Sangaree wants Jaffna polls declared not free, fair

by Chitra Weerarathne

V. Anandasangaree of Colombo 5 had complained to the Supreme Court that persons affiliated to the LTTE and Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi, intimidated the electors of the Jaffna District, who supported the petitioner's party, the Independent Group, during the polls campaign of April 2, 2004 General Election.

The petition said that the electoral registers in Jaffna were last revised in 1983. The youngest voter in Jaffna would be over thirty five years of age at present. But however, on April 2, 2004, the day of the last general election, the LTTE was seen transporting to the polling station, persons in the age group of fifteen to twenty five years of age. The purpose was to impersonate the voters, the petition alleged.

The petition said that the Returning Officer for the Jaffna District was unable to prevent the election offences committed by the LTTE and the ITAK supporters.

The petition said his group was treated arbitrarily, discriminated and denied the freedom of expression by the election officers and the police.

He requested the Supreme Court to declare that the conduct of the poll in the Jaffna District was not free and fair.