Blair
laws may hit Balasingham
From Neville de Silva in London
Sri Lankans who encourage, advocate or glorify violence in Britain
or abroad face deportation under a 10-point draft of new anti-terrorism
laws planned by Britain to combat extremism.
Even
if they are currently British citizens, persons of Sri Lankan origin
and other foreigners could be stripped of their UK citizenship and
deported under the tough new laws announced by Prime Minister Tony
Blair at his Downing Street news conference on Friday.
Mr
Blair said he was ready even to amend the Human Rights Act and meet
the criticism and opposition of civil rights advocates to make Britain
safe from those who incited others to violence or condoned or justified
acts of extremism.Some observers said after the announcement that
the Blair government appears to be targeting not only those who
preached or advocated violence in Britain but also abroad.
Thus
a person living here who encourages or condones violence against
Israel or in Israel could be committing an offence. If he/she is
a foreigner that person would be liable to deportation.
Solicitors
said that such a drastic change in the laws could well place prominent
LTTErs such as Anton Balasingham, the LTTE’s chief negotiator
and other known LTTE figures here in jeopardy especially if the
Wanni leadership decides to go to war or even escalate violence
in Sri Lanka.
Though
Mr. Balasingham is now a British citizen, if Mr Blair’s intended
toughening up of the laws, passes muster, his citizenship could
be withdrawn as those of others who might belong to extremist groups,
observers said.
Saying that the rules of the game have changed, Prime Minister Blair
said that while foreigners were welcome in this country, they must
respect British values and the British way of life.
He
said the new laws would make fostering hatred and advocating violence
in the furtherance of one's beliefs an offence. |