Drop charges against protestors; Amnesty tells Govt.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Amnesty International says Sri Lankan authorities have fiercely clamped down on protests and demonized protesters during a period of economic crisis and hardship in the country. 

The Sri Lankan authorities have fiercely clamped down on protests and demonized protesters during a period of economic crisis and hardship in the country, Amnesty International said in a new digest released on Friday (9).

Amnesty International’s South Asia Regional Director Yamini Mishra says over the last few months, Sri Lanka has seen widespread protests over the worst economic crisis in the country’s post-independence history. 
 
She also said people have the right to express discontent peacefully and the state has an obligation to facilitate this right but the Sri Lankan authorities have repeatedly and unrelentingly stifled the voice of the people. 

She added the new Government in Sri Lanka has continued resorting to the unlawful use of force, intimidation and harassment to subdue protestors, sending a chilling message to the people of Sri Lanka that there is no room for dissent. 

She pointed out that the right to freedom of peaceful assembly is a keystone of any rights respecting society and it must be respected and protected.

Amnesty International calls on the Sri Lankan authorities to drop all charges against those protesters who were participating peacefully in so called “unlawful assemblies”. All those facing such charges must be immediately released.

The authorities must also hold prompt, transparent and impartial investigations into all allegations of attacks on peaceful protesters, with support from international observers.