Re-poll if armed groups threaten voters - Commissioner

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 May 2008, 11:10 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Commissioner of Elections has issued a directive that all propaganda meetings and canvassing by political parties and independent groups should cease from midnight Wednesday. He has directed the police to adhere this directive strictly, sources int he east said.



The Commissioner of Elections further said he would exercise his power to order re-poll in polling stations where there was sufficient of evidence of intimidation by armed groups preventing voters from voting and threatening election officials from discharging their duties.

He added re-poll would be held in such polling stations after one week, and the counting will also be withheld till re-poll is held.

The directive said, except members of the three armed forces and police of the government, no one else would be allowed to move in the area with arms. Those violate the directive would be dealt sternly.