SRI LANKA (EARLY WARNING): Political killings require investigation and prevention

AHRC UA Index: 000824 24 August 2000 
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UA 32/00: Early Warning of likely escalation of election violence 

SRI LANKA (EARLY WARNING): Political killings require investigation and prevention 
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Two young men have been killed in election-related violence in Sri Lanka in the first 5 days following the announcement of the National Elections to be held on October 10. Here is the sequence of events: 

August 18 Election announced and Parliament dissolved by President Chandrika Kumaratunga 

August 19 JVP (leftist party) supporter, Chumpika Sanath Silva, 24, killed while pasting political posters 

Dear Mr. Disanayake

I am very concerned that election-related violence will prevent the forthcoming national elections in Sri Lanka from being free, fair and peaceful. I believe that, without urgent action on your part, widespread political violence is imminent in Sri Lanka.

In the first five days of campaigning, two young supporters of Opposition parties have been killed. The persons killed were Chumpika Sanath Silva, a JVP supporter, on August 19 and Chathura Sanman Kumara, a UNP supporter, on August 23. These politically-motivated murders are completely unacceptable and the circumstances which led to the extinguishing of these young lives must be fully investigated. Please ensure that those responsible for these killings (which are clearly being used to instil fear in the population and prevent political discourse) are properly prosecuted under the law. To not do so would be to condone the violence and ensure that these elections are governed by fear and bloodshed.

Please take every possible action to ensure that there are no further politically motivated killings in the lead-up to the elections, and that proper investigations, prosecutions and procedures are undertaken in order to make these elections free, fair and peaceful.

Yours sincerely

SEND LETTERS TO

1. Election Commissioner
Mr. Dayananda Disanayake
Election Commissioner
Election Commission of Sri Lanka
Sarana Mawatha off Rajagiriya Rd.
Rajagiriya
Sri Lanka
FAX: +941 868 445
Salutation: Dear Mr. Disanayake

2. National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
Mr. Fais Musthapa
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
50, Dr N M Perera Mawatha
Borella, Colombo 8
Sri Lanka
FAX: (94 1) 694 924
Salutation: Dear Mr. Musthapa

PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR LETTER TO:

Asia Pacific Forum for National Human Rights Institutions
<apf@hreoc.gov.au>

August 23 UNP (main opposition party) supporter, Chathura Sanman Kumara, 20, shot dead 

There have been predictions from many sources, including trade unions and religious groups, that the election is likely to be accompanied by violence. This has been confirmed by the two fatal attacks we have already seen in just the first 5 days of campaigning. 

The four leaders of the Buddhist Sanga (Mahanayakes) issued a statement yesterday (23rd August) calling for the violence to stop and for the election to be conducted in a peaceful manner. One of the signatories (a Sanga Prelate), when interviewed by BBC-Sinhala service on August 23, stated that the call was due to the widespread expectation that violence will escalate. \”We do not know whether we will be listened to\”, the Prelate said. 

We wish to make an Early Warning of the possibility that large-scale violence may accompany this election. We call for all concerned persons to intervene quite early to ensure a peaceful, free and fair election. 

BACKGROUND 

The early incidents seem to carry the message that people should not get actively involved in this election. Since the 1982 referendum, elections have been characterised by rather large-scale vote rigging and official reports have admitted such electoral wrongdoings. Stuffing of ballot boxes, stealing of ballot boxes, replacement on ballot boxes, intimidation of electoral officers and many other forms of interference with the electoral process have become quite normal in recent times. 

SUGGESTED ACTION 

Please write to the Election Commissioner of Sri Lanka (who must act to prevent this violence and intimidation to ensure a free and fair election) and the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission to urge them to act decisively in response to these killings. A sample letter follows. 

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER