Assure the civil and political freedom of residents of Jaffna and Kilinochchi before the election

by Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon

(June 17, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) believes that civil and political rights are an integral part of a free and fair election. Therefore yesterday’s (June 16) attack on a political rally organized by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) at Allawetti shows the extent to which these rights have been restricted in Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts.

TNA had organized their inaugural election rally at Allawetti on June 16 and this was greeted with great enthusiasm by the people as well as journalists of Jaffna. However during the rally a large number of individuals entered the venue and assaulted those who attended the event.

CaFFE believes that it is the government’s responsibility to assure that all political parties have the right to bear an opinion, to express that opinion and to organize to propagate that opinion without violating the rights of others. That is a part of the rule of law and a cornerstone of representative democracy. During recent elections opposition political parties faced great difficulties in campaigning in Mannar and Vavuniya districts because of the restrictions imposed upon them by the government. If opposition political parties can not campaign and do not have the freedom to engage in politics it has a detrimental impact on the level playing field, which is an important part of the electoral process.

Free and fair elections will be held in all electorates of Jaffna and Kilinochchi after 26 years and it is important that the government should ensure an environment where the civil and political freedoms of residents in these areas are protected.