As condemnation over torture charges against the military grows, one of the two soldiers who the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) issued wanted bulletins for on Thursday turned himself in yesterday while the other rank is expected to be visited today by members of the army.
Alvin Wilson, who along with Michael Dunn accused the army’s Military Criminal Investigation Department (MCID) of brutalizing them during interrogation over a missing AK-47 rifle, yesterday reported to GDF Headquarters, Base Camp Ayanganna as instructed. Military sources told this newspaper yesterday that the soldier is being questioned in relation to the missing gun and also the allegations that he made against his colleagues. The army said that it expects that Dunn will do the same as soon as he recuperates fully from illness. A relative of Dunn told Stabroek News yesterday that the 20-year-old soldier is officially on medical leave and not absent without official leave (AWOL) as was claimed by the GDF in its wanted bulletin. According to reports, a relative of the man visited Camp Ayanganna yesterday to explain Dunn’s situation and as such army representatives agreed to meet him at his home today.
In bulletins issued to the media on Thursday the GDF said that Dunn and Wilson were absent without official leave and were to report for questioning in a matter of “security interest”. Both men had complained to local media about being brutalized by members of the MCID and had vowed to leave the force even if their resignations were rejected. The GDF has come under severe pressure since the allegations surfaced and several organizations have condemned the brutality meted out to the men.
Another rank Sharth Robertson, whose weapon went missing, has also complained through a relative about being tortured. Secretary to the Defence Board, Dr Roger Luncheon told reporters on Thursday that the matter will come up for discussion at the board’s scheduled meeting this month end.
He said he was very concerned about the allegations against the GDF as such claims always attracted negativism. The GDF in an initial statement to Stabroek News said that it was unaware of the soldiers being beaten, although admitting that several of them were questioned in connection with the missing weapon.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) expressed “grave concern over the manner in which the recent allegations were handled. (See other story on page 2.)
Joining the chorus yesterday, the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) said it “reiterates its condemnation of torture (under) the new leadership of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the other segments of the state security forces”. ACDA said the graphic images on national television of two men in a previous case with their bodies badly burnt and battered, outraged decent minded Guyanese at home and abroad. On that occasion the interrogators were in search of information on gunmen who they claimed were operating in Buxton, the association said.
It added that new allegations of acts of torture conducted by GDF officers on solders who were detained for questioning demonstrate that those in charge of the state have now embraced torture as a justifiable means to an end. Taking a swipe at Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee for his “unpacking barrels” statement and President Bharrat Jagdeo’s “contemptuous” public dismissal of this latest atrocity, ACDA said it is not surprising. “The attitudes and utterances of these two high government officials are intended to send clear signals to Guyanese about the extent that the PPP/C government is prepared to go to trample on the fundamental rights of citizens of Guyana and are consistent with the regime’s encouragement and support for extra judicial killing by the Black clothes Police, rogue cops and phantom
