Human Rights Watch says safety necessary to ensure free and fair presidential elections
Thursday, 8 January 2015 00:52
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New York: Authorities in Sri Lanka should ensure that voters have safe and secure access to the polls to vote in presidential elections today, and that State media is not misused in favor of the incumbent, Human Rights Watch said Tuesday.
“Sri Lankan authorities need to take all possible steps to ensure voters, candidates, and monitors are not attacked, threatened, or intimidated,” said Brad Adams, Asia Director.
Noting that Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) documented 237 major incidents and 183 minor incidents during the campaign, the HRW said the attacks and intimidation that marred the campaign can’t be allowed to continue on Election Day and during the counting process.
Monitors also reported that there may have been as many as 22 attacks involving firearms. The groups also documented inappropriate use of state media by the ruling Sri Lankan Freedom Party. “Sri Lanka has a long history of attackers getting away with election-related violence, and a few arrests on the eve of election day, while a positive step, do not address these longstanding concerns,” Adams said.
CMEV also reported an “unparalleled misuse of State resources and media” by the ruling party.
There are also serious concerns about violence after the elections, regardless of the outcome, the HRW said. “The Election Commission and other relevant authorities need to ensure that Police and other security forces act in an impartial manner and respect the human rights of the population. This is especially true in the ethnic-Tamil dominated north and east of the country and other minority areas.”
Adams said the role played by the security forces during and after election day could send an important message about the future of human rights in Sri Lanka.
“Meeting the basic requirements of a free and fair election is an important first step toward addressing the country’s persistent rights problems, but many challenges will remain for whoever is elected president,” he added.
