Table of Contents The Message of the Chairperson Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka .................... iii Table of Contents……………………………………………………………......................... v I. OBJECTIVES OF THE RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES ....................................... 1 II. SCOPE OF THE RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES ................................................... 2 III. THE RIGHT OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY .................................................................. 3 I. The law only protects peaceful assemblies ................................................................ 3 II. All demonstrations are presumed to be peaceful........................................................ 5 IV. RESTRICTIONS BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ON THE RIGHT OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY ................................................................................................ 5 PART I: OBLIGATIONS OF THE STATE…………...………………………………… 7 I. General Obligations.................................................................................................... 7 II. Derogation from fundamental rights obligations ..................................................... 11 III. Burden of proof for restrictions ................................................................................ 12 IV. Grounds for restricting the right of assembly........................................................... 12 V. Categories of restrictions .......................................................................................... 14 VI. Use of force .............................................................................................................. 16 VII. Notifications before protests .................................................................................... 17 VIII. Treatment of vulnerable persons and special categories of persons ........................ 19 PART II: RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WHEN DEALING WITH CIVILIAN PROTESTS ............................................................ 20 I. Crowd control by law enforcement agencies ........................................................... 20 II. Duties of law enforcement officials ......................................................................... 22 III. Chain of command ... ............................................................................................... 25 IV. Preparation & tactical options .................................................................................. 30 V. Dealing with special and vulnerable groups at protests ........................................... 36 VI. Dealing with criminal damage to state owned, public, or private property and its unlawful occupation ................................................................................................. 42 VII. Dealing with protests held when curfew or emergency laws are in effect ............... 44 PART III: IMPLEMENTATION ......................................................................................... 45 ANNEXURES .................................................................................................................47-49 v