Petition filed against police sound device use
An online campaign is underway calling for a ban on the use of the device.
Top Stories
-
Serious crime suspects can't be released 'in 5 mins': President
-
Police identify 5 arrested in Addu in major drug network bust
-
Govt may allow return of 1-bedroom flats for reapplication: Pres
-
President says many public requests addressed, more under review
-
‘Drug café’ owners could face 15 years in jail, million-MVR fines
A petition has been initiated against the use of a long-range acoustic device (LRAD) by police to disperse a protest held by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Friday.
An online campaign is underway calling for a ban on the use of the device.
According to the petition, police operated the LRAD continuously for about 45 minutes during the protest, transmitting sound from different directions. Witnesses stated that the noise was maintained without interruption.
The petition lists three main concerns for discontinuing the device:
-
Health risks: Possible long-term hearing loss, headaches, and mental strain.
-
Human rights: The restriction of the right to assembly protected under the Constitution of Maldives and international agreements on civil and political rights signed by Maldives.
-
Legal and ethical concerns: The use of LRAD, linked to Israeli military technology, conflicts with the national policy banning Israeli products in Maldives.
An LRAD is a device designed to transmit sound over long distances. Police forces in several countries use it to communicate warnings and instructions to crowds, and in some cases, to emit high-volume noise to disperse gatherings.
Certain models are capable of producing sound levels above 150 decibels at close range.
