South Asian countries, which have traditionally adopted harsh measures to silence political dissent did not lose the opportunity provided by the post-September 11 scenario and joined the bandwagon of combating terrorism and legitimising some of their activities, which in the first place breed terrorism and violence. The measures taken by the governments of the South Asian region indicates a gradual erosion of civil liberties and the rule of law across the region.
This paper (presented by Ravi Nair to the South Asia Civil Society Consultation organised by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Kathmandu, Nepal, 16 – 19 January 2003) does a brief survey of the anti-terrorism measures taken by the governments of the South Asian countries and explains the issue of due process of law in anti-terror measures taken at the international level.