The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) and a group of lawyers yesterday condemned the torture of a teenage murder suspect by the police and while calling for justice urged the public to confront this violence.
The three groups released statements after a picture of the tortured 15-year-old ended up on a newspaper front page. They all expressed horror and also used the opportunity to condemn recent attempts by the police to restrict the media from carrying out their duties as well as access by attorneys to their clients.
According to the GHRA statement, “the revolting brutality meted out to suspects… reveals the depth of depravity accommodated by the Guyana Police Force.”
While noting that there are reports that desperate efforts were made to conceal the condition of the accused from family members, the GHRA said that moreover, the police, citing non-existent laws and invoking higher authority excluded the media from Wales Magistrates Court.
The tortured teen (second, left) with a sheet wrapped around his waist being escorted into the West Demerara Regional Hospital by a policeman yesterday. At right is the hospital security guard. The teen’s mother Shirley Thomas (second, right) walks ahead into the hospital. (Photo by Zoisa Fraser)
The statement added that the acts were carried out reportedly in the Leonora Divisional police station adding that the genitals of a minor were doused with inflammable liquid and set ablaze; the inside of a mouth burnt with cigarettes and extensive wounds sustained from severe beatings despite a senior officer being reportedly in charge of the investigation.
“Such incidents in the Disciplined Services are becoming an accepted norm, occurring with frequency and with no consequences for perpetrators. Indeed, the highest political authorities have justified covering-up previous incidents of torture by preventing effective investigation, blocking publication of reports, downplaying the seriousness of torture in Parliament and repeatedly referring to ‘killing’ or ‘eradicating’ criminals rather than adopt language which promotes the rule of law.”
The GHRA noted that yesterday’s edition of the Guyana Chronicle made no reference whatsoever to the prevention of the media from accessing the court. It noted that the comment in that newspaper on the brutality was restricted to stating that the defence counsel requested the man be allowed to be examined by a private doctor because she did not trust those at the public hospital.
According to the release in recent years ruling politicians have utilized the crisis created by “the East Coast upheavals and atrocities such as perpetrated by the ‘Fineman’ gang to encourage responses of equally unbounded cruelty”, all justified under the rubric of a ‘war on terror’.
While there are no doubt, elements within the Disciplined Services who are as shocked by this behaviour as other citizens, they are badly served by leaders who are too compromised with the political order to provide the independent professional leadership this sector now requires.
The GHRA pointed out that the recent refusal by the Guyana Government to have external monitors attached to the GPF as part of the UK-financed security sector reform programme is better understood in the light of abuses such as this, rather than by sanctimonious references to sovereignty.
The GHRA called on civil society, particularly the religious community, to confront the violence perpetrated by the Disciplined Services and deplore the official protection that it enjoys.
Gruesome
Meanwhile the GBA said the gruesome picture on the front page of yesterday’s issue of the Kaieteur News serves as a reminder of the “abyss into which our country has sunk and continues to be pulled into by those bent on the demise of our dear land.”
In its statement, the association said that it chronicles a clear disregard for the fundamental human and constitutional rights of the young man and must be seriously and unequivocally condemned since no person should be subjected to any violation of human rights.
The release pointed out that in this case the teen’s right not to be subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment; not to be unjustifiably denied his liberty and the security of his person; and not to be denied access to justice in the form of his attorney-at-law were all violated.
The GBA without reservation strongly condemned the actions and called for “a full investigation, prosecutions and if found guilty punishment of the actors involved,” the release said.
Chilling and
abhorrent
Citing several articles from the constitution and the Convention of the Rights of the Child, a group of 24 lawyers described the torture of the teen and a murder accused as chilling and abhorrent.
The lawyers decried the refusal by the police to permit “another brutalized detainee” access to his attorney for a period of four days calling it a flagrant violation of the guaranteed protected fundament rights of the citizen, as set out in the Constitution, by those whose primary duty is to uphold the rights enshrined in it. In the statement they also spoke against the police restricting access of the media and other members of the public to the court.
They described such acts as “ominous signs of a cover up and suppression of the publication of criminal activity by law enforcement officers.”
The lawyers condemned in the strongest possible terms the torture of a minor and any other person while in custody by members of the police.
They demanded immediate institution of criminal charges against those responsible for the torture of the minor, an independent public Commission of Inquiry and the immediate suspension of the officer in charge of the investigation and the officer in charge of the station.
The Guyana Police force out of hands…They have most of the ignorant and illiterate citizens working in the force who upon putting on the uniform believes they are above the laws of this land. I have said it and will continue to say this all the time that a fish always rots from the head. The government continues to say they do not condone torture yet still the citizens are crying out constantly of being tortured by either ranks of the Guyana Defense Force or the Police Force and nothing is and will be done to stop it. The Guyanese people have to become more serious and get rid of this government through the polls before we all are tortured be it physically,mentally, spiritually, economically or socially.
It’s time we take back our country which many of you older folks cried that you wanted a “change” in 1992!!! Its time we can be assured that our children are guaranteed a future in the land of their birth…It’s time that all those who believe they they are above the law, importing and exporting cocaine, sexually harassing our children, stealing public funds and killing and torturing Guyanese spend their wasted lives in JAIL!!
SHAME SHAME SHAME
The beasts who perpetrated these acts do not deserve any sympathy and their fellow officers can redeem themselves by finding a way to show their displeasure. The Police Association must condemn those responsible for the injuries to this boy. Do not accept this type of behaviour from people who work for you.
well said my friend.
This is the same reason why the British wanted to reform the force, but the government of Guyana had other plans for the money. Apparently, there’s nothing wrong with the force. Not to worry, the president isn’t losing any sleep over this, that’s why the citizens of Guyana need to ensure he does.
This incident screems for total housecleaning. Start from the top. Ramjattan has global attention on this one. This is a gift. Don’t blow it! The world has noticed and is on your side.
i grow up in albouystown as a young man ,and see the police done alot of bad things there.,,,well chicken come home to roster now ,,,this is more reason to reform the gpf with new forigen thinking,
TAKE GUYANA BACK FROM “WHOM”? Sandhurst you should take a page from the book of PNC-REFORM-ONE GUYANA and reform yourself, make that desirable change and support our Government in its efforts to make Guyana a better place for all Guyanese.
“SISTER”!!!!!!..Thank God you ain’t my sister!!!!
i am speechless
The PPP has the opposition and the Human Rights bodies in Guyana well tethered.
Call for sanctions all you want but without translating words into action;govts such as the PPP will not adjust. There can be no change without agitation and this is evident with all worldwide human rights struggles.
THE PPP GOVT HAVE TO TAKE BLAME ON THIS ONE BEACUSE ON TO NOW
JAGDEO CANNOT SAY ANYTHING.
Bismattie well said but Khemraj Ramjattan of the AFC does not believe in protest and say his party will not protest. Where does this leave the suffering mass? If this did happen in the USA you would have had marches by civil rights groups including lawyers, doctors and preachers.
Where are the Hindu leaders? The Muslim leaders? The Christian leaders? These people are always quiet when things like this happen, but when the time comes to raise money they’re in everybody’s face.
This is a call for all peace loving guyanese to unite and protest this inhumane treatment that was meted out to these two suspects, to be quiet is to condone injustice and one day it could happen to you or your family, even though a crime was committed the law should take it course not the officers who duty is to protect and serve.
This is a clear case for sueing the officers involved, the commissioner of police, the home affairs minister and add Jsgdeo for boxis. Hope the judge has the guts to let them pay through their noses.
The only problem with sueing is that it will be determined that these actions were carried out in the execution of their duties and the taxpayers will have to foot the bill. Whenever you sue a govt offical you are sueing yourself.
Chuck, I would rather my tax money go to that youth than stay in the hands of the govt to pay those clowns they call foolice. What should also happen when judgement is passed on behalf of the plaintif, is that the individuals involved should have to contribute from their personal assets as well as the government coffers.
This is getting worse that what happened in Uganda years ago under Idi Yamin. You need outside intervention for these kind of inhuman
act of cruelty to people.
How can —- like this happen in 2009??????
Where is your heart,& your feelings for your fellow human being.?????
Yu policemen are not fit to live among society.
You can’t take a jackass to make him a racehorse.
The Police Department needs a make over Starting from the chief.
String the guilty ones up.
this is called ‘roughing up’ not torture…just ask the guys on robb street
Call it whatever, this is absolutely despicable and inexcusable.
Time for the PPP to go!
It’s time for the joint opposition to get on the streets and condemn this and many other nonsense that’s happening in Guyana,this latest episode of torture will soon be swept under the carpet,policemen in Guyana are hardly brought to justice.The O.P.R is very weak.
Where are the Commissioner of Police,and the Minister of Home Affairs?Where are those who speak of “Roughing Up”.Alleged murders by members of the Police,and G.D.F,are frightening!!!
The commissioner is busy with QC gatherings this past week don’t have time for this.
Guyana is a police state.
Only Communist nations behave like that.
Communism is being given to the country good and hard, we as a people asked for it because we deserve it.
But it is not too late folks, time to get the rid of it.
Not surprised if the President comes out to speak on this one. Before it was a little roughing up here and there and no need for him to speak.
Sit back and look at the the difference this case will attract. But wrong should be wrong generally, irrespective.
Not too long ago the Army Coast Guard killed and robb a man
and dump is body in the Essequibo river. Not too long ago:-
Victor Jones, Patrick Summer, Alvin Wilson, Michael Dunn, Sharth Robertson, David Leander and others were tortured by the Guyana Defence Force. Over years the Guyana Police Force
were killing and torturing people to get them to confess during integration’s. The picture of the 15 year old in KN yesterday is the WORST that I have ever seen or heard of by the people who tax payers are paying to serve and protect.
Thee PPP administration is responsible for all the wrong things that
the Police and Guyana Defence Foerc is doing to people in the country.
Poultryman,
The picture of that 15 year old on KN was graphic enough to feel his pain. It boils my blood to see such things happen to people especially kids.
However, I wouldn’t call that the “worst” I’ve ever seen, look at what happened to the Guantanamo detainees; the Super Ones of Democracy violated Human Rights of many for years. The leaders said it was “ok” to use such methods, no one could stop them. Many citizens were also conditioned to think that it was “ok” Torture is torture and is never acceptable; yet, it is a world wide problem. Those nations that are supposed to be humane makes violation of human rights acceptable worldwide when they break their own rules instead of setting examples.
My friend, this is not Guantanamo, this is Guyana, our homeland.