Amnesty International says that if the Joe Biden administration values the human rights of the Sri Lankan people, it should oppose the Anti-Terrorism Act that is being prepared by the government of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
They say that the Biden administration should send a message to President Ranil Wickremesinghe in this regard.
Amnesty International describes the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act as an appalling bill that violates human rights.
Amnesty International says the government should withdraw the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill altogether.
The Sri Lankan government has used the Prevention of Terrorism Act for more than four decades to suppress critics and persecute minorities, the organization alleges.
Amnesty International says that if the Biden administration and Congress remain silent on allowing this bill to pass, it means allowing the Sri Lankan government to suppress dissent.
Amnesty International says that after the public struggle that broke out last year, the government is more willing to use anti-terrorism laws to crack down on public activists.
Through the new bill, provision has been made to keep suspects for long periods of time without filing charges. On the advice of the Attorney General, the Magistrate is allowed to extend the said period further. Also, the police have been given the opportunity to access the suspects who have already been charged, and with the permission of a magistrate, the police are also allowed to take the suspect out of the jail for further investigation.
Amnesty International says that this provision in the Anti-Terrorism Act is horrible. They allege that this has created an opportunity to torture the suspects.
The fact that the new Anti-Terrorism Act has given permission to arrest suspects without warrants has also been heavily criticized by Amnesty International.
Also, the power given to the President to ban political parties or organizations without judicial supervision has also been criticized by Amnesty International.
Amnesty International also condemns the fact that the death penalty has been allowed against the guilty.
