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Moves to publicise assets of MPs : CaFFE |
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2012-12-19 |
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Plans to obtain information of the declared assets of MPs through the Election Commissioner as the people had a right to information.
The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) yesterday said it was trying to publicise the declared assets of parliamentarians in keeping with the people’s right to information. CaFFE Executive Director Rajith Keerthi
Tennakoon told a news conference held by the Movement for an Independent Judiciary that the Chief Justice was subjected to much harassment when charges regarding the declaration of assets were levelled at her by certain MPs and added that it was only ethical for parliamentarians to declare their assets. |
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CaFFE Statement: An attempt on the life of human rights defender Gunaratne Wanninayaka; an attempt to silent civil society opposing the government’s moves. |
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2012-12-18 |
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Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) and Centre for Human Rights (CHR) Sri Lanka are deeply concerned about an attempt made on the life of Gunaratne Wanninayaka, an outspoken lawyer, on December 17, 2012. Mr. Wanninayaka actively participated in the campaign against the impeachment move on Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake. He was in the forefront of the protest campaigns held in the recent past against the interferences with the Judiciary. He played a prominent role in fighting for the independence of the Judiciary for last six or more years. Mr. Wanninayaka is the President of the Colombo Magistrate’s Court Lawyer’s Association and the Convener of People’s March. |
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Two prison escapees still missing |
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2012-11-22 |
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Two of the 11 escapees from Welikada Prison, who fled the prison riot and are still missing, are said to be hardcore criminals. A high ranking prison official said 38-year-old Guruwilage Gunatillake was serving a four-year sentence, after being convicted for several robberies in the Avissawella area. He has five more cases. currently being taken up at the Pugoda and Avissawella courts. He commenced his jail term on 31 January and is a resident of the Nagoda Getaheththa area. The prison official described the escapee as being around 5.2 in height and had scars on the right side of his back, right little finger and left wrist area |
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Local Council Election – Mullativu 51% do not possess National ID Cards. |
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2012-02-28 |
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The Executive Director of CaFFE, Keerthi Tennakoon revealed that 51% of eligible voters in Puthukkudiyiruppu and Maritimepattu Pradeshiya Sabas in Mullaitivu district do not possess national identity cards. He disclosed this while addressing a training program for Election Observers in Colombo today (on 27th of February 2012). Further, he revealed that for the Puthukkudiyiruppu and Maritimepattu local government election 44,682 have registered as voters, however 22,857 of them do not possess NICs. Among them 11,295 reported from Maritimepattu Pradeshiya Saba. Moreover, 2,692 voters in Oddusudan Divisional Secretary in Puthukkudiyiruppu Pradeshiya Saba and 8,906 voters in Puthukkudiyiruppu Divisional Secretary do not possess NICs. In addition, he emphasized that everyone who involve in election activities should intervene to ensure those people’s right to vote. (Read More)
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Muzammil accuses elected government member of attacking Kotahena meeting |
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2011-09-21 |
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The UNP’s mayoral candidate for the forthcoming Colombo Municipal Council Election A. J. M. Muzammil said yesterday that a meeting in support of him held at Kotahena on September 19, had been attacked allegedly by goon squads deployed by an elected government member.
The thugs also damaged the house, of the person who had organised the meeting, situated at Sangamitta Mawatha, Kotahena. Thereafter they had proceeded to Bambalapitiya and attacked his office, Muzammil told The Island.
He, said that the same government that boldly claimed they will have no problems in winning the Colombo Municipal Council Election, has now resorted to brutality and thuggery in a desperate attempt to stifle the will of the people
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Security forces obstruct demonstration in Kilinochchi |
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2011-06-23 |
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A demonstration organized by 'Api Sri Lankikayo' (We are Sri Lankans) today at 11 am (June 23) in Kilinochchi has been obstructed by security forces. There is a large military contingency placed at the venue and those who had arrived for the demonstration have been asked to leave Kilinochchi.
Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) and Centre for Human Rights (CHR) reiterates the need to protect the fundamental rights of residents of the North and East, especially the right to engage in political activity and freedom of peaceful assembly.
Political activity is an essential part of a representative democracy. According to the government civil administration is now established in Kilinochchi, if that is the case the residents of the area has the political rights enjoyed by the other citizens of the country. However this incident is another example that there is a semi military rule in Kilinochchi. This is a violation of basic principles of democracy. Therefore in an atmosphere where there is no freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and movement holding a free and fair election is unrealistic.
CHR and CaFFE demand the authorities to guarantee the fundamental rights of the citizens of North.
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Assure the civil and political freedom of residents of Jaffna and Kilinochchi before July 23rd election |
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2011-06-17 |
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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. (Read More) |
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Sri Lanka Tamil party says military attacked its poll campaign |
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2011-06-16 |
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Jaffna, Sri Lanka, June 16 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's main ethnic minority Tamil party on Thursday said the military had attacked its campaign events in the former war zone in the north to create a climate of fear ahead of the first local government polls in 26 years. Legislators of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which backed the now defeated Tamil Tiger rebels, said supporters were chased away at a meeting in the main town of Jaffna by the military at the start of the first election campaign for 52 local bodies in northern district. Saravanabawan said the TNA had lodged a complaint with police at Thellipalai. A police officer confirmed to Reuters that there had been an incident and they had received a complaint. Two other TNA legislators and three people who were at the meeting confirmed the incident. But Military spokesman Ubhaya Madawela said he was not aware of such an incident. "There is no point in holding elections if there is not a level playing field," said Keerthi Tennakoon, spokesman for Campaign for Free and Fair Election, a non-government organist ion which monitors polls in the island nation. "This proves that there is no environment for people in the north to exercise their political rights freely. There is a semi-military administration in north. The government has a responsibility to allow to have a free and fair election with equal playing field." (Read More)
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Don’t use Women’s Day for propaganda |
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2011-03-08 |
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Government sponsored or other events being held in light of the International Women’s Day which falls tomorrow should not be used for election propaganda purposes for the upcoming Local Government elections by candidates, Election Commissioner Dayanada Dissanayake said today.
The Election Commissioner added that events such as the International Women’s Day were celebrated nationally and that it was illegal for Local Government election candidates to distribute present or other material to gain popularity. (Read More)
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Sri Lanka opposition says workers should use postal voting to win their rights |
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2011-03-08 |
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Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) said today that state sector employees should use their postal votes wisely.
UNP spokesperson and parliamentarian Gayantha Karunatileka told a press conference that postal voting that commences tomorrow will be a crucial point for state sector employees.
He said that their votes could be used to win their rights.(Read More)
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