Chief Advisor’s Office reports 274 incidents of violence, five killings since election schedule

The Chief Advisor’s Office (CAO) has recorded 274 violent incidents and five killings nationwide following the announcement of the parliamentary election schedule, according to data covering Dec 12 to Feb 1.

Clashes between rival supporters were the most frequent form of violence, accounting for 89 incidents, in the assessment up to 9pm on Sunday.

Other incidents included:

Intimidation or aggressive behaviour: 16

Direct attacks on candidates: 15

Killings: 5

Use of illegal weapons: 3

The office also reported 29 cases of disruption during election campaigns, 20 incidents of attacks, arson, or vandalism on election offices or related establishments, and 17 incidents of blockades and protests.

Attacks on minority groups occurred in one case, and 70 incidents fell into other categories.

Comparing past elections, the CAO noted fluctuations in violence levels: the 2014 national election saw 530 violent events, the 2018 poll had 414, and the last recorded 534.

Injuries were 315, 780, and 460, while deaths numbered 115, 22, and 6.

Reports also documented significant damage to vehicles and infrastructure during these elections. Some incidents in the 2014 election lacked complete data.

The CAO noted that crude and petrol bomb explosions, as well as gunfire, were recorded across different election periods, highlighting the persistent risk of political violence.