Election offices attacked by gunmen in unmarked vehicles – CaFFE

Expressing disappointment over continuous attacks targeting opposition parties ahead of the Uva Provincial Council polls, the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) says that 9 election offices of opposition political parties have been attacked in Wellawaya and Moneragala between August 29 and 30. 

It said that five Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) offices and four United National Party (UNP) offices were torched and that three of them have been completely destroyed.

 

Last week 21 election offices of opposition political parties were attacked within 72 hours in Moneragala district, most of the attacks were concentrated in Bibile electorate.

 

CaFFE said these attacks were carried out by gunmen traveling in unmarked vehicles and that it has written to the Commissioner of Elections and the IGP, thrice, informing them regarding a large number of vehicles without number plates or with garage numbers engaged in electioneering in Uva Province. 

“Despite assurances given that action would be taken, CaFFE observed such vehicles in four separate occasions in Keppetipola, Bandarawela, Wellawaya- Buttala road and Bibile Medagama road on August 29 and 30,” the election watchdog said, in a statement today.

 

The Commissioner of Elections has asked the IGP to deploy additional policemen to Moneragala and to establish road blocks. While the police assured that such action has been taken, CaFFE says it has not noticed any arrests or a reduction of attacks on elections offices. 

“Although police patrol logs were to be placed in registered election offices of opposition political parties, this has not occurred till today (31),” it said.

 

JVP election office, hosted at Mr. Vimalasena’s house at Unawatuna Bodiya, Kuda Oya, Buttala, was attacked on 00.30 hours on August 30. Around the same time the JVP office in Puhulkotuwa, Halmillewa, Buttala was attacked and completely destroyed. 

Meanwhile the office hosted by JVP candidate Palliyaguruge Wijesiri at Maduraketiya, Moneragala has been attacked thrice so far. JVP offices in Hamburugala and Ellekona have also been attacked on the same day.

 

Office of opposition leader of Wellawaya Pradesheeya Sabha, UNPer Roy Kavinda was attacked on August 29. The office situated at Etiliwewa junction is the biggest UNP office in Wellawaya. The UNP offices in Malwattawa junction, Anapallama and Kitulkote were also attacked on August 29.

 

Meanwhile the office of independent candidate WM Udaya Kumara, at 17 junction, Okkampitiya  was also attacked, CaFFE said, while expressing its disappointment at the continuous attacks on the opposition and the lack of action taken to stop these attacks.