ASIA/SRI LANKA: AHRC expresses concern regarding the safety of the common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena

January 05, 2015

The Asian Human Rights Commission expresses concern regarding the safety of the common candidate of the opposition Maithripala Sirisena, who has faced several attacks during the past several days. He has himself alerted the public to the threat to his life in a statement he made yesterday (4^th January 2015). We urge the Government and the Commissioner of Elections to provide all the protection that he deserves as a presidential candidate if there is to be a free and fair election. We also urge all election monitors, local and foreign, to give priority to monitor the protection of the common opposition candidate.

A free and fair election is a right of the people of Sri Lanka and this right has been entrenched in the history of the country beginning from 1931 when the adult franchise was introduced in Sri Lanka. For a long period of time, there had been a tradition of free and fair elections and peaceful handing over of power from one government to another. The disruption of this tradition unfortunately started with the introduction of the 1978 Constitution and in various degrees election violence has been experienced. The worst forms of electoral violence were experienced during the presidential election of 2010. Following the announcement of the elections to be held on 8^th January 2015, there have been repeated attacks on opposition political rallies.

The Asian Human Rights Commission has been alerted by many persons who are anxious about the safety of the common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena due to the intensification of attacks on his political campaigns. Therefore, we are making this call for ensuring a free and fair election by desisting from any kind of violence perpetrated before, during and after the elections.

Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), it is a right of the people to choose a government of their choice. A choice of the people could be made only when an environment is created, that is conducive to the exercise of this right of the people. Any violence meted out against any of the presidential candidates in the election is an attack on this freedom of choice of the people itself. Such attacks therefore, are attacks against the nation itself.

We hope that during this solemn moment when the people will exercise their choice, that the Government of Sri Lanka and the Election Commissioner will do all within their power to respect the people and create the enabling environment for the people to discharge their solemn duties by exercising their right to vote.

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About AHRC:The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.