Sri Lanka bans separatism

Press, 6 August 1983, Page 11

Sri Lanka bans separatism

NZPA-Reuter Colombo Sri Lanka, recovering from the shock of last week’s racial violence in which 295 people died, yesterday enacted laws prohibiting all demands for a separate Tamil State. Parliament, after a marathon overnight meeting under strict security, adopted the legislation early with 150 members voting for and none against. Members of the main minority party, the Tamil United Liberation Front, which is campaigning for a separate Tamil State, stayed away from the assembly. Last week’s violence between Tamils and the

majority Sinhaleese population erupted after guerrillas fighting for a separate Tamil State killed 13 soldiers on July 23 in the northern district of Jaffna. The Front denies any links with the guerrilla movements. The legislation effectively banned the Front, and its members would lose their civic rights unless they gave up the call for separation, observers said. Three other Opposition parties, including the Freedom Party of a former Prime Minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, supported the Government’s move, declaring that they were against a division of the

country. The Prime Minister, Mr Ranasinghe Premadasa, moved the legislation in the form of an amendment to the Constitution. He said that its object was “to enact the most comprehensive set of sanctions possible against all types of activity aimed at the establishment of a separate State.” The amendment prohibits any person, political party or other organisation from advocating the establishment of a separate State. Political parties that contravene the law will be banned. All members of Parliament will be required,under the new legislation, to

take an oath renouncing separatism. Those who do not comply will be expelled from Parliament and face other penalties. These include forfeiture of property and loss of civic rights for seven years, including the right to a passport, to sit public examinations and engage in any trade or profession which requires a licence. Mr Premadasa told Parliament that the choice before the Tamil United Liberation Front now vas either to continue advocating separatism and suffer the consequences or mend its ways “...and co-operate with us to establish a united, democratic and prosperous Sri Lanka.”