A pro-government militia composed of former Tamil Tiger rebels won a local election in a turbulent eastern city, according to a state television report Tuesday, despite allegations that it used child soldiers, extorted businessmen and carried out killings.The militia known as the TMVP took 53 percent of the final vote in Batticaloa, giving it 11 of the 19 seats on the municipal council, Rupavahini Television announced, citing the country's elections commissioner.
The government had billed the election Monday, the first in 14 years, as a first step toward restoring order in a region long dominated by the insurgents. But human rights groups and opposition politicians said a climate of violence and chaos tainted the election. Residents said they were desperate for order to be restored. A high turnout was crucial to justifying the government's decision to hold the vote, and it was estimated at 50 percent, said Sritharan Sabanayagam of People's Action for Free and Fair Elections, an independent election monitoring group.