From: m1pkd00@fed.frb.gov (Prasad K. Dharmasena)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.sri-lanka
Subject: SL Bill of Rights
Date: 22 Nov 92 10:31:47 GMT


		   ** Sri Lankan Bill of Rights **

Since we are in the constructive process (your mileage may vary) of
hammering out a new method of government for Sri Lanka, I took it upon
myself (you are welcome, any time, no really... thank YOU) to define
the Bill of Rights for Sri Lanka.  Amendments to these can be made 
only if the 98 one hundredths of the Parliament votes for the change
or if the Amendments come with a $5 bribe ... for each word. 

{ for the benefit of those who are not familiar with the US' Bill of 
  Rights, it's at the end of this article. }


1) Government shall make laws establishing Buddhism as the state religion
   and forcing everyone to exercise at least one religion; and prohibiting
   the freedom of speech and of the press whenever the government is
   questioned; and abridging the right of the people to peaceably assemble
   if the said people are members of the opposition party, and to petition 
   the Government for a redress of grievances.

2) A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of Government
   MPs, the right of said MPs to keep an armed Militia shall not be
   infringed.

3) No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without
   the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be 
   prescribed by the anonymous callers to the Party office.

4) The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,
   and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures which are to 
   be defined by the aforementioned Militia, shall be violated only if the
   said people are suspected members of a moderate or leftwing political
   party or known to have written articles to the foreign press; and no 
   Warrants shall be issued as the Militia in charge of searches and 
   seizures does not need any.

5) Non party-members shall be held to answer for any crime to avoid being
   tortured into confessions by the CID; any person refusing to be a witness
   against himself shall be judged guilty as charged.

6) In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the speedy and
   public trial by the Government jury; and shall be informed of the nature
   and cause of the accusation on the day of the trial to restrict him from
   getting his own witnesses rather than use those provided by the state and
   thereby escaping the legal system.

7) In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed
   twenty million rupees, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and
   no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court
   except when the verdict was not given as planned.

8) Excessive bail from the non party-members shall be required to keep the
   criminal, aka the accused, behind bars; cruel and unusual punishment 
   shall be administered if the CID and the Militia agrees to such terms
   and only before the trial.

9) The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights of the people
   shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the
   Government or the Militia.

10) The powers not delegated to the Government by the Constitution, nor
    prohibited by it, are reserved to the Militia or to the party members.


prasad
++ Practice safe government -- use a kingdom ++

==

The first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States.  These
ten amendments are commonly known as the Bill of Rights.

Bill of Rights

1) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or 
   prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of 
   speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
   and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

2) A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,
   the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

3) No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without
   the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be 
   prescribed by law.

4) The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,
   and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be
   violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported 
   by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be
   searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

5) No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous
   crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in
   cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when
   in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person
   be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or
   limb, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against
   himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due
   process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without
   just compensation.

6) In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a
   speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district
   wherein the crime shall have been committed; which district shall have
   been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and
   cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him;
   to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses for his favor, and to 
   have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

7) In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed
   twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no
   fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the
   United States, than according to the rules of common law.

8) Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor
   cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

9) The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be
   construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

10) The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor
    prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively,
    or to the people.

--
Prasad Dharmasena     Internet: <pkd@fed.FRB.GOV>     UUCP: <uunet!fed!pkd>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.sri-lanka,soc.culture.tamil