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Sri Lankan officials postpone local elections in northeast
Colombo, June 20: Sri Lankan officials today postponed local elections in the Tamil-dominated northeast that would have tested the tolerance of Tamil Tiger rebels for political opposition.
Colombo, June 20: Sri Lankan officials today postponed local elections in the Tamil-dominated northeast that would have tested the tolerance of Tamil Tiger rebels for political opposition.
Deputy Elections Commissioner M C Arunthavachelvam said elections for three municipal councils, seven urban councils and 61 regional councils scheduled for next Wednesday will now be held January 24, 2004.
He said the decision was made based on the reports of regional officials who said the situation was not favorable for holding elections. He gave no further details. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that a government motion calling for fresh nominations of candidates in the polls would require approval by a two-thirds majority of Sri Lanka's Parliament _ a margin the government would be unlikely to secure.
The government wanted to call for new nominations to accommodate candidates in the elections who would be supported by the rebels.
The government and Tamil Tiger rebels signed a Norwegian-brokered cease-fire last year. After years of opposition the rebels agreed in April to have elections across the northeast, where most of the island's 3.2 million Tamils live. This was seen as a major step in the peace process.
The elections, originally scheduled for January 2002, were postponed after Tamil political parties requested the government first enable thousands of Tamils displaced by the war to return to their villages so they could vote.
The Tigers have said they will support parties that endorse their views and allow opposing parties to function in areas under their control.
Bureau Report
He said the decision was made based on the reports of regional officials who said the situation was not favorable for holding elections. He gave no further details. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that a government motion calling for fresh nominations of candidates in the polls would require approval by a two-thirds majority of Sri Lanka's Parliament _ a margin the government would be unlikely to secure.
The government wanted to call for new nominations to accommodate candidates in the elections who would be supported by the rebels.
The government and Tamil Tiger rebels signed a Norwegian-brokered cease-fire last year. After years of opposition the rebels agreed in April to have elections across the northeast, where most of the island's 3.2 million Tamils live. This was seen as a major step in the peace process.
The elections, originally scheduled for January 2002, were postponed after Tamil political parties requested the government first enable thousands of Tamils displaced by the war to return to their villages so they could vote.
The Tigers have said they will support parties that endorse their views and allow opposing parties to function in areas under their control.
Bureau Report