(Lanka-e-News - 05.Dec.2015, 3.40PM) The police had violated the fundamental rights of the students as stipulated in sections 11, 12 (1) of the constitution in the incident at Ward place where the students of Higher National Diploma (HND) were allegedly assaulted by the police , based on the report released today by the Independent Human rights commission (HRC) which also states that compensation shall be paid to the victims , and a new system to combat riotous situations be introduced . This report was released by the HRC following its investigations into the Ward place episode.
Accordingly , the victim Sashini Sandapani Kumarasinghe who was hospitalized is to be paid Rs. 25,000.00 while the other 8 victims are to be paid Rs. 15000.00 each as compensation as recommended by the HRC.
It was the view of the HRC that the police has used its powers in excess of what is needed reasonably to control the riotous situation. The HRC also does not agree with the police statement that after using the water hose and tear gas , they had to go behind the students and attack to control because they saw the students unlawfully assembling again .
It is the conclusion of the HRC that after the tear gas attack , the students did not assemble again , and therefore the attack of the police the second time was in excess of its legitimate powers to control the situation.The students did not obtain prior permission to go in procession , but why did the police allow them to reach as far as Ward place , the Commission has questioned.
The HRC has also mentioned in the report what measures should be taken in such circumstances in the future to avert such situations.
The police are lacking professionalism in dealing with such situations . On par with methods used in Democratic countries in the world , a methodology must be evolved to combat unlawful riotous sutuations.Towards this with the assistance of the Commission ,keeping abreast of the latest trends and with a view to strengthen human rights , a methodology shall be evolved to control unlawful riotous situtations involving the public , and recommended to the Commission by March 1 st , the HRC has instructed.
The Commission has also recommended in order to make the methodology practical, on that day to give a report on the training and booklets that are necessary , while also insisting that the relevant officials should take immediate action to resolve such potential long term conflicts of the public .
The final report of the Commission contained in 31 pages prepared under the chief Dr. Deepika Udugama its president , has been signed by its commissioners Dr. U. Vidhane Pathirane , Ambiga Sathkunanathan , and lawyers Hameed Gazzali Hussain and Saliya Peiris .
The full report of the HRC is hereunder for downloading.
http://www.lankaenews.com/home/downloads/33/Human_Rights_Commission_of_Sri_Lanka_Report_on_Police_asults_on_HNDA_Students.pdf
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by (2015-12-05 10:12:27)
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