Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 13th Jan. UN human rights office on Friday expressed grave concerns over Sri Lanka’s adoption of a “heavily security-based response” as a means of tackling illegal drug abuse.
The agency’s spokesperson Liz Throssell said that “a staggering” 29,000 people have reportedly been arrested on drug-related charges since 17 December, and some are alleging that they have been ill-treated or tortured.
Security forces have conducted raids without search warrants, detaining suspected drug sellers and users, while thousands have been sent to military-run rehabilitation centres.
“During and after these operations, people are reported to have been subjected to a number of violations, including unauthorised searches, arbitrary arrests and detention, ill-treatment, torture, and strip searches in public”, said Ms. Throssell.
She noted some lawyers acting for detainees allege that they have faced intimidation from police officers.
Ms. Throssell added that drugs were a pressing problem for any society, “a heavy-handed law enforcement approach is not the solution”.
“Abuse of drugs and the factors that lead to it are first and foremost public health and social issues. People suspected of selling or trafficking drugs are entitled to humane treatment, with full respect for due process and transparent, fair trials.”
She said what was needed were appropriate support and programmes which tackle the root causes of addiction and allow social reintegration.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has urged Sri Lanka to review its ongoing “Yukthiya” operation, and to implement human rights based approaches, said Ms. Throssell.
She added that allegations of abuse of authority, torture and ill-treatment, or denial of due process, “must be thoroughly and impartially investigated”.
Comments are closed.