HRW calls for ending use of anti-terrorism laws on protesters in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka, LK - 31 Aug 2022
Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Wednesday called on Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe to immediately end the use of "draconian counterterrorism laws" to attack peaceful demonstrators and release those detained, including several activists. "President Wickremesinghe's use of anti-terrorism legislation to lock up people peacefully calling for reform sends a chilling message to Sri Lankans that rights won't get priority during his administration," HRW South Asia director Meenakshi Ganguly said in a statement. The rights watchdog reported that on Aug.18, three student activists who participated in a protest were arrested "under the abusive Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which allows up to a year's detention without trial." ARCHIVE FOOTAGE SHOWS THE PROTEST TO CONDEMN THE CRACKDOWN ON ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS IN COLOMBO, SRI LANKA.