The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung has reiterated her calls for restraint during peaceful public protests.
Chung pointed out that the freedom to engage in peaceful protest without fear of arrest is fundamental to democracy.
Stating that the US urges restraint on all sides, she reiterated their support for the rights of peaceful protesters.
Chung’s statement comes following the arrest of a group of protesters who were engaged in a demonstration in front of the Parliament entry road at the Polduwa Junction yesterday.
The group was forcefully arrested by the Police on charges of obstructing the Parliament entry road but were later released on bail.
Meanwhile, the Church of Ceylon has condemned the actions of the Police with regard to the arrest of the protesters in front of the Parliament.
Issuing a statement, the Church said, “We deplore the recent conduct of the Police in arresting a group of youth who were engaged in a peaceful demonstration without any threat to the breach of peace.”
Stating that such arbitrary arrests and unlawful action by law enforcement are a blatant violation of the fundamental rights of our people, the Church said such conduct will not help in mitigating the suffering of our people.
“It is clear that there is a rejection of nepotistic family politics, corruption, and the attitude of impunity towards the burning issues that our people are forced to struggle with on a daily basis. We agree with the protesters that their elected leaders have failed the people of the nation,” the Church added.
Amnesty International’s South Asia Regional Director, Yamini Mishra has also called for all charges filed against the protesters who were arrested in front of the Parliament yesterday to be dropped.
The Police arrested 12 people who were protesting near the Parliament of Sri Lanka for allegedly obstructing the vehicles of MPs.
The arrested were from among a small group of protesters seen holding up placards that called for MPs to support a motion of no confidence that was tabled in parliament yesterday.
The protesters were then forced into a Police bus and were later released on bail.
Responding to the news of the arrest, Yamini Mishra said, “These protesters have the right to demonstrate peacefully outside the Parliament of Sri Lanka and to express themselves and speak with their MPs as the country’s economy crumbles.
Issuing a statement, she further said the charges against all the protesters must be dropped as they were detained solely for peacefully exercising their human rights.
“Sri Lankan authorities must respect, protect, promote and fulfill the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and allow people to freely exercise their human rights. Any restrictions placed on these rights must be necessary, proportionate, and provided by law. Today’s arrests were undoubtedly arbitrary and unlawful.”
“After they arrested protesters recently in Mirihana, the Sri Lankan authorities subjected them to ill-treatment in police custody and refused to allow access to legal counsel. It is crucial that the authorities do not commit the same rights violations with the protesters arrested today,” she added.
Yamini Mishra also pointed out that excessive use of force, intimidation, and unlawful arrests seem to be a pattern in which the Sri Lankan authorities respond to dissent and peaceful assembly.
“These repressive actions clearly do not meet Sri Lanka’s obligations under international human rights law,” the Amnesty International’s South Asia Regional Director concluded. (NewsWire)
