Amnesty International urges authorities to exercise restraint in use of force
And facilitate the right to peaceful assembly
COLOMBO – Amnesty International on Monday (27) called for immediate independent and impartial investigations into all allegations of human rights violations, including the deaths reported in the context of protests in Sri Lanka, and demand the authorities exercise restraint in the use of force and facilitate the right to peaceful assembly.
Amnesty’s call comes in response to the use of excessive water cannons and tear gas on a peaceful protest in Colombo by the National People’s Power (NPP) on Sunday (26), resulting in the death of one person, and more than two dozen injured and hospitalized.
Harindrini Corea, Regional Researcher for the Right to Protest at Amnesty International, said it was worrying that even after months of widespread protests in the country, the Sri Lankan police needs to be constantly reminded of their duty to facilitate the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and exercise restraint in the use of force while policing assemblies.
“Their actions over the last several months have cost the lives of many peaceful protestors including another death on Monday,” Corea added, demanding that weapons which are less lethal, but have indiscriminate effects and a high potential for harm not be used where there is no widespread violence against persons during a peaceful assembly.
“Videos from Sunday show that the protesters were in a confined space without the possibility for dispersal or escape and yet the police used water cannons and tear gas in violation of international human rights law and standards on the use of force,” she said, calling for independent and impartial investigations be launched promptly into all allegations of human rights violations, including the deaths reported in the context of the protests, so that all those found responsible are brought to justice in fair trials.
-ENCL
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