Location: Colombo- Sri Lanka
Language: Sinhala
Duration: 00:06:05
Source: A24
Restrictions: A24 Subscribers
Dateline: 01-03-2022
Storyline
Politicians and analysts in Sri Lanka have expressed their disappointment after the authorities had made surgical changes to the country’s notorious anti-terror law, describing the authorities for carrying out the meaningless changes to appease the donors. Enacted in 1979, the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) allows authorities to make warrantless arrests and searches if a person is suspected of involvement in a “terrorist activity.” Pubudu Jayagoda – Education & Propaganda Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) said that nothing was changed in light of the new amendments, as he explained that the state passed the amendments to get financial assistance from its conventional supporters, mainly the US and EU. “We do not see that this amendment is brought in favor of the betterment of the Sri Lankan people,” saying that the {TA was merely sugar-coated. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said although the law was first introduced to combat terrorism, it extended to curb and hinder freedom of speech, adding that youngsters are still in prison under loose charges under this act. Many youngsters’ lives have been devastated and many have been reported dead while in custody, calling for the complete abolishment of the flawed law.
Shotslist
(Soundbite) Pubudu Jayagoda – Education & Propaganda Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP):
“The government has brought an amendment to the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). We think this amendment has been enacted to enable get some foreign financial support from the European Union, the US and its allies. Also, due to the existing issues with the human rights violations, there is the possibility of losing the GST+ and also to curb the above issue. We do not see that this amendment is brought in favor of the betterment of the Sri Lankan people, but to boost the financial aid assistance. After referring to the amendment, what we can notice is that it is understandable that any severe amendments are not noticeable in the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Simply, nothing has changed; only the existing laws are sugar-coated.”
(Soundbite) Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam (MP) Tamil National Alliance (TNA):
“The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) was implemented in 1972 for merely six months, but it has been carried out up to nearly 40-years. The lives of many youths have been affected by this Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Although this was brought in to curb terrorism, today it has been utilized to curb and hinder the freedom of speech to accommodate the politicians and their political agendas. Many youngsters are still imprisoned for many years or held under this act. Many youngsters’ lives have been devastated and many have been reported dead while being in custody. Justice has to be meted out on their behalf and this PTA act has to be completely abolished. Our appeal is to abolish this PTA act completely, and we are not in preference of any changes or amendments, but to completely abolish. In the recent past, we have launched a ‘Signature Campaign’ islandwide which is currently a huge success. Usually, protests are only being carried out by North East areas, but now we are going to carry out the protests, especially in Colombo, Negambo and Matara areas, as well. This protest will be carried out until this draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) is completely abolished.”
(Soundbite) Pubudu Jayagoda, an Education & Propaganda Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP):
“If you take for an example any person who is arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) act would be detained up to 18 months without being issued a charge sheet and produced to the Courts. But now it has been deduced up to 12 months. That means that under this amendment, it is still possible to detain someone for up to one year without a chargee of a court ruling. Apart from this, the only amendment which has been renewed is that the detainees are permitted visits from a lawyer and family members. Apart from the above, there have been reports in the past that they have used this Prevention of Terrorism Act to detain, abduct and disappear personnel, but those who disappeared never got the facility to retain a lawyer or to see their family members. These amendments are being carried out while many harassments have taken place beyond the law as well. There is another grievous and that the amendments are not following the alleged allegations. For example – only the period for detaining without producing to the courts has been reduced but not abolished. And statements which are given by the detainee at the Police which is used for confessions against the suspect at the courts are not being amended.”
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