducting of a free and fair election in the North and East, with a focus on ensuring respect for the rights of voters and the rights of political parties and groups contesting the elections in these areas. This was because of the circumstances in which large numbers of voters from the uncleared areas were to cast their vote for the first time and in the context of fears expressed by both Muslim and Tamil political parties and groups contesting the elections in the North and East of intimidation and harassment of their supporters. The fact that all five election-related murders that took place during the election campaign, between March 1 and March 31, occurred in the Eastern Province further heightened the need to pay special attention to this Province on Election Day.

Batticaloa:

CMEV monitors filed complaints of widespread impersonation at the Agrarian Service Centre, Kattankudy (Polling Station 108) Kattankudy Madya Maha Vidyalaya (Polling Station 117) and Nuramiya Maha Vidyalaya (Polling Station).

There was also a report of an assault of candidate Mr. Nazeer Hamza, of Independendent Group 8, at the approach to Nooraniya Maha Vidyalaya in New Kattankudy West (Polling Station No. 116).

Monitors recorded intimidation of polling agents at several polling stations. UPFA candidate Mr. Kazali complained to CMEV monitors that SLMC polling agents were intimidating his colleagues inside the polling stations at Al Noor Vidyalaya, Valaichchenai (Polling Station Nos. 58, 59 and 60) when he challenged impersonations. Our monitor reported a tussle between supporters of SLMC and UPFA at the entrance to the station, and the Police had to disperse the crowd. There were also complaints of large-scale impersonation at this Polling Station.

There were also reports of large crowds congregating near the Ottamavadi Maha Vidyalaya (Polling Station No. 9).

Digamadulla District:

Amparai:

CMEV monitors made special reports on the situation they discovered in many polling stations in Sammanturai and Potuvil throughout the day. There were cases of impersonation, intimidation of voters and polling agents, including one CMEV monitor, blatant distribution of polling cards in the vicinity of the polling station, transporting of voters and several incidents in which the Police was forced to fire into the air to disperse groups that were congregating near the entrance to a polling station.

We give below several examples of such incidents:

Impersonation:

Incidents of impersonation were observed by CMEV monitors at the following Polling Stations, among others:

Sammanturai:

Sennal Gramam Zahira Vidyala (Polling Stations No. No 32 and 33)

Govt. Tamil Mixed School, Malwatta (Polling Stations 44 and 45)

Jamaliya Vidyalaya, Sammanturai (Polling Stations 30 and 31)

Al Ershad Vidyala, Sammanturai (Polling Stations 35 and 37)

Muslim Maha Vidyalaya, Sammanturai (Polling Stations 19 and 21)

Kallarachchal Muslim Vidyalaya (Polling Stations 28 and 29)

Potuvil:

Karativu Shanmuga Vidyalaya (Polling Stations 122 and 123)

Al Ashraq National School, Nintavur (Polling Stations 112 and 116)

Kumara Vidyalaya, Tirukkovil (Polling Station 45)

Imam Rumi Vidyalaya, Nintavur (Polling Station 103)

Imam Kasali Vidyalaya, Nintavur (Polling Station 101)

Al Hidaya Vidyalaya, Palamunai (Polling Station 85) SPO U.L.O. Rahamatullah told CMEV monitors that there had been attempts at impersonation that he had prevented.

Attacks on candidates:

Police complaint EIB 368/4 made by Mr. Abdul Rashid Mohamed Sayeed a candidate of Independent Group No.19, of an attack on him and a group of his supporters near the 5th milepost on the Amparai/Akkarapattu road by SLMC supporters including a candidate, Mr. Uvais. Two candidates on the Independent Group No. 19 list were injured, Mr. Mohamed Thambi Muhajirin and Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Hussein and admitted to Amparai Base Hospital with cut wounds.

Intimidation of voters:

Marathamunai public Hall (Polling station 49, Kalmunai): persons gathered close to the polling station wearing caps with the colors green and yellow and the number 1 and 8 with a cross marked on it were heard by our monitors loudly stating that someone who had harassed them yesterday (name was not clearly heard) would be killed if they came to vote today.

Sennal Gramam Zahira Vidyala, Sammanturai(Polling Stations 32 and 33, Sammanturai)a clash between supporters of SLMC and NUA outside the polling station had led the STF to shoot into the air and also push back the crowd. Some persons said they had been hurt in the incident and there was high level of tension in the area around 11.30 a.m. on April 2.

Al Ashraq National School, Nintavur (Polling Stations 112 and 116, Pottuvil): persons gathered outside the polling station had leaflets promoting the number of one candidate in their hands and they were attempting to distribute it to persons going in to the polling station. A large group of people were gathered in a house right across from the polling station from which observers said they were coordinating impersonation and other irregularities.

No 28 and 29, Kallarachchal Muslim Vidyalaya, hall 1 and 2, UPFA supporter assaulted and hurt by SLMC supporters.

Intimidation of polling agents and CMEV monitors:

Mr. S.C. Faleel, the CMEV monitor at Sennal Gramam Zahra Vidyalaya (Polling Stations 32 and 33, Sammanturai)had been threatened on the previous night by a group of unidentified persons who came to his home and said he would be killed if he monitored the elections.

The EPDP has complained that their polling agents in Potuvil, Kalmunai and Sammanturai were intimidated and chased away from polling stations. They have already lodged a complaint in this regard with the Commissioner of Elections.

In Kalmunai, No 29, Al Azar Vidyalaya, Kalmunaikudi, polling agent belonging to Independent Group 22 was assaulted allegedly by a group of Ferial Ashraf’s supporters inside the polling station. The victim has been admitted to the Ashraf Memorial Hospital.

Distribution of polling cards:

Lal Thurairajah, EPDP candidate, has complained that at Methodist Tamil Mixed School in Komari (Polling Station 30, Potuvil) and other polling stations in the area, he observed the distribution of polling cards taking place in the immediate vicinity of the Polling Station.

Transporting of voters:

On the road from Tirukkovil to Akkaraipattu, monitors recorded Isuzu van 30 Sri 0238 and a white van 250-6210 that were transporting voters accompanied by young men who distributed polling cards to the passengers.

CMEV monitors also observed that in some cases there was lack of effective action taken by the SPOs and Police to prevent impersonation and congregating of persons outside the polling stations.

We hope to submit a full report of all incidents of election-related violence and irregularities to the Commissioner of Elections within the next week.

In view of the above, we feel that the polling in Digamadulla District has been flawed in the Polling Divisions of Sammanturai, Potuvil and Kalmunai to the point where an annulment of the polls there would be warranted. We urge the Commissioner of Elections to consider this.


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