Free food distribution on Election Day
by Keerthi Tennakoon
(July 23, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The CaFFE has received 60 incidents of election violence and election laws violations by 3:15pm today [23.7.2011]. Some of the disturbing complaints received by CaFFE are listed below:
CaFFE Observed a group of masked men on motorbicycles shouting slogans in Sinhala asking voters to cast their vote for the betel symbol in front of the Polling Station at Nawalaadi School, 399, Grama Niladari Division, in Point Pedro, Jaffna District.
The Farmers Association Secretary, along with groups of people in civilian clothes from 6:30am today till afternoon, has been distributing free rice and dried fish, going house to house in the Kandaawalai Village asking them to vote for the betel symbol.
Groups of uniformed men in the Pachchilaipalli Pradeshiya Sabha; Mayagata and Maavadi Areas, have been going house to house buying the polling cards off the residents of the area. Residents who have refused to sell their polling cards have been beaten.
Polling agent of the Thiruwai Aaru Area in the Killinochchi District; Mr. Illengen has been chased away by the Army Commander of that area.
Cornflour and Noodles has been distributed in front of the Kalmadurangan Kudirippu Army Checkpoint in the Karachchi Pradeshiya Sabha, asking people to vote for the UPFA.
Cellular phone SIM cards have been forcefully taken from cellular phones of the residents by groups of armed men in black clothing in the following areas: Wattakachchi, Malayala Puram, Kokkavil, and Selva Nagar. Identical incidents have taken place in the Pachchillapalli Pradeshiya Sabha Area.
Voters in Point Pedro, Jaffna District have been threatened by supporters of the EPDP who are circling the area in vehicles bearing No.s : 57-4557 and, 29 Shri 7537. Voters are being illegally transported to the Baalvilmahavil polling station in the Velvettithurai Area of the Jaffna District in a vehicle bearing No. EN - 3655.
Twenty people were seen standing outside the Vadamarachchi Area Polling Station located at No. 29, Aravettinarada, coaxing people to vote for the betel leaf symbol.
EPDP supporters have been threatening the residents around the Kaavadi Amman Kovil Area in the Karainagar Pradeshiya Sabha forcing them to vote for the UPFA.
Grama Niladari Mr. Shekar is at present forcing voters at the Umayangalapura Polling station in Karachchi Pradeshiya Sabha to vote for the TNA.
CaFFE is of the view that this Local Government Elections is strewn with many election rule violations.
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