It is the position of the Commission on Human Rights that, even under the state of national health emergency, respect and protection of human rights must continue to prevail.

While we recognise that the right to privacy is not absolute, any interference or surveillance must be subject to the standards of necessity, legitimacy, and proportionality. Otherwise, violation of these standards, especially if not founded on legal measures, may lead to offenses against the people’s rights. This is a scenario that we wish to avoid noting that we look upon the police as law enforcers and not as the first ones breach laws.

But, in a larger context, we continue to appreciate the contribution of our security sector in handling the pandemic. It is our hope too that government would also step up its medical and health response to the pandemic as the spread of Covid-19 should be primarily seen as a health crisis and not as a police matter.

At this point in the pandemic, we call on the government to focus on the crucial steps that needs to be done so that we can all finally rise above this crisis. ###