PAFFREL to monitor Batticaloa district elections
The arrangements are being made to conduct the elections for nine
Local Government Institutions in Batticaloa District in the Eastern
Province where the said elections had been postponed for a long period,
People's Action For Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) said in a press
release.
The 270,100 registered voters are eligible to use their franchise at
this election to elect a total number of 128 representatives for
Batticaloa Municipal, Eravur Pattu Pradeshiya Sabha, Korale Pattu
Pradeshiya Sabha, Korale Pattu North Pradeshiya Sabha, Manmunai South
and Iruvil Pattu Pradeshiya Sabha, Manmunai Pradeshiya Sabha, Manmunai
West Pradeshiya Sabha, Manmunai South-West Pradeshiya Sabha and Porativu
Pradeshiya Sabha.
Although the elections for Katthankudy Urban Council, Korale Pattu
West Pradeshiya Sabha and Eravur Town Pradeshiya Sabha were held in
2006, proposed elections for the above nine institutions will bear a
significance in the historical and political aspects.
The Elections Commissioner has issued a notice to entertain the
nominations for those Local Government Institutions from January 18 to
25. Several registered political parties and independent groups are
expected to contest at this election. According to the Elections
Commissioner's Department sources the applications from 17 new political
parties have been forwarded to the Elections Commissioner requesting for
the registration. One may raise the question of the necessity of some
more new political parties of our country where there are already 53
registered political parties.
There are certain name-sake political parties which do not engage at
leat in the political dialogues with the people based on the
understanding of the changes and developments in the daily
socio-political life. Therefore, PAFFREL believes the validity of the
new political parties should be considered under that context.
Further, over displaced persons 50,000 in Batticaloa District will
have an opportunity to cast their votes to elect their representatives.
Under a special programme, they have been asked to make themselves
register to become eligible for voting till January 8 and subsequently
the period has been extended up to January 11. PAFFREL appreciates it as
a positive action to protect the voter's right and if this period can be
further extended it may offer them a good chance to be registered as
voters.
However, by fulfilling its historical duty, PAFFREL, in this occasion
too, has planned to monitor the Batticaloa District's election from the
initial stage; the handing over of nominations.
As the first step PAFFREL has made arrangements to establish
monitoring centres at all the Local Government areas and to deploy ten
foreign observers in the pre-election period. Similarly PAFFREL has
decided to engage two stationary monitors for each polling centre, 30
vehicles on the basis of one vehicle to a ten number of polling centres
and 20 foreign observers on the election day.
Accordingly, a district co-ordianting committee and a national co-ordinating
committee to liase with the field monitors have already commenced their
functions. While the pre-elections and election day monitoring is under
way. PAFFREL has made a decision to engage in post-election monitoring
for a period of two weeks after the elections.
PAFFREL wishes the scheduled elections to hold in Batticaloa District
after many years for Local Government bodies may be conducted in a free
and fair manner.
To reach that goal, the Government that bears the responsibility of
entire administration of the country, the voters, and civil society bear
a collective responsibility.
Therefore PAFFREL appeals to the all contesting parties and the
candidates to create a programme that will enable to conduct a fair
election. |
