Judge slams PTA, ER laws

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 June 2001, 21:16 GMT]
"The Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Emergency Regulations restrict the human rights enshrined in the 1978 Constitution of the country. Human rights violations occur daily in some way or other," said Mr.T.L.O.Manaf, Trincomalee Additional District Judge addressing a one-day workshop on Human Rights Thursday, organized by the Eastern Rehabilitation Organization under the sponsorship of the Canadian High Commission in Sri Lanka.

Participating as the chief guest Mr.Manaf who is also the Muttur Magistrate said, "Human rights were introduced first in the 1972 Constitution. But no enforcement mechanism was included in that Constitution."

Left to Right: Senior Attorney-at-Law Mr.Ismail, Additional District Judge, Mr.Manaf, and Mr.K.Sivapalan, Chairman, Eastern Rehabilitation Organization. (Photo: TamilNet)

"The 1987 Constitution went one step further and included enforcement mechanism to obtain relief if human rights of a person is violated," he told the workshop conducted as a part of the Awareness Programme in Human Rights Laws of the Eastern Rehabilitation Organization.

"However the introduction of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Emergency Regulations promulgated by the President later have given room for the violation of the human rights freely and also for no reasons and even by low level government servants," Mr. Manaf said.

"It is a pity to note that persons who have enough knowledge of human rights are also involved in violating other man's human rights," the judge lamented.

Attorney-at-Law Kasinathar Sivapalan, Chairman of the Eastern Rehabilitation Organization presided.

Attorney-at-Law Mr.S.Thiruchenthilnathan spoke on the "Prevention of Terrorism Act and Emergency Regulations". Attorney-at-Law Mr.A.Jegasothy spoke on "Fundamental Rights". Senior Attorney-at-Law Mr.O.L.M.Ismail also addressed the meeting.