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Wednesday, 3 April 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Nisthar Cassim
Opposition Leader and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday renewed his serious concern over the Counter Terrorism Bill, warning it will destroy democratic rights of people and lead the country to a repressive ‘police state’.
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Mahinda Rajapaksa |
Briefing editors of English and Tamil media over breakfast, Rajapaksa said the CT Bill, which is aimed at replacing the 1979 Prevention of Terrorism Act, was worse than the latter. “PTA has been applicable specifically during the times of emergency imposition and continuity of which must be approved by Parliament. However, the proposed CT Bill results in draconian regulations as part of normal law,” Rajapaksa opined at the briefing along with Prof. G.L. Peiris, Keheliya Rambukwella, and Mahindananda Aluthgamage. “This CT Act will prevail over all other written laws in the event of inconsistency,” he added.
“We will be talking to other like-minded parties to prevent the passage of the CT Bill in Parliament. The proposed new legislation is because of undue international pressure and the failure of the Government,” alleged Rajapaksa, who said if his party SLPP comes to power, they will revoke it.
The Bill was published in September 2018 and after the Opposition went to the Supreme Court, it ruled that certain provisions will require a two-third majority and a Referendum. At present, the Bill is being studied by a Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on national security.
Prof. Peiris, who described the CT Bill as “draconian”, and one that will ring the death knell for democracy,said the definitions of terrorism in the Bill are designed to suppress democratic protests by trade unions and all civil society organisations. It also includes damage to public and private property and obstruction or damage to essential services and supplies, and interference with any critical infrastructure facility or causing risk to health, etc., are all described as offences of terrorism. Penalty if found guilty includes 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.
It was pointed out that the CT Bill also confers arbitrary powers on the Police to quell freedom of protest, holding of rallies, procession or meetings association and dissent. “It also erodes into the privilege against self-incrimination and the right to silence, which is a basic human right, and freedom in criminal proceedings,” Prof. Peiris warned.
The CT Bill is also a serious threat to media freedom, he said, adding that gathering confidential information for supplying such information to a person who commits an offence under this Act becomes an act of abetting terrorism. It also gives powers for orders to be issued relating to prohibited places and prohibiting entry, taking pictures or making video recordings. “The net of liability is very wide as all directors and principal executive officers of corporate bodies are liable, as well as every partner of a firm if found guilty,” Prof. Peiris emphasised.
