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Sri Lankan Tamil parties demanded fresh polls after voters were locked
Sri Lanka's moderate Tamil parties and election monitors have demanded fresh polls in the embattled northern and eastern regions where nearly 100-thousand people were prevented from casting their ballots in the general election.
The Tamil parties and a European Union observer mission, condemned the Sri Lankan government's decision to close checkpoints which prevented civilians in rebel-held areas from reaching polling stations.
The four-party Tamil National Alliance said the closure of checkpoints in Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Batticaloa prevented at least 100-thousand Tamils reaching government-held towns to cast their ballots for a new parliament.
There are no polling stations in areas under the control of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and voters have to travel through army checkpoints to gain access to voting booths in government-held towns.
The EU Election Observers mission expressed "serious concern" and said it would take up the matter with the elections commissioner.
The moderate Tamil United Liberation Front accused the government of stifling democracy by keeping out Tamils.
6/12/01 4:22:08 | ABC Radio Australia News
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