OHCHR warns militarization in Sri Lanka has left it unable to address crisis
COLOMBO – The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) warned Sri Lanka that it was “closely following developments” and reiterated that the island’s “drift towards militarization and the weakening of institutional checks and balances” have left it unable to effectively deal with the economic and political crises.
Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in her briefing note, said militarization had contributed to the State’s “ability to effectively tackle the economic crisis and ensure the realization of the economic, social and cultural rights of all people in Sri Lanka”.
Noting that public frustration had been rising in recent months with largely peaceful demonstrations taking place across the country, Thorssell said the situation had worsened over the past two weeks amid sudden shortages in fuel, cooking gas and some essential food items, as well as power cuts. She said this had led to further protests by Sri Lankans left desperate by the rising cost of living and difficulties to obtain basic items.
She also noted that after a demonstration outside the president’s residence on March 31, the government had declared a state of emergency on April 1, announced a 36-hour curfew from 6:00 p.m. on April 2, and shut down social media networks for some 15 hours on April 3. “There have also been reports of excessive and unwarranted police violence against protesters,” she said, expressing OHCHR’s
concerns that such measures are aimed at preventing or discouraging people from legitimately expressing their grievances through peaceful protests, and that they frustrate the exchange of views on matters of public interest.
“We remind the Sri Lankan authorities that measures related to states of emergency must comply with international human rights law, should be limited to the extent strictly required by the situation and be proportionate to it, and should not be used to stifle dissent or hinder peaceful protest,” she said.
Noting that High Commissioner has also previously voiced her concern that the government responds to criticism and dissent in ways that undermine civic space, she said, “We reiterate these concerns today,” and urged the government, political parties and civil society to engage in immediate, inclusive and meaningful dialogue to find a solution for the pressing economic and political challenges that Sri Lanka faces and to avoid further polarization of the situation.
-ENCL