Poll monitors condemn attack on election officers

Elections monitor Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) issuing a statement charged that the Trincomalee police have allegedly released two suspects who were arrested in connection with the assault of two election officers upon a request by an influential politician.

Co – Convener of CMEV Dr. P. Saravanamuttu in the statement said, “CMEV is seriously concerned about an assault on two election officers by supporters of a Deputy Minister, last morning. The incident occurred in front of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) party office in Mattakkalli Junction, Trincomalee.
  
When the CMEV monitor inquired from the Deputy Election Commissioner in the area, Sajith Welgama, he informed CMEV that he was on his way from Mahadivulwewa after shutting down an unauthorised UPFA election office. 

Meanwhile, the CMEV monitor who was at the Trincomalee Police Station soon after the assault informed that the two suspects who were arrested by the Trincomalee Police Station in connection with the assault were released after a Deputy Minister arrived at the Police Station.

CMEV is alarmed that supporters of politicians feel they can assault public officials carrying out their official tasks in connection with the forthcoming Presidential election and be released without due process being followed. CMEV urges the authorities including the Police to take all necessary steps within their purview to prevent violence and hold perpetrators of violence to account.”