Police, armed forces shouldn’t be used to stifle peaceful protests: BASL

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) today re-iterated that the police and the armed forces should not be used to stifle peaceful protests and dissent.

Issuing a statement on the incident where a group of protesters who were holding banners and placards with slogans critical of the President and the Government were removed from the ramparts of the Galle Fort by the Police and Army yesterday (29th June).

“It has also been drawn to our attention that the particular area of the ramparts of the Galle Fort are public areas and hence that there is no lawful reason to disperse protestors. We continue to remind you of the importance of allowing people to exercise their freedom of speech and expression including their right to dissent. The suppression of the people’s right to protest and dissent is not the answer to the present situation in the country where the people are facing untold hardships due to shortages of fuel and other essentials,” the BASL said.

“We call upon you to ensure that the fundamental rights of the people such as the freedom of expression including the freedom of speech and publication and the freedom of peaceful assembly which are aspects of the sovereignty of the people are respected and protected.

“We are also concerned of reports that Sri Lanka Army personnel had also been involved in removing the protestors. Such involvement by Army personnel is not in accordance with the law”.