The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) urged the Sri Lankan government to repeal the country's draconian anti-terror legislation, the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), reports the Daily Mirror.
The PTA, which has been used by successive governments to detain without charge a number of Tamil political activists and human rights workers on alleged charges of "terrorism", has long been criticised by international NGOs.
Criticising the government's ongoing use of the PTA, six years after the end of the armed conflict, CaFFE said that the PTA was being used to detain activists and media workers indefinitely.
“With the scourge of terrorism eradicated some six years ago, the implementation of the PTA is a great obstacle for the individual liberty. Our country has been accused of violating Human Rights by several groups. With a stable government in place, action should be taken to recind the PTA and re-establish a proper civil administration in the country so that people can live without fear,” the CaFFE executive director, Ranjith Tennakoon said.
Last month, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in its election manifesto, called for all Tamil detainees currently being held under the PTA to be released. See more here.
The PTA, which has been used by successive governments to detain without charge a number of Tamil political activists and human rights workers on alleged charges of "terrorism", has long been criticised by international NGOs.
Criticising the government's ongoing use of the PTA, six years after the end of the armed conflict, CaFFE said that the PTA was being used to detain activists and media workers indefinitely.
“With the scourge of terrorism eradicated some six years ago, the implementation of the PTA is a great obstacle for the individual liberty. Our country has been accused of violating Human Rights by several groups. With a stable government in place, action should be taken to recind the PTA and re-establish a proper civil administration in the country so that people can live without fear,” the CaFFE executive director, Ranjith Tennakoon said.
Last month, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in its election manifesto, called for all Tamil detainees currently being held under the PTA to be released. See more here.