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PAFFREL calls for election complaints commission

05 Oct 2011 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A fully fledged election complaints commission should be established with powers to disqualify candidates if they are found guilty of violating election laws, rules and regulations, a leading election monitoring group said yesterday.

The People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) PAFFREL’s Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said the need for such a body was badly felt in the run-up to tomorrow’s local council elections.

He said such a commission existed in Thailand.

“The elections commissioner should be given powers to disqualify errant candidates after a thorough investigation into complaints against them. We have seen blatant violations of the election law this time,” Mr. Hettiarachchi said.

He said in one instance, a candidate from the South had distributed Rs.1000, a packet of lunch and a bottle of liquor to each of his supporters during campaigning while another candidate from the same area had air-dropped handbills and leaflets which carried his name, preferential number and the symbol of his party.

Mr. Hettiarachchi said public processions had been conducted in the areas such as Matara and Anuradhapura inconveniencing the public.

“All these incidents are violations of election law. We have to campaign for an election complaints commission. The distribution of dry rations, corrugated sheets, spectacles and stationery items were done by candidates of the ruling party and the opposition,” he said. (Kelum Bandara)

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PAFFREL calls for election complaints commission

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