DATE=9/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SRI LANKA ELECTION VIOLENCE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-266315
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In Sri Lanka, a parliamentary candidiate has
been shot dead by unidentified gunmen. Anjana Pasricha
reports from VOA's South Asia Bureau,
this is the first major incident of violence reported
in the run-up to the October 10th parliamentary
elections in the island nation.
TEXT: The candidate for the ruling People's Alliance
Party, Chellian Perimpanayagam, was gunned down Sunday
along with one of his supporters near Batticaloa town,
about 300 kilometers east of Colombo.
Authorities say both men were killed as they met in
the house of the candidate's supporter.
Police say they have no suspects so far. A spokesman
for the People's Alliance Party says the party has
many rivals in Batticaloa town. Mr. Perimpanayakam had
formerly been a mayor of Batticaloa. The town is
controlled by the government, but Tamil Tiger rebels,
who are fighting for a homeland for minority Tamils,
are also active in parts of the district.
The killings come as the government steps up security
for the elections. Elections in recent years in Sri
Lanka have been marred by violence. There have been
clashes between rival political groups - but most of
the violence has been blamed on the the Tamil Tigers.
During last year's presidential election, the rebels
attacked government and opposition rallies, and
seriously
wounded President Chandrika Kumaratunga.
An independent watchdog group, the Center for
Monitoring Election Violence, has warned that violence
is increasing as campaigning gets underway. At least
four other people have been killed in recent weeks.
Assaults, threats
and intimidation are also on the rise, according to
the group.
The government has invited 90 monitors from the
European Union to watch the elections. They arrive
later this week - and will visit all parliamentary
electorates in the country. (signed)
NEB/AP/PLM
10-Sep-2000 08:08 AM EDT (10-Sep-2000 1208 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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