Sri Lankan Parliament Extends Emergency RegulationsSri Lanka's Parliament has extended the emergency regulations for a period of one month by voting on Thursday with 107 in favor and 18 against, the official Daily News said on Friday.The Eelam People's Democratic Party and the Ceylon Worker's Congress, both members of the ruling People's Alliance voted for the motion. The main opposition United National Party abstained while JVP or People's Liberation Front, the Tamil United Liberation Front, the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization and the All Ceylon Tamil Congress opposed the motion. The emergency regulations, which require monthly renewal, give the military wide powers of search and the right to detain anyone suspected of involvement in separatist Tamil Tiger rebels. It has been in force for most of the 18-year ethnic war between government forces and Tamil rebels who want an independent state for minority Tamils in the north and east of the country. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |