Centre for Policy Alternatives on 12 October, 2009

Regarding grossly misleading reference to CPA in Tamilnet news report

Editor, Tamilnet (www.tamilnet.com)

12 October 2009

Dear Sir or Madam:

Regarding grossly misleading reference to CPA in Tamilnet news report

The news story titled Fonseka’s legal perils published on your website today, available online at http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=30421, includes a reference and link to a press release by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA).

Issued on 28th September 2008, the press release originally titled “CPA statement on the recent comments by Gen. Sarath Fonseka in Canada’s National Post” responded to specific comments made by Gen. Sarath Fonseka and published in Canadian print media at the time. “CPA statement on Fonseka” is the generic title given to the web link / URL of this press release in your news story.

We are very concerned that the inclusion of CPA’s press release in this manner, without its original title and featured in a news story completely unrelated to its content is grossly misleading and against basic ethics of journalism that call for accurate sourcing of information.

CPA has absolutely no association with Tamils Against Genocide (TAG) and has not issued any press release on war crimes in Sri Lanka.

We urgently request that you delete this extremely misleading link and reference.

Centre for Policy Alternatives on 11 October, 2009

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.

CMEV Final Report ? Major Incidents in the Southern Provincial Council Elections, 10th October 2009

Centre for Policy Alternatives on 11 October, 2009

Southern Provincial Council Election 2009: Election Day Media Communique? No. 1

As at 12.00 noon 10th October, 2009 Colombo Sri Lanka:
Voting for the Southern Provincial Council elections commenced at 7.00
a.m. today with relatively low incidents of election related violence.
According the CMEV monitors, a total of 20 election-related incidents
have been recorded since polls opened from all three districts. 07 of
these incidents have been categorized as major and 13 as minor. 10
incidents have been reported from Galle, 05 incidents have been
reported from Matara and 05 incidents from Hambantota district.

Download full CMEV report here.

Southern Provincial Council Election 2009: Election Day Media Communique? No. 1

Centre for Policy Alternatives on 10 October, 2009

Monitoring election violence in Sri Lanka Southern Provincial Council Election 2009: Interim Report

8th October 2009:
CMEV has recorded a cumulative total of 95 incidents since its
commenced monitoring. Of the total of 95 incidents, the number of Major
incidents have gone up to 26 while 69 incidents have been categorized
as Minor. The highest number of Major incidents have been reported from
the Galle district – 14 out of 26. The total number of incidents
reported to CMEV from the Galle district is 45.

For full report and details of these incidents, download the CMEV Interim Report.

Monitoring election violence in Sri Lanka Southern Provincial Council Election 2009: Interim Report