The new “Prevention of Terrorism Act” gazetted by the government is an anti-democratic act against the background of strong opposition from within the country as well as internationally against the Prevention of Terrorism Act being implemented by the government at present, emphasizes the National People’s Power (NPP). The Information Secretary of the JVP and member of the National Executive Committee of the NPP Vijitha Herath said this at a press conference held at the head office of the JVP at Pelawatte yesterday (28^th). He said, “By implementing IMF proposals, a severe situation is being created every day where the people cannot live. Plans have been already prepared to sell, at dirt cheap rates, government institutions, including profit-making government institutions. It is said in public that profitable companies are also will be sold. Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation, Telecom Company are institutions that are making huge profits and are employing thousands of employees. By selling those institutions, the people of this country are being made more oppressed. IMF proposals are to be implemented intensifying the debt crisis. An anti-democratic act called the Anti-Terrorism Act has been gazetted to quell public opposition that would rise against all these vile acts of the government. This Act has a history. JR Jayawardena brought the Prevention of Terrorism Temporary Measures Act No. 48 of 1979 saying it isw for a short period of time. Although it was mentioned as temporary measures, it was not temporary. This act was used to arrest and detain various political activists, progressives, journalists and various civil activists who criticized the government. Using this act, thousands were arrested and illegally detained for years. Some of the detainees were detained illegally without being prosecuted in a court of law. There was a big protest against it both in the country and internationally. EU It was clearly stated that in order to give GSP plus, the oppressive Terrorism Prevention Act should be withdrawn. Ranil Wickramasinghe also agreed. What really needs to be done is to withdraw this oppressive law immediately. Every government in power used this act to suppress the voices against them. Although the Anti-Terrorism Act was introduced between 2015-2019, it has been brought back today as an more drastic Anti-Terrorism Act. The definition of the crime of terrorism is very serious. There are certain definitions and criteria in the United Nations regarding terrorism. This bill has been brought against the criteria accepted by the United Nations. Although Sri Lanka is bound by an international convention to protect basic human rights, definitions that go against it have been included. According to that, the definitions have been given in such a way that a certain comment, issuing a statement, taking a trade union action against the government is placed under terrorism. In the third article of the constitution, it is very clear stated that maintaining trade unions and taking membership is recognized as a fundamental right. Also, the freedom of speech and expression has been protected by articles 12, 13 and 14. This draft has been prepared against those clauses, and the crime of terrorism has been defined as criticizing government’s wrongdoings and acting against such wrongdoings According to section 3(1) of the proposed Act, interfering with the provision of any infrastructure or transport facility related to the provision of essential services is defined as an act of terrorism. During trade union action, services cannot be maintained as in normal conditions. In the new Act clauses are included where the relevant trade union and its activists can be named as terrorists and sentenced up to 20 years in prison. Obviously, the constitution has been violated to suppress trade unions. This is a bill brought to launch a severe repression against the working people. A gathering of employees for a strike in a certain institution can be considered as a terrorist and punished by the accusations that it interfered with the functioning of that institution. Informing about a trade union action through printed media, internet or other means regarding a strike has also been defined as an act of terrorism. Thus, distributing leaflets, sending a Twitter message, sending a WhatsApp message regarding a trade union action has been termed as an act of terrorism. Section 11(8) provides the relevant provisions. If a journalist reports on a trade union action, he can also be arrested. Section 11(1) states that the electronic transmission of the contents of a terrorist publication is also an act of terrorism. That means that if anyone talks about trade union action, that too is labeled as a terrorism. Even if all the people take some action together, there are clauses that can be labeled as terrorism. There are various occasions when thousands of people took to the streets to protest against the rulers. According to this act, all those people can be named as terrorists. Also, "Under the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act, only the Minister of Defense can issue detention orders, but according to the new Act even a Deputy Inspector General of Police can issue such orders." The existing Anti-Terrorism Act had limited the period of detention orders to two weeks. This new Act has included the opportunity to issue orders to a DIG for up to three months. After these months, it can be extended up to one year with the approval of the court. We know from experience that this act was not used to suppress real terrorism, but to suppress the people. If the family cannot be informed of the detention, a note in the police book is sufficient, and there are provisions to give the power of arrest to a police officer, coast guard or someone in the armed services if they feel that a person is a terrorist. This includes flagrant violation of media freedom and intimidation of journalists and media organizations. The president has the ability to designate an organization as a terrorist organization at his sole discretion. Banning organizations based on the arbitrary whims of the Executive President is totally anti-democratic. Wasantha Mudalige was arrested and detained under this Act but he had to be released as they could not prove any crime. Ranil Wickramasinghe had said that he will not issue detention orders in the future. According to this Act, he need not give those orders. Delegating this power to DIGs means expanding the power available to suppress the people. The President can also designate rehabilitation centers for those arrested. The Attorney General has been given the ability to decide on the 20-year term of imprisonment. The Attorney General has also been given the ability not to prosecute someone who has been arrested. The anti-democratic, constitutional violation act should be withdrawn immediately. Ranil Wickramasinghe is trying to fulfill his greed for power with a new act. We will take all measures against this bill which is brought to suppress the people and trade unions who stand up against the pressure given by the despicable conditions of the IMF. We are launching various actions against this bill by going to the Supreme Court, taking trade union actions, and organizing the people. We request the entire people of this country to rally to defeat this vile attempt of the oppressive government. . 0 Comments

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