{"id":101702,"date":"2020-04-29T16:54:08","date_gmt":"2020-04-29T23:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=101702"},"modified":"2020-04-29T16:54:08","modified_gmt":"2020-04-29T23:54:08","slug":"protecting-human-rights-while-preventing-terrorism-a-sequel-to-arrest-of-lawyer-reopens-debate-on-pta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2020\/04\/29\/protecting-human-rights-while-preventing-terrorism-a-sequel-to-arrest-of-lawyer-reopens-debate-on-pta\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting human rights while preventing terrorism -A sequel to  Arrest of lawyer reopens debate on PTA"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><strong data-rich-text-format-boundary=\"true\">Palitha Senanayake<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>This\nis a sequel to your above captioned article by Gehan De Checkera published in\nthe online edition of the 25<sup>th<\/sup> April issue, quoting lawyers and HR\nactivist critical of the Prevention of Terrorism Act., under which Lawyer Heejaz&nbsp; Hizbulla has been arrested&nbsp; in connection with the Eater Sunday terrorist\nattack. Although the caption also includes \u2018prevention of terrorism\u2019, there no\nmention on the prevention of terrorism and instead the article throughout its\ntext criticizes the PTA in the context of upholding human rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At\nthe very outset it should be mentioned that the writer\u2019s ( Mr Checkera\u2019s)\nchoice of the topic, PTA, to have this debate, is an aberration. This is\nbecause the PTA is not the real issue at hand as PTA has been introduced to our\nlaw books in an attempt to prevent terrorism that has haunted Sri Lankan\nsociety from time to time. The correct topic for the debate should have been\nterrorism and its prevention, but the writer, for reasons best known to him,\nchooses to criticize the PTA and Law enforcement completely disregarding the\neffect of terrorism on our society. Yes, we do not need the PTA that bestows\nextraordinary discretionary powers in the hands of the law enforcement\nofficials, but then how do we contain terrorism that has stalked this society,\nthe recent instance of which has been the brutal massacre of 262 and wounding\nof about 500 devotees at their prayer? &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nwriter maintains that, \u2018<em>As long as we are prepared to accept the existence\nof terror laws in Sri Lanka, <\/em><em>arbitrary actions void of accountability by the executive\nsuch as the arrest of Mr Hizbullah will continue<\/em>\u2019. This statement is completely out\nof context with a tinge of malice because,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nthis subject law is not a terror\nlaw but a law to Prevent Terrorism,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;the arrest is not\nan arbitrary action because it is as per the PTA sanctioned by the Parliament\nand part\nof the Sri Lankan law,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;accountability is only to the\nextent warranted under the PTA, and&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\n&nbsp;the arrest is not by an executive\norder but by the law enforcement office in the course of duty <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, Mr Chickera should\nunderstand that as long as there is terrorism among us, the SL society cannot\nrid itself of Terrorism preventing laws and that prevention of terrorism is\nprecisely what the law enforcement officers are trying to accomplish by\narresting Mr Hizbulla. Thus, by criticizing the Prevention of terrorism act and\nits enforcers, without qualification, in favor of the person who is arrested as\na suspect, Mr Chickera places himself in position where he is a purveyor of\nterrorism. Whether this position is intentional or not is another matter, but\nthe net effect of his advocacy is to denigrate the PTA and its enforcers and to\nuphold the \u2018human rights\u2019 of the suspect who has been arrested. Is Mr.\nChickera and his courtier of professionals trying to suggest that we should put\nthe Easter Sunday attack behind and carry on as if nothing has happened? The\nbig question then is, Can\nwe rid ourselves of terrorism if we do that ? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The society judges a person\u2019s limits\nand ethics by what he tolerates!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Criminal Investigation\nDepartment may not have \u2018just arrested\u2019 this person unless there is sufficient\nevidence to prosecute him. We are aware that there is an ongoing battle between\nthe police and the lawyers to determine whose duty it is to punish a criminal.\nThe Courts have the power to punish a criminal when proved but that power\nemanates from the power of the police to prosecute by bringing that suspect\nbefore the law. However, this arrested person does not become a convict until\nand unless he is proven guilty by the Courts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Accordingly, this arrest, is the\nfirst step in bringing justice to those innocent who died and were injured\nduring the bomb explosion; an act perpetrated with the sole intention of bringing\ndeath and destruction to a set of persons for the fault of being pious about\ntheir religion. Why should so many \u2018reputed\u2019 persons protest in chorus when a\nperson is arrested in this connection, claiming that arrest to be arbitrary and\nunlawful when it is NOT. The laws of a country are enacted in the Parliament\nwhether the lawyers of the country like them or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Is it all because, the person arrested is a\nlawyer? Do lawyers have better human rights that prevent them from being\narrested, impinging on the right to life of ordinary folks? &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now let me take these professionals\none by one for their statements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>PTA is an\naberration of the Rule of Law- Dr Asanga Welikala<\/strong> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;May\nbe under normal circumstances, but the PTA was enacted in Parliament when the\ncountry was battling the most ruthless and organized terrorist organization in\nthe world, the LTTE. The&nbsp; situation at\nthe time was a social aberration with many innocent lives being lost and even\nthe very act of terrorism is an aberration of human civilization and modern\nhuman rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Many\ncountries have anti- terrorism laws that respect human rights- Dr Radhika\nCoomaraswamy<\/strong> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes\nmadam, may be you could cite a few instances with your international experience\nand thereby educate the SL law makers. That would be more productive than\njoining the chorus in condemning the lawful arrest to prevent terrorism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Media quick\nto slap terrorist label- Ramindu Perera.<\/strong> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This\nparticular person has been arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and\nthat fact has to be stated in the media. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>PTA reverses\nthe principle of innocent before proven guilty- Swasthika Arulingam<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Well, the PTA does not make\nanybody guilty at the time of arrest. It is only after a trial that a suspect\nis made a convict. However in view of the wanton and cataclysmic nature of the\ncrime of terrorism the arrest laws are stringent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Attempt to\nwhip up anti-Muslim communalism before polls- Sanjay Wilson Jayasekera&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/strong>We deplore the attempt by this person to politicize and\ncommunalize this issue that we think should be dealt with under terrorism in\nthe best interest of Tamils, Christians and Muslims. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Arrests\nshould not be shrouded in mystery- Ermiza Tegal&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong>Yes, it should not be and you should\nbe told that you are arrested under the PTA. However, when you are arrested\nunder the PTA the police are not obliged to disclose all the details<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Attorney\n\u2013Client confidentiality is fundamental to criminal justice- Dinesha\nSamararatne&nbsp; <\/strong>That is a professional ethic but however prevention of crime\nis a national issue therefore individual rights have to be compromised when it\ncomes to national issues<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Citizens\nshould not be misguided by public theoretical display- Vidura Samaranayake<\/strong>. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We are not aware of an attempt to make it in\nto public theoretical display. Surely these things have to be broadcast over\nnews. It is the lawyers by protesting against, that have given undue publicity\nto this issue.<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Palitha Senanayake This is a sequel to your above captioned article by Gehan De Checkera published in the online edition of the 25th April issue, quoting lawyers and HR activist critical of the Prevention of Terrorism Act., under which Lawyer Heejaz&nbsp; Hizbulla has been arrested&nbsp; in connection with the Eater Sunday terrorist attack. Although the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-101702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101702","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101702"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101702\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101702"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101702"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}