Universal Human Rights Council raps Rambukkana violence
The Universal Human Rights Council (UHRC) has urged the Sri Lankan government to undertake an independent investigation into Tuesday’s police shooting in Rambukkana.
Violence from police or the protesters is not justifiable and is not acceptable in any circumstances, the council said in a statement
The council added: It is with the deepest sadness that The Universal Human Rights Council expresses its concerns regarding the police shooting at the peaceful protesters in Rambukkana in Sri Lanka on April 19.
As per the constitutional rights of the citizens of Sri Lanka, the right to peaceful assembly and protest should not be tackled with heavy handed approach by any authority, the UHRC statement added.
It is against the democratic rights of the citizens of Sri Lanka to forcefully disperse, arrest or injure any protesters, the statement added.
It said: “In addition, it is the duty of the civil enforcement authorities such as police to protect and give the due safeguard to openly express genuine economic and social concerns of the public.
It is pertinent that the government immediately undertakes an independent investigation into this police shooting and ensure that all Law-enforcement authorities and other security forces act with utmost restraint in order to maintain the right balance between respecting and safeguarding the rights of its citizens and maintaining the public order.
Violence has no place in democracy and violence only promote violence.
Violence from police or the protesters is not justifiable and is not acceptable in any circumstances.
Sri Lankan Law enforcement authorities should act sensitively to the genuine grievance the protesters are expressing and sensitively guide the protesters to maintain civil order whilst allowing t0 express their views and genuine concerns which is currently affecting themselves and their families in their daily lives.
It is vital that the United Nations Human Rights Council and the other Human Rights Organisations keep a close eye on the ground situation in Sri Lanka in order to put pressure on Sri Lanka government to stop further Human Rights violations and to protect the Democratic
rights of its citizens in a visible manner.
Furthermore, it is vital that necessary measures to obtain and record objective evidence and factual record of the perpetrators of Violence and Human Rights breaches in order to bring these Perpetrators to justice in due course.
