Amnesty International has added its voice in condemnation of the torture of a 15-year-old boy and two others by the police and it has urged that the Guyanese authorities charge the officers involved in the incident.
“These appalling acts of brutality by members of the Guyana Police Force must not go unpunished,” Kerrie Howard, Amnesty Inter-national’s Deputy Director for the Americas Programme said in a statement released yesterday
According to the statement police officers tortured the teenager by setting light to his genitals after he had refused to sign a confession.
The release said that another suspect, Deonarine Rafick, remains in prison after police beat him with a piece of wood and allegedly burnt his mouth with cigarettes to force him to sign a confession.
The international body said it has urged the Guyanese authorities to provide him with medical attention and investigate the circumstances leading to his confession.
It said the third suspect, 20-year-old Nouravie Wilfred, had charges against him dropped on Tuesday after being held incommunicado for seven days. “Under Guyanese law a suspect can be held by police for up to 72 hours before being brought before a court,” the body pointed out.
It was noted that the three suspects were denied visits by family members and legal representatives and were also refused medical attention while in custody.
“There must be a full investigation into how officers were allowed to blatantly flout Guyanese and international laws by refusing access to family, lawyers and medical treatment for several days,” Kerrie Howard said in the statement.
The teenage boy, who is not hospitalised, was arrested on October 27 and taken the next day to Leonora Police Station.
When he refused to sign a confession, police officers held him down and doused his genital area with a flammable liquid, which they set alight.
The body noted that the child, according to media reports, was not given proper medical treatment or access to legal representation until 31 October, despite repeated attempts by his lawyers and family to see him.
Rafick reported that he was struck by a piece of wood on his back, legs, buttocks, face and scalp, while being held in the Leonora Station on October 27. According to his testimony, the inside of his mouth was also burnt with cigarettes.
He was forced to sign a confession stating that he was involved in the murder. His lawyers were only granted access to him on October 29 despite repeated previous attempts.
He was brought before a court and charged with murder on October 30. His face was visibly bruised and the wound on his scalp had not been stitched.
He is currently in prison pending a preliminary investigation. Accord-ing to his lawyer and family, he has not yet received medical attention.
A police sergeant and constable have since been charged with inflicting the injuries on him while Police Commissioner Henry Greene said no one has been charged in connection with the teenager’s injuries because the child has not yet identified the perpetrators.
Amnesty should inform the developed nations of the atrocities, corruption and undemocratic practices of the Jagdeo regime so they would withhold any money for Guyana’s LCDS until Jagdeo either leaves office or takes immediate steps to clean up government.
Dude, Amnesty is a puppet in the developed world! Did Amnesty make George Bust “either leaves office or takes immediate steps to clean up government” when the issue of water boarding surfaced?
Is Commissioner Greene saying to the Public,that the child did not know who tortured him,and an I.D.Parade should be held to identify the Torturers.The detectives took him in custody and committed this barbaric act.It will seem,that they did not admit that they tortured
him.Note the difference.These torturers,were not tortured by the investigators,who are investigating the torture on this child,and are waiting for the child to identify the culprits.Commissioner Greene is living on another planet.
Instead of remotely condemning the dastardly act of TORTURE by the PPP controlled armed forces, Amnesty should dispatch their operatives on the ground in Guyana to conduct a thorough investigation.
The PPP Guyana Government cannot and should not be entrusted with such a role.
Amnesty your records are not cosistent in guyana .only condem torture n criminals……what about the victims?
The people being tortured are the victims. People are not expected to be set on fire in a civilized society. haven’t you learnt anything since your residence in Canada?
Make a visit to Guyana and you’d see the roads of Guyana are paved with torture. Help us please.
Is Henry Greene proud of the actions of the police under his command? Will there be a pilgrimage to the lad’s house to extend apologies for the actions of these brutes?
I just hope international condemnation would make the leaders of this beggar nation mend its ways. I’m not holding my breath.
The world is watching, and it’s good to see amnesty international getting involved.
unless, the ABC countries hold this regime’s foot to the fire the brutality and torture will continue. The ABC have to cut the funds flowing to this regime!
No wonder Presi crying fowl!!!! what happen to the rest of people 400 and more including mothers killed because of a failed state.
Include the untold number who are in prison because of false allegations, planting/fabricating evidence all because of a broken justice system.
Well This is a good starting point from an international point of view.
Green needs to wake up and have every one at Leonara Police Station charged and dismissed.
Let’s see if the opposition parties squander another opportunity to save Guyana from its downward drift. If they allow this incident to fade away with crocodile tears and emty ultimatums to the police force from Bharrat Jagdeo and the government, this madness will continue and intensify. Trotman of the AFC recently said that it’s time for the people to rise up. True, but the people need leadership. If the AFC stands for the rule of law and good governance, they should lead. There’s a time for diplomacy and a time for action, diplomacy is dead.
Michael well said. Couldn’t agree with you more. The AFC leaders need to get off their laurels, get out of their chambers, park their cars, walk the streets and stop the diplomatic fancy talks and Lead! If Corbin is no good it doesn’t help that the AFC too is not showing any form of serious leadership.
The gov’t is getting away with murder because the combined opposition is too damn weak!
you don’t have any opposition, and the people knows that.
they elected the best choice and they are happy with that, the rest are opportunist.