Poll commissioner: I will sue cops

• POLICE IGNORE CIRCULARS
• COURT ORDER WON'T WORK

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Elections Commissioner is contemplating on going to courts against police who ignored his demand to remove all propaganda material by January 7th.
Despite continuous appeals, letters and circulars issued by the Elections Commissioner the police failed to remove the propaganda material in the Ampara, Anuradhapura, Gampaha, Kaluthara and Moneragala districts.
“The police failed miserably to carry out the Elections Commissioner’s order to remove propaganda materials. If the IGP keeps on ignoring the Commissioner’s requests, he would have to go to courts to get a directive,” said a department source. “The Commissioner is set to discuss this when he meets the secretaries of political parties on January 12th.”
Meanwhile, Peoples’ Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFEREL) Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi doubts the effectiveness of a court order although that is the only option left for the Commissioner.
“The police do not need to be told to remove propaganda material, it’s their job,” Hettiarachchi said.
“During the Southern Provincial council we went to courts and got an order to remove propaganda material but it took some time and even after that, only about 60% of propaganda material was removed. It takes time for a court of law to give a verdict and we only have two weeks left for the election.
So basically the Elections Commissioner is helpless despite the fact that he has enormous powers given to him under the 17th amendment,” he added.