AG and CJ asked to expedite cases against those detained under PTA – Justice Minister

By Saman Indrajith

Justice Minister Ali Sabry said that he has been in consultation with the Attorney General and the Chief Justice to expedite cases against those being detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

“I have asked the Attorney General to look into each case individually”, he told Parliament last week.

Those facing charges under the Penal Code or the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) cannot be described as ‘political prisoners’, the Minister said in response to a question raised by TNA Batticaloa District MP, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam.

“On the instructions of the President, Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Security, I had discussions with the AG and the CJ on how to expedite these cases. We believe these cases must be expedited and disposed of”, Minister Sabry said.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said that there are no ‘political prisoners’ in the country and those who are in remand are facing different charges under the Penal Code.

Justice Minister Sabry said that immediately after the defeat of the LTTE in 2009, there were around 12,843 LTTE suspects who surrendered to the government. They were rehabilitated and have assimilated to society. They included 600 child soldiers.

“There are no ‘political prisoners’ detained in the country, but there are a few held under the PTA. There are grievous charges against them,” he said.

TNA MP Rasamanickam said that around 50 youth are being held in connection with various Facebook posts, and queried whether these were also considered grievous crimes.