In letter addressed to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Human Rights Watch (HRW) noted that they are concerned by media reports that Parliament may consider amendments that reduce rather than enhance the draft Counter Terrorism Act’s human rights protections in a process that excludes meaningful public scrutiny.
However, HRW also noted that the draft Counter Terrorism Act of 2018 (CTA), represents a significant improvement over previous proposals to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
"The bill narrows definitions of terrorism acts, strengthens protections against custodial torture and coerced confessions, reduces pre-charge and pre-trial detention periods, and increases access by suspects to legal counsel and family members," HRW said.
HRW said that the bill’s list of terrorism acts should be narrowed further.
"Detention Orders – directives that place suspects in police custody – cannot be challenged for at least 14 days and may be extended to eight weeks total, an inordinate period absent exceptional circumstances. Suspects may be jailed for up to one year without charge in contravention of international human rights law prohibitions on detention without charge", HRW added.
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