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UPI ID : enb@axis.com
UPI ID : enb@axis.com
PSTA எதிர்ப்பு ஆர்ப்பாட்டம் கொழும்புUN warns PSTA Bill risks arbitrary detention, rights abuses SUNDAY Island 01-11-2026The UN Human Rights Office has raised serious concerns over Sri Lanka’s proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism (PSTA) Bill, warning that several provisions could facilitate arbitrary detention, restrict freedom of expression and increase the risk of torture and other human rights violations. In a 19-page assessment of the Bill gazetted on September 22, the Office acknowledged improvements over earlier drafts but said the proposed legislation still reproduces or expands several shortcomings of the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The assessment, dated October 13, called on the Government to substantially review the Bill before its enactment, with meaningful consultations involving civil society, independent institutions and legal experts. One of the UN’s main concerns is the power given to the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence to authorise detention for up to two months at a time, for a maximum of one year. While extensions beyond the initial two months would require High Court approval, the UN said the initial detention decision would remain with the executive rather than an independent court. It also noted that suspects could be produced before a Magistrate up to 48 hours after arrest by police and up to 72 hours after arrest by the armed forces. The Office recommended that all suspects be produced before a Magistrate as soon as possible, ordinarily within 24 hours, regardless of which authority made the arrest. The UN also warned that broadly worded terrorism-related offences could be used against journalists, human rights defenders, civil society organisations and people taking part in peaceful protests. It expressed particular concern over provisions dealing with confidential information and terrorist publications, saying these could potentially criminalise legitimate reporting on security operations, arrests and investigations. The Office called for explicit protection for journalistic sources, public-interest reporting and human rights documentation. It also raised concerns over provisions allowing the armed forces and Coast Guard to exercise certain arrest and search powers. The UN warned that such powers could increase the risk of arbitrary detention, torture and enforced disappearance, particularly where suspects remain in military custody without adequate safeguards. It recommended that civilian police retain primary responsibility for law enforcement and that broad arrest, detention and search powers granted to the armed forces be removed. The assessment further questioned provisions allowing the President to proscribe organisations and authorities to restrict movement, public gatherings and communications. The UN warned that vaguely defined powers could be used to restrict peaceful assembly, political dissent and legitimate civic activities. It called for stronger judicial oversight, clear time limits and independent review of such decisions. The Office, however, welcomed several improvements in the latest draft, including the removal of police confessions as admissible evidence, additional protections for journalism and civil society activity, and mandatory audio-visual recording of police interviews. It also noted provisions requiring the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to be notified of arrests and detentions within 48 hours. However, the UN said these improvements did not adequately address the Bill’s broader human rights concerns. It also warned that transitional provisions could allow pending PTA cases and certain existing regulations to continue even after the PTA is repealed. The UN Human Rights Office urged the Government to substantially redraft the Bill to bring it into line with international human rights standards. It said it remained ready to provide technical assistance to Sri Lanka in developing counter-terrorism legislation that protects national security while safeguarding fundamental rights.
People attend a nationwide protest by campaign group Gen Z regelt (Gen Z takes charge) against underfunding of schools, cuts to education, social services, culture and healthcare, rising living costs, and military conscription, in Frankfurt, Germany, October 31, 2026. REUTERS/Kai PfaffenbachGerman Gen Z-led demonstrations follow others across EuropeRioters loot stores in Frankfurt as Gen Z-led protests in Germany turn violentBy Kai Pfaffenbach, Tilman Blasshofer and Miranda MurrayOctober 31, 2026SummaryProtesters loot stores in FrankfurtGen Z-led demonstrations follow others across EuropeYoung people demand better education, lower living costsSome shops along Berlin's Kurfuerstendamm board up windowsFRANKFURT/BERLIN, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Hooded rioters looted stores in Frankfurt late on Saturday after tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across Germany's biggest cities to demand better education and lower living costs.The protests followed a wave of Gen Z-led demonstrations across Europe this year. In Serbia, student-led activism helped unseat the country's longtime leader at the ballot box, while protests in France have descended into rioting and looting.The German protests organised by the campaign group "Gen Z regelt" — "Gen Z takes charge" in German — took place in 34 cities including Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich. The group says it opposes compulsory military service and wants greater investment in education as many young Germans struggle with rising costs.In Frankfurt, Germany's financial hub, at least two stores were looted as protests turned violent, with several more damaged and police trying to get the situation under control, according to a Reuters witness."Violent disturbances are continuing," Frankfurt police said on X. "In the city centre, windows have been smashed at several shops. Molotov cocktails are also being thrown at the emergency services. We urge all bystanders to avoid the city centre or to leave the area."Official numbers on Saturday afternoon suggested turnout was below the 182,000 participants that organisers initially expected. Police in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin reported as many as 18,000 protesters, half the roughly 36,000 on the organisers' website.German authorities said Saturday's demonstrations, which coincide with Halloween festivities, had been largely peaceful, but warned of attempts by extremist groups to exploit the movement.In Hamburg, some barricades had been set on fire."We are here today to fight for peace and freedom, rather than for war and coercion," Gen Z regelt spokesperson Lina Friedrich said in Berlin on Saturday."What matters most to us is better support for the health and education systems. We are against compulsory military service and we are in favour of a fairer distribution of the burden."LUXURY SHOPS BOARD UP WINDOWSParts of Germany's far-left extremist scene and some groups linked to foreign extremist movements have joined efforts to mobilise support, according to the federal interior ministry."We all have those images from France in our minds — looting, burning houses, burning police vehicles, and attacks on police officers," said Roman Poseck, interior minister for the state of Hesse, whose capital is Germany's financial hub, Frankfurt."France must not be held up as a model in this regard."Some businesses across German cities boarded up windows and planned early closures ahead of the demonstrations due to concerns over possible unrest, including along Berlin's luxury Kurfuerstendamm shopping boulevard.Organisers have focused on what they see as the growing pressure on younger generations in Europe's largest economy."The government has offered no response to our concerns other than to continue making cuts and piling further burdens upon us," said Steve, an 18-year-old due to speak at a rally in Munich, addressing Chancellor Friedrich Merz."We will continue to exercise our fundamental right to assemble until you stop ignoring us."Germany has struggled to revive economic growth. The country also faces growing pressure on pensions and public services as baby boomers retire and the working-age population shrinks.Questions have been raised about who is driving the campaign and whether it is genuinely youth-led, given the broad mix of political and civil society groups involved.Germany's national school student umbrella organisation, BSK, has distanced itself from the initiative and plans to hold a separate day of protest on November 20.Sean Baker, a student at the Technical University of Berlin, said he would join the protests on Saturday to call attention to the poor state of buildings on campus."When you go inside and enter the rooms, it looks like an abandoned building," he told Reuters. "Yet this is where we're expected to study on a regular basis."Reporting by Miranda Murray, Timm Reichert, Tilman Blasshofer, Stephan Schepers and Martin Schlicht; Additional reporting by Christoph Steitz; Editing by Ros Russell, Joe Bavier, Alex Richardson and David Gregorio
மாவீரர்களே, உங்களுக்கு எங்கள் வீர வணக்கம்! மாவீரர் நாள் கவிதை.( அரசவைப் புலவபுதுவை இரத்தினதுரை)மாரிமழை பொழியும், மண்கசியும் ஊர்முழுதும் வாரியடித்து வெள்ளம் வான்பாயும் கார்த்திகையில் பூமி சிலிர்த்துப்போய் பேறடையும்- துயிலுமில்லச் சாமிகளுக்கான சந்தனநாள் வந்தடையும்.மாவீரச்செல்வங்கள் மண்கிழித்து வெளிவந்து சாவீரச்செய்தி சாற்றி உறவுரைத்து பேசும் நாள்.விழியில் பொலபொலன்று நீர்த்தாரை வீசும் நாள்.தமிழீழம் விடியும் என நம்பிப் பாடும் நாள்.விதைத்த பயிர்கள் நிமிர்ந்தழகாய் கூடும் நாள்.தமிழர் குலம் குதிக்கும் நாளிதுதான்,குன்றிக் குரல் நடுங்கி குற்றேவல் செய்த இனம் இன்றிந்த நிமிர்வுக்கு இட்ட முதல் விதைப்பு.சாவைக்கொடுத்தேனும் தமிழ்வாழ்வு என நிமிர்ந்து பேசும்படியான புதுவாழ்வின் புலர்வுதினம்.புனிதர்களின் துயிலுமில்லம் விழிசொரியும் உறவுகளால் விளங்கும்.உள்ளுறங்கும் பிள்ளைகளின் வாய்கள் பேசுவது காதுவிழும்.பள்ளிகொள்வோர் எம்மைப் பார்ப்பதையும் விழியுணரும்.நாமழுதால் சிரிக்குமொலி நாற்திசையும் எதிரொலிக்கும்.தாயழுதால் அம்மா தளராதே எனுமொற்றைச் சொல்லே துயிலுமில்லச் சூழலிலே கேட்டிருக்கும்.பூச்சொரிந்து, நெய்விளக்கில் பொறியேற்றி, விழிசொரிந்து, கார்த்திகையில் அந்நாள் கலங்கி, வெளியில்வர பூத்திருக்கும்,நம்பிக்கைப் பூ…!!!
