Situation in N/E not conducive to hold election - PAFFREL

Rashomi SILVA

COLOMBO: The chief of the People's Action For Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL) Kingsley Rodrigo pointed out that the situation in the North and East was not conducive to hold an election, but what was more disturbing was that no one was bothered about the gravity of the situation.

He also added though Eelam People's Democratic Party was one of the parties contesting the forthcoming local poll it was unable to go ahead with its campaign.

Kingsley Rodrigo made his observations, when PAFFREL released its first interim report on media monitoring in the run-up to the election, based on newspaper and electronic media reports on Wednesday. People's Action For Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL) also urged that the print media need to be more balanced when doing its election coverage.

The report gave a more favourable account of the electronic media, with Esura, Neth FM radio and TV Lanka rating as the most balanced whilst Sirasa TV had shown a more UNP inclination while Swarnawahini was more inclined towards the UPFA.

"We have used a qualitative and quantitative analysis," said a spokeswoman for PAFFREL.

The number of news items, space, time and the quality (if the news item was favourable or unfavourable) were also taken into consideration, she said.

Meanwhile, Rodrigo, said the situation in the North-East was not conducive to hold an election, but what is more distressing was that no one speaks about the gravity of the situation.

"Take EPDP for an example, they are unable to engage in any political activity there, but no one seems to be concerned," he said. Rodrigo said they were getting International monitors from 30 countries for election monitoring in the East.

"The situation in East was not very favourable he said. "We have evidence to believe there are armed groups operating in the East and we cannot use local monitors there," he said.