The Joint Opposition has accused the government of attempting to militarise civilian law enforcement by granting police powers to the armed forces under new counter-terrorism legislation.
Speaking at a press briefing in Colombo yesterday (27), former Justice Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris warned that the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill places excessive authority in the hands of the Defence Secretary while stripping away fundamental civil liberties.
He said that the draft law threatened to silence democratic political opponents and restrict press freedoms across the country.
Critical analysis of the proposed bill reveals that the military could be authorised to exercise standard police functions even without the declaration of a formal state of emergency.
Under the drafted provisions, the Defence Secretary holds the power to issue initial two-month detention orders without immediate judicial oversight, with scope to extend those detentions further.
Opponents of the legislation argue that the vague definitions within the draft could easily turn regular political campaigning into criminal acts, potentially leaving citizens who distribute political leaflets or protest state projects open to terrorism charges.
Although opposition parties agree that the country’s existing Prevention of Terrorism Act of 1979 requires replacement, critics contend that the new framework merely replaces old abuses with broader administrative powers.
The move comes as part of a legislative push by the National People's Power government, which has already drawn sharp condemnation from human rights monitor Amnesty International over a companion bill targeting organised crime.
Leave your comments
Login to post a comment
Post comment as a guest