As was stated earlier on the 2nd of April 2022, when the President declared a State of Emergency for a brief period of time, the BASL remains of the view that a declaration of a state of emergency is not the answer to the present situation in the country including the spate of public protests and strikes which have occurred.
The BASL calls upon His Excellency the President to forthwith explain to the people the reasons as to why he has declared the State of Emergency. We call upon His Excellency to revoke the proclamation declaring a state of emergency and to ensure that the fundamental rights of the people such as the freedom of expression including the freedom of speech and publication and the freedom of peaceful assembly which
are aspects of the sovereignty of the people are respected and protected and not violated by the State or its agents.