Canada will never accept draconian laws, Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Isabelle Martin has told Tamil political party leaders during a meeting, expressing concerns over proposed legislation that could threaten democratic rights and fundamental freedoms.
The remarks were made during a meeting with TELO Leader Selvam Adaikkalanathan, Member of Parliament representing the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA); Dharmalingam Siddharthan, leader of the Democratic People’s Liberation Front (DPLF) and former MP; and Guruswamy Surendran, Deputy Leader and spokesperson of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) and Deputy National Organiser of the DTNA.
During the discussion, the Tamil political representatives highlighted the government’s failure to make meaningful progress towards a permanent political solution to the long-standing demands of the Tamil people and substantial economic development, despite having given prominence to these commitments in its election manifesto.
They also raised serious concerns over two proposed pieces of legislation: the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTA) and the Organised Crime Bill (OCB).
The representatives warned that these proposed laws could pose significant risks to the entire country, particularly minority communities, by creating opportunities to suppress democratic protests, target individuals and carry out arbitrary arrests.
They explained that Tamil communities in the Northern and Eastern Provinces continue to campaign for a permanent political settlement, the release of occupied lands, answers for the forcibly disappeared, accountability for war crimes and human rights violations, justice for genocide, and the holding of long-delayed Provincial Council elections.
The representatives cautioned that the proposed legislation could be used to suppress these legitimate struggles and restrict the freedom of individuals engaged in democratic activism.
They further pointed out that reports by the United Nations Human Rights Council have repeatedly called for the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). However, instead of abolishing the legislation entirely, the government is seeking to introduce replacement laws that could carry equally serious dangers for Tamil communities and the country as a whole.
The delay in conducting Provincial Council elections was another major concern raised during the meeting.
According to the Tamil representatives, the prolonged absence of elected Provincial Council administrations has weakened governance structures in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, creating opportunities for land appropriation and illegal settlements through various state institutions.
They also highlighted the continuing failure to release occupied lands in the Northern Province and the situation in the Maadavanai–Mayilathamadu areas of the Eastern Province.
In particular, they explained that illegal settlements by members of the majority community in traditional Tamil cattle-grazing lands in Maadavanai–Mayilathamadu have affected the livelihoods of Tamil livestock farmers and disrupted their traditional grazing activities.
The Tamil political leaders urged the Canadian High Commissioner to pay attention to these continuing concerns and the potential consequences of the proposed legislation for democracy, minority rights and fundamental freedoms in Sri Lanka.