South Asians for Human Rights vehemently condemn the attack on the MTV/MBC office at Braybrooke Place, Sri Lanka on 22nd March 2010. The attackers forced themselves into the premises of the head office of the Sirasa media network while…
South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) welcomes the decision taken by the Foreign Secretary of India Ms. Nirupama Rao and Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Mr. Salman Bashir to resume talks at the foreign secretary level between India and Pakistan. The talks which will resume after fourteen months on the 25th of February provide a much needed opportunity to bridge the differences between the two countries and take positive steps towards peace and cooperation in South Asia.
SAHR hopes that resuming the dialogue on all issues of concern will break the tensions between the two countries and prepare the ground for more positive and meaningful outcomes.
SAHR carried out a comparative study on the best parliamentary practices in the region, and has put forward a publication titled “Transparency in Parliament” which comprises the Right to Transparent Governance Guidelines (RTG Guidelines). SAHR now plans to take…
This publication is on the state of transparency in parliaments in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It examines the extent to which parliaments are accessible and open from the point of view of both Members of Parliament (MPs)…
South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) vehemently condemn the violence and other election malpractices that have taken place in the past few weeks in Sri Lanka. We fear that this threatens the possibility of a free and fair Presidential election.
Sri Lanka is at a pivotal point where the end of the war has given hope for a fresh start, in which rights of all citizens are promoted. The upcoming elections have presented an opportunity for every citizen to exercise their sovereign right to vote and thus make it integrated and inclusive process. All citizens should be able to vote in a secured environment, especially those in the recently liberated areas in the North and East. However, given the turn the campaigns have taken, the reality of the situation appears to be otherwise.
2010.01.12
Mr. Dayanada Dissanayaka,
Commissioner of Elections,
Elections Secretariat,
P.O. Box 2,
Rajagiriya.
Dear Sir
SERIOUS INADEQUACY OF PUBLIC AWARENESS OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION VOTING
METHOD AND ELECTION PROCESS
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) is the local chapter of Transparency International, a
non-governmental organization. We are engaged in work related to anti corruption and good
governance in Sri Lanka. TISL is also involved in election monitoring through its Program for
Protection of Public Resources (PPPR). While appreciating the effort put in by you and your
department, we would like to highlight the following concerns with respect to the voting
method and election process.
Our discussions with various stake holders that the general voter awareness of the Presidential
Election particularly in relation to the voting methodology and the election process involved in
selecting the winning candidate is very low; Particularly when counting the second preferential
volte in case if it’s applicable. We have been informed by other civil society groups that this lack
of awareness spreads across all levels of society including even educated professionals in urban
areas.
In view of the above, we believe that there is a greater need to engage in “Effective Voter
Awareness Enhancement Initiative” in the form of a media campaign in all three languages,
including specifically;
1. Has to cast the vote at the Presidential Election including the possible preferential votes.
2. The methodology to be applicable in declaring the elected candidate based on the
counting of the first preference and other preferences, where applicable.
3. Documents accepted as proof of Identity for Voting.
4. Special arrangements made for IDP’s in camps, re-settled in their former areas of
residence, in temporary residences with friends and relatives, to exercise their voting
rights.
5. Security measures available on the day of the election to assure a free and fair election.
6. Arrangements made by the Commissioner of Elections and the Police to assure that a
free and fair election will be conducted free of election related violence (pre/on polling
day/post election )and potential violations of the law and fundamental rights of voters
We assure our cooperation in this regard
Thanking You
For Transparency International Sri Lanka
J.C Weliamuna
Executive Director
The declaration below was adopted after the end of the Indo-Pak Peace Conference held in New Delhi from 10-12 January 2010 in which South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) was one of the co-organizers.
Declaration
India Pakistan Conference – A Road map towards Peace
India International Centre, New Delhi
10th – 12th January, 2010
The discussions in the India-Pakistan Conference: A Road map towards Peace over the last three days have shown how far the public sentiment in both India and Pakistan is inclined towards peace. The participating organizations from both sides of the border represent a vast constituency which is ready to work towards building enduring and sustainable peace between the two countries.
We believe there is a real window of opportunity today, which must not be wasted. These ideas are presented here in a sincere effort to develop friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
This conference is not a stand alone event. The participants resolve to work in groups on each of the areas that were identified in the sessions, to further the gains of the conference.
Bangladesh 2009 (Annual) January – July 2010 September – December 2010 January – March 2011 January – July 2011 May – July 2011 …
South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) organised a discussion on the Best Practices in the South Asian Region for Free and Fair Elections on 17th December 2009 at the Kobbakkaduwa Centre, Sri Lanka. Guests from all spheres of the…
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan – www.hrcp-web.org South Asia Partnership, Pakistan – www.sappk.org
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative – http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org People’s Union for Civil Liberties – www.pucl.org