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Sri Lankan Tamil party wins landslide victory in regional election Sri Lankan Tamil party wins landslide victory in regional election
(10 days later)
Sri Lanka's main Tamil party has won a landslide victory in a provincial poll that has threatened to reignite tension between the government of the island nation and the biggest ethnic minority, four years after the bloody end to its decades-long civil war.Sri Lanka's main Tamil party has won a landslide victory in a provincial poll that has threatened to reignite tension between the government of the island nation and the biggest ethnic minority, four years after the bloody end to its decades-long civil war.
The election was the first provincial council poll in the north of Sri Lanka in 25 years and was held following international pressure on President Mahinda Rajapaksa to make greater efforts towards reconciliation between communities in the country in the aftermath of the conflict.The election was the first provincial council poll in the north of Sri Lanka in 25 years and was held following international pressure on President Mahinda Rajapaksa to make greater efforts towards reconciliation between communities in the country in the aftermath of the conflict.
Dozens of world leaders, including David Cameron, are expected to attend the Commonwealth biannual summit in Colombo in November. The choice of venue has been controversial light of criticism of the Sri Lankan government's human rights record. Dozens of world leaders, including David Cameron, are expected to attend the Commonwealth biennial summit in Colombo in November. The choice of venue has been controversial light of criticism of the Sri Lankan government's human rights record.
Sunday's result, though in line with expectations, is a rare setback for Rajapaksa, now in his eighth year in power.Sunday's result, though in line with expectations, is a rare setback for Rajapaksa, now in his eighth year in power.
The winners, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is the former political proxy of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which fought a 30-year intermittent war for a separate state and once ran much of the north and parts of the east of Sri Lanka.The winners, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is the former political proxy of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which fought a 30-year intermittent war for a separate state and once ran much of the north and parts of the east of Sri Lanka.
The TNA won 30 out of 38 seats, officials said, and the party's leaders claimed a clear mandate from voters.The TNA won 30 out of 38 seats, officials said, and the party's leaders claimed a clear mandate from voters.
Many in the north appear unwilling to give up longstanding claims to greater autonomy despite economic development and significant investment in infrastructure in the north since the end of the war.Many in the north appear unwilling to give up longstanding claims to greater autonomy despite economic development and significant investment in infrastructure in the north since the end of the war.
The ruling coalition won seven seats, while a Muslim party won one.The ruling coalition won seven seats, while a Muslim party won one.
"This win today is a message to the government that bridges, buildings and trains are not the main issue but that we have to live freely," said Thayaparan Sundarmoothy, a local councillor in Kilinochchi, once the administrative headquarters of the LTTE."This win today is a message to the government that bridges, buildings and trains are not the main issue but that we have to live freely," said Thayaparan Sundarmoothy, a local councillor in Kilinochchi, once the administrative headquarters of the LTTE.
M A Sumanthiran, a TNA national parliamentarian, said: "[The result was] a great vindication of the political stand we've taken and our people have stood up without bowing down to violence and intimidation."M A Sumanthiran, a TNA national parliamentarian, said: "[The result was] a great vindication of the political stand we've taken and our people have stood up without bowing down to violence and intimidation."
The government has accused the TNA of renewing calls for a separate state through its push for the devolution of powers to the weak provincial council.The government has accused the TNA of renewing calls for a separate state through its push for the devolution of powers to the weak provincial council.
Tamils make up between 10 and 15% of Sri Lanka's population of 21 million.Tamils make up between 10 and 15% of Sri Lanka's population of 21 million.
Angajan Ramanathan, the Jaffna co-ordinator for Rajapaksa's party and a candidate in the poll, said the Sri Lankan government had "ended the war and brought peace and is doing development in a way that no other government has done".Angajan Ramanathan, the Jaffna co-ordinator for Rajapaksa's party and a candidate in the poll, said the Sri Lankan government had "ended the war and brought peace and is doing development in a way that no other government has done".
"There is this [ethnicity] card played continually as a trump card," Ramanathan, 30, said."There is this [ethnicity] card played continually as a trump card," Ramanathan, 30, said.
Key grievances for many voters are linked the continued heavy presence of the Sri Lankan military, which is dominated by the Sinhalese majority, in the north.Key grievances for many voters are linked the continued heavy presence of the Sri Lankan military, which is dominated by the Sinhalese majority, in the north.
The TNA won nearly 80% of the vote in Mullaitivu, where thousands of civilians are said to have been killed in May 2009, when government forces moved in to destroy the remnants of the LTTE. The army is accused of indiscriminate shelling of civilian refugees mixed with fleeing fighters. The LTTE has been accused of using non-combatants as human shields.The TNA won nearly 80% of the vote in Mullaitivu, where thousands of civilians are said to have been killed in May 2009, when government forces moved in to destroy the remnants of the LTTE. The army is accused of indiscriminate shelling of civilian refugees mixed with fleeing fighters. The LTTE has been accused of using non-combatants as human shields.
The government has rejected accusations of rights abuses and Rajapaksa in July ordered an inquiry into mass disappearances during the war.The government has rejected accusations of rights abuses and Rajapaksa in July ordered an inquiry into mass disappearances during the war.
Election officials said they received complaints of intimidation of voters during the polling, but turnout was about 68%.Election officials said they received complaints of intimidation of voters during the polling, but turnout was about 68%.
The Centre for Monitoring Electoral Violence, an NGO officially recognised as observers of the poll, said: "Polling day and the campaign period saw a series of electoral malpractices and violations which seriously undermined the free and fair nature of the electoral process."The Centre for Monitoring Electoral Violence, an NGO officially recognised as observers of the poll, said: "Polling day and the campaign period saw a series of electoral malpractices and violations which seriously undermined the free and fair nature of the electoral process."
The military has repeatedly rejected any suggestion of involvement by the security forces in election-related violence.The military has repeatedly rejected any suggestion of involvement by the security forces in election-related violence.
However Samuel Chandrahasan, 71, a Jaffna-born activist working with Tamil refugees in India said he had "never dreamed of seeing such a peaceful election".However Samuel Chandrahasan, 71, a Jaffna-born activist working with Tamil refugees in India said he had "never dreamed of seeing such a peaceful election".
Rajapaksa, who on Sunday flew to New York to address the United Nations general assembly later this week, has a majority of more than two-thirds in the national parliament and controls the eight other provinces in Sri Lanka. He remains very popular among the Sinhalese majority, despite rising prices and public anger at corruption.Rajapaksa, who on Sunday flew to New York to address the United Nations general assembly later this week, has a majority of more than two-thirds in the national parliament and controls the eight other provinces in Sri Lanka. He remains very popular among the Sinhalese majority, despite rising prices and public anger at corruption.
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