Sri Lanka’s decision to ban major Tamil diaspora organisations as financiers of terrorism appears aimed at restricting peaceful activism by Tamils, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Monday.

“The Sri Lankan government is using vague counterterrorism regulations to tie the major diaspora Tamil groups to the ruthless but defunct LTTE,” said Brad Adams, HRW’s Asia director.

“This broad-brush sanction could then be used to punish local Tamil activists and politicians with international ties.”

“The government is putting all Tamil activists at risk by delegitimizing the major Tamil organizations abroad,” Adams said.

“Putting organizations engaged in peaceful political activity on a terrorist list is a modern version of McCarthyism.”

The government should either provide evidence of the unlawful activity of specific groups and individuals or remove them from the list, HRW said.

Citing Sri Lankan Military spokesman Brig. Ruwan Wanigasuriya's warning that under the order, legal action would be taken against anyone having links with the listed groups, HRW said:

“This would place local activists and alleged group members visiting the country at risk of being detained and held without charge under Sri Lanka’s abusive Prevention of Terrorism Act.”

“The government should address its legitimate concerns about foreign terrorist financing primarily through legal cooperation with foreign governments. It should promptly produce the factual basis for listing, and ensure organizations and individuals are able to contest their designations before independent and impartial courts.”