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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is now a British citizen, if Mr Blair’s intended toughening up of the laws, passes muster, his citizenship could be withdrawn as those of others who might belong to extremist groups, observers said.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.

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