Amnesty International’s representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Peter Splinter, stressed that Sri Lanka’s latest legislation to ban several diaspora organisations, would worsen the climate for NGO staff, journalists and others interacting with Tamil groups.
Expressing concern over the likely use of the Sri Lankan Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), to enforce the new legislation, Mr. Splinter said to CNN,
“The consequence of that is that anyone dealing with those organisations will be subject to accusations of cooperating with terrorism—that brings them within the parameters of a rather draconian piece of legislation, the Prevention of Terrorism Act.”
Splinter further outlined that there had been a heavy crack down on activists and civil society figures using the PTA, in what appeared to be a calculated move to discourage potential witnesses potential witness from cooperating with the United Nations inquiry.
See related articles:
Diaspora groups reject SL ban, vow to continue struggle (02 Apr 2014)
APPGT deplores diaspora ban, calls on international community to condemn Sri Lanka's actions (02 Apr 2014)
Proscription of diaspora orgs is to demoralise Tamils in homeland - K. Guruparan (02 Apr 2014)
Sri Lanka aims to cut us off from the diaspora - TNA's Shivajilingham (02 Apr 2014)
The proscription of the Tamil Diaspora: War by other means (01 Apr 2014)
Proscription of diaspora orgs 'shameful' says former UK MP, GTF policy advisor (01 Apr 2014)
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