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Batticaloa women want their abducted children in Sri Lanka back, not elections
Sunday, 9 March 2008 - 7:51 AM SL Time
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Women in the Batticaola District are not interested in elections, but want all children abducted by armed groups returned, said Nimalka Kannangara, who heads the Civil Society Group that is monitoring the March 10 polls for nine local bodies including the Batticaloa Municipal Council.
`Mothers are pleading with some of the candidates who have abducted their children to release them in return for votes. But in the same breath they say that the ballot boxes will be filled even if no one goes to the polling booths on March 10.`
Nimalka said that when the women were asked for their views on the election their stock reply was `What election and for whom is it being held?
This election means nothing to us, since it will not establish democracy. The power of the gun will determine the winner. Once elected, the armed groups will be more powerful since they would also have local council powers.`
The women are also convinced that the same truck that came to abduct children, will return to take them to the polling booths on March 10, and would come again after the elections to harass them further. Going to the Police serves no purpose since victims, unlike during past elections are told to identify the accused if their complaints are to be recorded, she said.
`Farmers too are being intimidated and forced to obtain passes to enter their fields. Through this identification process the armed groups are ensuring more votes for their candidates,` she said.
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pharoah
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 9 Mar 2008 22:45:46 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Sad news, Pillaiyan group (with help from GOSL) rercruiting kids for nothing. |
Sintamus
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10 Mar 2008 00:00:27 GMT Report for Abuse
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Ask Rajapakses where their children are. They are trained as TMVP cadres to fight against EPDP, PLTE, LTTE and anybody wants justice done.
The democracy under Rajapakses is defined as
'Mothers are pleading with some of the candidates who have abducted their children to release them in return for votes. But in the same breath they say that the ballot boxes will be filled even if no one goes to the polling booths on March 10.'
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Vishnu
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 10 Mar 2008 01:41:44 GMT Report for Abuse
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who heads the Civil Society Group that is monitoring the March 10 polls for nine local bodies including the Batticaloa Municipal Council.
I didn't know that denying elections is part of monitoring. Nimalka is very brave to show the real intentions of the so called 'monitors'. Poor lady is going out of the way to solve problems of the voters. She is successful in getting a news item in AP, which is good for her next plea for international money. Well done.
This is a sign of things to come,
Expect: Batti Election Not Free and Fair, Violence tilt Batti Elections... |
Mucha-linda
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10 Mar 2008 04:29:02 GMT Report for Abuse
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Women in the Batticaola District are not interested in elections, but want all children abducted by armed groups returned, said Nimalka Kannangara, who heads the Civil Society Group that is monitoring the March 10 polls for nine local bodies including the Batticaloa Municipal Council.
It seems these NGO think tanks are wasting their money on things people have no interest in. Shouldn't they have setup a Civil Society Group for monitoring child abductions if the situation in the east is that appalling!!
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10 Mar 2008 00:06:56 GMT