- Tear gas used on protestors said to contain harmful chemicals
Tear gas and water cannons have become two phrases that are too often heard by citizens – running away from the forces employed to protect us – as they are often screamed out in warning amidst protests, urging other citizens to run away. Over the last week, there has been much discourse over the use of tear gas, and questions abound of why it was used when the protests taking place were peaceful.
Monday (9) saw the occurrence of the type of unlawful assembly that the people in power – as well as our forces – were claiming the peaceful protests to be; but these acts of violence were incited by none other than pro-Government protestors.
We must highlight the statement made by Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) President Prof. (Dr.) Samath D. Dharmaratne on the particular type of tear gas abundantly fired at protestors, which is said to contain chemicals that carry significant health risks. In a statement released to the media, the SLMA said: “We roundly condemn the use of tear gas and the use of violence by the law enforcement authorities against peaceful protestors and fellow citizens.”
The statement also explained that the chemicals contained in tear gas are well known to cause respiratory difficulties, irritation of eyes and skin, and carry significant health risks.
Several questions were raised on how the Government was able to afford such a large quantity of tear gas – enough for the forces to fire them at will – and also how the forces were afforded brand new gas masks.
Sri Lankan politician Rehan Jayawickreme has recently claimed that the chemical gas canisters used on Tamils during the armed conflict are now being used on anti-Government protestors in Colombo.
In a series of Tweets, Jayawickreme charged that a “reliable source” had informed him that “the Government is using chemical gas canisters” on protestors who have been demonstrating against the Rajapaksa regime for several weeks for their role in causing the economic crisis the island is currently facing. Several pictures emerged on social media of the canisters of tear gas that were shot at the protestors, which could be used to prove this claim.
Of course, questions from a moral standpoint also came to the limelight. How can anyone open fire – when warned of the chemicals and its harm by medical authorities – on innocent children on the road that are well within their rights to be there?
Adding to this, Yasodhara Patanjali – whose residence is close to Diyatha, where tear gas was fired on the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) protest march a week ago – was affected by the gas even inside her house.
“From the Diyatha bridge, where the tear gas happened, we live on the other side of the water, about two lanes back,” she told us, explaining that there is a significant enough distance between her house and the protest site for her to have thought she’d be safe at home. During the first incident of tear gassing, Patanjali was in her bedroom at the front of her house, when she noticed that the skin on the lower part of her face was tingling – almost stinging.
“It was the feeling of when you’ve touched a leaf that you’re allergic to,” she described. Later, her two daughters that were playing downstairs came to her, complaining that their eyes were streaming and stinging. Initially, Patanjali told us that she’d assumed they’d touched something bad, or eaten something unhealthy, but after checking her social media feed and finding out about the gassing, she quickly came to the conclusion that it had to be the tear gas.
“Even then, we were sure it couldn’t have been the tear gas, because how could it have travelled so far? But at the time, we didn’t realise they were using military-grade tear gas and not protest-grade,” she told us. It was only the next day, when tear gas was used again, and the type of gas was identified and warnings were issued by medical professionals, did she understand that it was indeed the tear gas causing adverse effects.
Patanjali is also expecting a child soon, so she told us that she was immensely worried for the well-being of the baby growing inside her. After taking precautions to remain home, she wonders what one is supposed to do when one isn’t even safe in their own home.
Like her, several others too had taken to social media, stating that their houses that are in the vicinity of tear-gassed areas were also affected, and they were experiencing burning and stinging sensations on the skin and eyes.
In the aforementioned statement, it was also noted that the SLMA is extremely concerned about the declaration of a state of emergency by the Government.
“Such a measure has the potential to trigger many forms of violence, which could lead to the deterioration of an already volatile situation and harm the wellbeing of innocent citizens, causing injuries to the protestors as well as the security personnel,” Dr. Dharmaratne stated. As such, it was observed that this situation could eventually result in irreparable damage, and he noted that the SLMA was compelled to urge the Government to withdraw the state of emergency forthwith.
The last two days perhaps – in line with Dr. Dharmaratne’s foreshadowed fears – drew the most important question of them all: Why was it that the tear gas our forces were using in such a carefree manner – shooting at mothers, children, passing tuk-tuks, and even shops – wasn’t used on the group of violent pro-Government supporters that attacked “GotaGoGama” and “MynaGoGama”, and assaulted over 200 civilians along the way.
Dr. Dharmaratne, representing the SLMA, called upon the Government to resolve political differences immediately and bring back normalcy to the country. He further urged the powers that be to listen to the public outcry and work towards an expedited solution towards the welfare of our beloved motherland, especially in light of the tense situation in the country currently.
He further reiterated that the SLMA hopes that all concerned would be kind enough to consider their warnings and observations as they were made with the best interests of our country and its people at heart.
