In these “dark times”, a Roman Catholic Church organization is calling for all to work together to prevent “abominations” like torture from occurring and urging the police and government to act swiftly and take the necessary steps to hold to account those responsible.
The Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Georgetown was among several organisations and persons who yesterday joined in condemning the horrific torture of a 15-year-old boy while in police custody.
The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) says that the “reprehensible conduct” of some police officers is of “serious concern” to the Executive Council and membership of the union.
Rights of the Child Commissioner Vidyaratha Kissoon told Stabroek News on Sunday that the torture of the minor “is an indictment of law enforcement in Guyana”.
Kissoon and the groups join the Guyana Human Rights Association, the Guyana Bar Association, a group of lawyers, Human Services Minister, Priya Manickchand and others who have condemned the incident.
The teenaged boy was doused with a flammable liquid in his genital area and set alight while in custody at the Leonora Police Station last week. He remains hospitalized.
In a statement yesterday, the JPC said that it is “deeply shocked and outraged at the recent disclosure of severe and barbaric cruelty meted out to citizens of our country including a child.
“Such savage acts undoubtedly fall squarely within the internationally recognised definition of ‘torture’ and have no place in a modern civilised society. We unreservedly condemn these acts of torture.”
The commission added that the horrifying image in a daily newspaper last Saturday “no doubt shattered the tranquility of our lives as Guyanese from all walks of life sought to express anger and shock through different fora and through varying media”.
The statement quoted the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 25:40 – ”Amen, I tell you, whatever you did to one of these brothers or sisters of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me”. As a nation we are all deeply saddened and pained at these brutal acts reminiscent of mediaeval times. These cruel and inhumane acts of torture affect each and every individual and strike at the very heart of our nation’s psyche. We are all involved, the commission said.
The JPC called on the Guyana Police Force and the government to act swiftly by taking such steps as are necessary to hold those responsible for such atrocities and bring them to account. “Every step must be taken to ensure such acts do not re-occur and the victims and their families should be compensated for their suffering,” the commission declared.
The organization asserted that there is no substitute for good policing. “There is no place for torture in any civilised country with a functioning democracy,” the commission stated. It said that while Guyanese should support the police in their fight against crime, the lawmen are legally bound to act within the ambit of the law without trampling on the constitutional rights of citizens. They must live up to their motto of “service and protection” and work assiduously to regain the confidence of the people, the JPC said adding that it is heartened by the show of solidarity, which has been displayed by many individuals and groups, and “we pray that we may work together to prevent such abominations taking place around us in the future”.
The statement noted that the trauma and wounds of the victims of torture have lasting and sometimes permanent effects. “Physical harm aside, the victims remain deeply scarred emotionally and psychologically as such wounds are deeply imbedded,” the JPC said while extending its deepest regrets, support, encouragement and prayers in these “dark times” to the victims and their families.
The commission called on civil society, the private sector, the legal fraternity, other religious denominations and all Guyanese to unequivocally condemn these dastardly acts and serious breaches of the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens as enshrined in the Constitution of Guyana and recognised in international law.
Meantime, the GPSU in condemning the “horrific” torture said that the criminal act of setting ablaze the teenager is beyond the imagination of any human being.
There can be no justification for torture of any kind to human beings and the “Guyanese population has a final chance to express its concerns now,” the GPSU declared.
“We cannot sit idly by and pretend that the police force will continue to protect and serve the citizens of this country; who knows you may be next in line. The time to act is now,” the union declared.
It pointed out that Guyana is a signatory of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and “it is time that this Convention be respected and enforced”. The GPSU said that “lip” service to this Convention and the violation of the rights of Guyanese must be halted and it is the responsibility of all citizens to ensure that our human rights are protected.
Meantime, Kissoon said he hopes that the child receives the best medical care he needs and he and his family get the psychosocial support they need and they should also be free to choose the source of the care. Noting that the minor remains in police custody, he said that the boy has suffered enough. The police should be able to release the child immediately to the custody of his parents, he stated.
