NEM-IHR commences its operations in Sri Lanka

Network for Election Monitoring of the Intellectuals for Human Rights (NEM-IHR) commenced its operations from begining of this month to moitor the forth coming provincial council elections.

NEM-IHR believes that the present situation does not ensure a free and fair election. Therefore, NEM-IHR monitoring personnel have already deployed at Divisional Secretariat level to monitor the election process in the North-Central and Sabaragamuwa provincial councils.

Issuing a press statement Dr. Uditha Gunasekera , CEO of the NEM-IHR said Intellectuals for Human Rights (IHR) are actively involved in protection and promotion of human rights in the country since 2005. IHR consider free and fair election as a key component that ensures the democratic rights in a country and it is the main condition that protects the sovereignty of the people.

The sovereign rights of the people were accepted by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the UN under Article 21 as well as the constitution of Sri Lanka. Hence, ensuring of a free and fair election will be in the scope of human right organizations as this is an essential aspect for the protection of the civil and political rights of the people.

NEM- IHR’s election monitoring process goes beyond monitoring and reporting of the election violence. While recognizing the important role of the various election monitoring organizations played over the past years; NEM-IHR believes that the intellectuals and professionals in this country have a noble duty and responsibility to intervene in to the process and to make a better environment for free and fair elections, while addressing the current limitations and differences of the election monitoring organizations.

NEM-IHR expects to study the present election law and its practical application and the factors that hinder the right of the people to cast their vote liberally. The information gathered in this provincial council election will be analyzed and the NEM-IHR would come with proposals to open a public debate on the issues in the present election laws and their applications.

"We are yet to be received the approval of the Election Commissioner for election monitoring. NEM-IHR needs approval of the Commissioner for the purpose of entering into the polling booths. This is upon the approval of the Commissioner as there is only one organization have that approval, he said.