What a shame! - EDITORIAL

Media yesterday reported that a special police investigation has been launched against the Panadura South HQI and his team after they were caught on camera physically assaulting two female protestors and female cops who were on duty on Saturday.

Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa had told media that following the incident, a special team headed by an ASP from the Panadura Division had been appointed by the Western Province Senior DIG to probe into the harassment caught on camera. Following the initial investigation, the IGP ordered the Director of the Police Special Investigation Unit to probe into the incident, according to reports.

The incident took place on Galle Road in Panadura when two women, who identified themselves as the ‘mothers of the struggling’, were marching from Kalutara towards Galle Face Green which had been the epicenter of a wave of protests between April and July, demanding the release of activists detained under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Policemen not only harassed the two women but also arrested them. Many people had expressed shock and anger on social media over the abuse by the law enforcement authorities in public and in broad daylight. Some had questioned as to what the situation might have been inside a police station, if the policemen meet out such degrading treatment to ordinary people, for no reason.

Despite the question remaining whether the police would have taken action against the arrogant senior policemen, unless his action was caught on camera and went viral on social media, we appreciate the police higher-ups to taking such action against his highhanded behaviour. And it is up to the police to find out the degree of trust people have on the outcome of the investigation they are said to have launched. 

The incident raises serious questions on rule of law and freedom of expression. The entire country that watched the incident on television clearly heard the people questioning the police officer if there is a law for him to prevent the two women from marching towards Colombo to which he arrogantly said “yes there is,” without citing the particular law, if any. At one point one of the women was violently pulled by her hand, provoking the crowd to warn him not to do so. 

The ruse police find in most cases to crackdown on protests and demonstrations has been that they obstruct public movement or vehicular traffic. However, only an insane person can conclude that two women walking on the roadside carrying placards can obstruct public movement or vehicular traffic. In fact, this is an outcome of government’s attitude and the resultant attitude of the police towards protests, whether they are peaceful or not. And some policemen take the opportunity to gain brownie points from politicians by pleasing them, which in turn would reward them with promotions and other facilities. 

The President of Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris had commented on Facebook “The incident shows the extent to which Sri Lanka’s police has deteriorated. The first was when the police manhandled, harassed and arrested two ladies who were walking with a placard in hand. The second was the photographs going viral of a senior officer holding a Women Police Constable (WPC) by her neck. Police brutality continues because of the failure and the lethargic attitude of those who have the power and authority to deal with it. What a shame!” 

The incident took place at a time when fundamental rights, especially the freedom of expression in Sri Lanka have been a major talking point within and among the international human rights organizations and UN agencies that are concerned about human rights. A group of EU Ambassadors who met President Wickremesinghe on August 10 while claiming “for us, the protection of civil and human rights, above all, freedom of expression and right to dissent is of utmost importance” and advised the President to “devote special attention to ongoing three processes of GSP+, IMF and the UNHRC.” The message is understood. Besides, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a statement on October 4 said, the European Union will assess progress made on Sri Lanka’s commitments towards GSP+ trade concession “very soon”, with a report due to be released later this year or early 2023. It added that freedom of expression and assembly, dialogue among all stakeholders, as well as respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights will remain essential. 

The EU Ambassadors had met the President in the wake of a series suppressive measure against the protesters who had camped in the Galle Face Green from April to July and the European Commission President’s statement came after several oppressive legal measures such as the Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill taken by the government against possible protests. Suppression of freedom of expression is now being implemented in such a degrading manner that even two women with placards have been harassed and arrested. The authorities must rethink the continuous disrespect to the concerns on fundamental rights by the international community at least in the light of the current economic crisis.