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Sri Lanka

Rajapakse lifts emergency laws after 30 years

Sri Lanka’s president has announced the end of stiff emergency laws imposed on the country nearly 30 years ago to tackle the Tamil Tiger’s armed separatist movement. The laws gave security forces sweeping powers of arrest and detention and have been renewed on a monthly basis. 

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse
Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse AFP
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President Mahinda Rajapakse’s announcement means the regulations will run out at the end of August, but the authorities still have tough powers under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

The move was welcomed by opposition leader Ramil Wickremesinghe who said it had come too long after the final military victory over the Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009.

Opposition parties in Sri Lanka have accused the government of using the emergency laws to crack down against its political opponents, including student leaders and the independent press.

The move comes as Sri Lanka faces growing pressure over its human rights record, particularly with reference to the Tamil conflict.

Next month's United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva is expected to discuss Sri Lanka's performance on human rights.

The United States has been leading international calls for a war crimes investigation into he island's crushing of the rebels.

Sri Lanka has so far managed to stave off censure from UN bodies thanks to the support of strong allies China and Russia.

Tens of thousands of civilians perished in the final months of fighting against the Tamil Tigers, and the United Nations has said there are "credible allegations" of war crimes committed by both sides.

 

 

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