Government uses violence to deter opposition activities

In parallel to electoral level campaigning by Maithripala Sirisena there is an increase in UPFA

propagated election violence. CaFFE observes that this trend is reaching systematic
proportions and slowly turning into a wave of political violence. Upto December 31st CaFFE
has received 1007 incidents of election law violations and election violence. 105 of them are
election violence which includes 19 incidents of usage firearms.

Violence follows Maithripala

Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) has noted that the government has unleashed
a systematic campaign of intimidation to intimidate opposition supporters. When Common
Opposition Candidate Maithripala Sirisena holds a rally, election related violence spikes in
the related area targeting opposition activists and infrastructure.
CaFFE has compiled a list of such incidents in areas where Sirisena held rallies. A look at the
list clearly shows that violence follows Sirisena and that police have taken little action to
assure the safety of opposition activists and their property.
For example there was virtually no political campaigning in the Northern and Eastern
province until a few days ago. There were no incidents of violence. However after Common
Opposition Candidate stated that he will hold a series of rallies in the Eastern Province this
week, a number of election related incidents of violence has taken place.

On December 26, election office of the Common Opposition Candidate at Sandiweli,

Eravur was bombed around 11 pm. Police have been told that a group of TMVP
members, party of former Chief Minister Pilleyan, carried out the attack.
On Deecmber 27, a Ranil Wickremesinghe rally in Akkareipattu to support the
Common Opposition Candidate was pelted with stones twice between 7 and 8 pm.
The stones were thrown when Wickremesinghe was speaking and one stone hit the
microphone. However he continued with his speech.
On Sunday a group of Common Opposition Candidate Maithripala Sirisena,
supporters were assaulted yesterday near Sivananda Ground, Batticaloa. The group
was assaulted around 3.45 pm while they were preparing the stage for the Sirisena
rally which is to be held today at Batticaloa. A group of TMVP supporters had arrived

and threatened UNP's Batticaloa organizer, K. Mogan and his supporters. One UNP
supporter was kidnapped and two others who were brutally assaulted and
hospitalized.

Violence in Hambantota
More recently election related violence spikes in Hambantota after Sirisena held a series of
rallies. A number of opposition activists have been attacked in Hambantota District after Common
Opposition Candidate, Maithripala Sirisena held a series of rallies. We saw the same trend in Galle
most recently, said Executive Director of CaFFE, Keerthi Tennakoon.

Opposition activists, including street drama troupe, Weediye Virodaya were

attacked on December 22 at Hambantota by a goons led by Hambantota Mayor Eraj
Ravindra Fernando, CaFFE states that police took no action to protect the victims.

Leader of Weediye Virodaya Jayathilaka Bandara had asked local opposition supporters to
meet them at the bus stand fearing that they will be attacked. However despite the presence
of opposition politicians, including the leader of opposition at Hambantota MC Auyb Khan,
they were assaulted. We have received reports that Fernando was armed and that he tried
to kidnap Bandara. Although they could not kidnap him many were assaulted and six had to
get medical assistance at the hospital. However many didnt even want to go to the hospital
fearing further attacks. It is important to note here that Eraj Fernando had been accused
earlier on in 2014 of assaulting and intimidating opposition parliamentarians with a
weapon, which he explained as being a toy gun Executive Director of CaFFE, Rajith Keerthi
Tennakoon said.
He added that elections are only a part of political rights and currently the right of holding
an opinion, the right to expression, the right to campaign peacefully and the right to free
movement of opposition activists are being constantly violated. These street performers
protested against many regimes but it was the first time in recent history that they were
assaulted like this.
The troupe was also assaulted at Eppawala on December 05. The members of the troupe
claim that the attack was carried out by supporters of SM Ranjith Samarakoon, Chief
Minister of North-Central Province.

Meanwhile shots were fired at a stage built for Sirisenas December 27 rally in
Walasmulla on December 28 morning around 1.30 am. Meanwhile a group of
Sirisena supporters traveling in a three wheeler after attending the rally were
assaulted on Namaneliya, Udahagoda. Two persons were severely assaulted. In
addition Mahinda and Wanniarachchi, two staunch UNP supporters in Malwatte, and
three of their associates, who joined Sirisena's propaganda activities, were
threatened by a group of armed men traveling in motor cycles on December 27
between 10.30 to 11.30 pm. The assailants had pointed firearms to the UNP
supporters and demanded them to refrain from assisting Sirisena's campaign.

We saw the same trend in Galle earlier

Galle was also relatively peaceful until Sirisena held a series of rallies two weeks ago. A
number of his stages were attacked and a number of activists were assaulted before and

after the rallies. This reached a climax with the resignation of Wanduramba police OIC.
He left because he couldnt carry out his duties due to political interference. This also
means that the police is in no condition to protect the opposition candidates or
supporters.
Police allowed the common opposition alliance to hold a rally opposite Ahangama bus
stand today (date) at 4 pm. However a group that arrived on December 16 night have
destroyed the decorations. Former southern provincial councillor of the UNP Maithri
Gunaratne said that a group of policemen, led by Ahangama OIC, threatened those who
were decorating the stage.

Violence in Kolonnawa

Meanwhile a group of Sirisena supporters who were pasting posters in Wellampitiya

on December 21 announcing the Common Opposition Candidates rally in
Wellampitiya on December 24 were assaulted by a group arriving in a white van. The
assailants were armed and two persons who were stabbed with a sharp object were
hospitalized.
A few days later an unidentified group has shot at the stage for common candidate
Maithripala Sirisena's rally which is to be held at the Umagiriya grounds, Kolonnawa
on December 24.
Speaking to CaFFE Kolonnawa UNP organiser and provincial Councillor S.M. Marikkar
said that the gunmen had arrived in a Defender and a van around 11.30 on
December 23 and had shot using two firearms. Although 04 policemen and 02 Army
soldiers were deployed at the scene for security, they had looked on while the attack
took place. The two policemen were later suspended by the police and several
suspects were arrested.

Intimidation in Kandy

A group of Sirisena supporters who were pasting posters announcing December 9

rally in Kandy were assaulted at Kadugannawa on December 8. Around 30 men
carried out the attack and former UNP provincial councillor, Jayaweera Bandara was
wounded. This was just hours before the Kandy main rally.
A group of Maithripala Sirisena supporters who were returning home after attending
a rally in Kandy on December 9 were assaulted near Maha Palama, Katugastota. The
assailants arrived in a cab and four persons, residents of Ambatenna, were admitted
to Katugastota Hospital. Another group of supporters who were returning home in a
bus were also attacked.
A few hours later the residence of UNP Patadumbara Pradesheeya sabha member,
Atula Ekanayake, was attacked by a group arriving in a Defender Jeep. Ekanayake
played a leading role in organizing Sirisenas rally in Kandy earlier that day.
A hotel in Pallathalawinna, Kandy where former President Chandrika Bandaranaike
held a meeting on December 9 was vandalized by a group arriving in Defender Jeeps.
Windows of 21 rooms have been broken.

The above mentioned incidents show that there is a systematic campaign targeting
opposition activists in areas where the common opposition candidate holds his election
rallies. The only known incident of opposition disturbing government campaign activities
was on 30th of December in Polonnaruwa when Buddhist monks campaigning on behalf of
Maithripala Sirisena came into conflict with monks campaigning on behalf of President
Rajapaksa. Therefore, there is an obvious attempt to deter public participation and violation
of peoples right to engage in political activity and politicians rights to propagate his or her
political message in a peaceful manner. In addition it shows that the police are incapable of
protecting the lives and property of those who oppose the government.
President Mahinda Rajapaksas election theme is a stable country and a secure future.
However above mentioned incidents, undermine the stability of the country and the
security of a large segment of Sri Lankans. CaFFE urges the law enforcement authorities to
take steps to protect the lives and property of opposition activists and restore peoples faith
in a free and fair election. If not we fear that the public will increasingly question the
legitimacy of the elections and it might lead people to take violent steps to protect
themselves. We have all seen what happens when a group of Sri Lankans lose faith in the
electoral and law enforcement systems and I believe no one wants to see a repeat of that.

Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon

Executive Director CaFFE

January 1st, 2015