COLOMBO, Jan 29: The first civic elections in 15 years in Sri Lanka's battle-scarred Northern Jaffna peninsula passed off peacefully today with 25 to 30 per cent of the 250,000 voters casting their votes, according to unofficial estimates While polling was only 20 to 25 per cent in the prestigious Jaffna municipal council, in the rest of the peninsula, comprising the remaining 16 local bodies, it was 30 to 35 per cent, independent observers said.The observers said the polling was a victory for the ballot over the bullets as an attempt by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to disrupt the poll by exchanging fire with the Army last night failed.
The incident, which left three civilians injured in the Gurunagar area of Jaffna town, caused panic and the town was deserted in the morning with only a few voters turning up at the polling booths.
However, polling picked up in the afternoon, though shops remained closed throughout the day.
Some of the former militant groups were seen distributing keychains, note books, rice, daal, dhotis and saris to the voters, residents said.
Army and police made heavy security arrangements to prevent any attacks by the LTTE which was boycotting the poll. Recently the rebel group had issued warning through hand written pamphlets asking people not to vote.
The LTTE guerrillas raided volunteer camp of the EPDP and killed nine persons, including two candidates.
Despite initial hesitation all the five Sri Lankan moderate Tamil parties and groups put up over 1,170 candidates to contest about 240 seats in 17 local bodies in the Jaffna and neighbouring Kilinochchi district. Though Jaffna has about 5.70 lakh eligible voters, only a third of them are present currently in the peninsula.
The moderate Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) and four former Tamil militant groups, besides two independent groups are in the fray.
The former militant groups are: Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOT), Eelam People'sRevolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) and the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO).
The most keenly contested fight is Jaffna mayoral elections. The TULF has fielded the widow of its late leader, Yogeswaran, who was assassinated by the LTTE few years ago.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
