The government must answer to the international community for the application of the Anti-Terrorism Act to all university student unions.
Therefore steps should be taken to immediately release those detained under this, Tamil National Federation spokesperson President’s Advocate MA Sumanthran said.
He stated this at a press conference held in Jaffna and further mentioned,
The Anti-Terrorism Act has been applied against only three persons, including Vasantha Mudalike, coordinator of the All University Students’ Union. Others who protested with them have been granted bail.
It is very bad that the government, which has promised to stop the implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Act, is re-applying the expired and repealed ban on all university student unions.
We strongly condemn this. It is a right enshrined in the Constitution to engage in democratic protests.
Can’t even be punished for that. Therefore, the move to detain all university student unions for 3 months citing terrorism is very regrettable.
The government should answer to the international community in this regard. And they should be released immediately. Similarly, the Terrorism Prohibition Act should also be completely repealed, he said.