Ranil says NGO gag violates rights

12 July 2014 04:06 am Views - 3004

The banning of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from holding news conferences, workshops and training journalists is a blatant attempt by the Government to control all non-governmental organisations, Opposition United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

He said this move was a negation of the rights conferred under the Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Mr. Wickremesighe who made a statement in Parliament said the Government in 1980 passed the Voluntary Social Service Organizations (Registration and Supervision) Act to regulate and supervise enterprises commonly known as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO).

He said Section 15 of the Act required promulgation of regulations and accordingly regulations were promulgated on October 15, 1999 (Gazette No. 1101/14).

Mr. Wickremeinghe said these regulations dealt mostly with the setting up of a “Board of Inquiry” to inquire into complaints in respect of any allegations of fraud or misappropriation of funds.

“It is clear therefore that the regulations on NGO’s must be within the four corners of the Voluntary Social Service Organizations (Registration and Supervision) Act and the regulations made thereunder,” he said and highlighted fact no authority outside these parameters had the right, power or authority to exercise any form of regulation or supervision of NGOs.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said this move by the National Secretariat for NGOs was a blatant violation of the Constitution more particularly Article 14 thereof which guarantees to all citizens – the freedom of speech, expression, publication, assembly and association.  The 1980 Act has not placed any restrictions on the operation of Article 14 of the Constitution of the Republic.

He said the Universal Declaration of Human Rights also incorporates the rights of association, opinion and expression including the right to impart any ideas through any medium and the right of peaceful assembly and association (Article 19 and 20).  Workshops and Training are a part of the freedom of association while the holding of media conferences came under the freedom of expression.

“This is a blatant attempt by the Government to control all NGOs and to negate the rights conferred under the Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” he added.

Mr. Wickremesinghe requested the Prime Minister to explain to this House the reasons that led the Government to act in violation of the Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and asked why the Government was attempting to tear up the Constitution.(Yohan Perera)