Guyana's opposition, government and civil society all outraged at police brutality
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| Published on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 | Email To Friend Print Version
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GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- The main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and the government in Guyana have added their voices to the condemnation of the torture of a 14-year-old murder accused at the hands of local police.
A statement from the PNCR on Saturday said it condemns the reported acts of torture by ranks of the Guyana Police Force on a 14-year-old while in their custody a few days ago and requested an immediate response from the Commissioner of Police, Henry Green.
“No justification can be offered for such brutal acts. The fact that the ranks could feel comfortable inflicting such grievous bodily harm on a human being, including, the setting alight of the youth’s genital area after soaking it with metholated spirits, only confirms that the culture of the force permits such behaviour.” the statement said
It adds that the state of mind of the guilty ranks of the force also needs investigation and the incident suggests the need for serious psychological evaluation of members of the police.
The party highlighted that Article 2, Paragraph 2 of UN Convention clearly states that, “No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture.”
As such the party says the Convention places a direct obligation on the Government to respond positively to ensure that the provisions are not breached.
Meanwhile the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand responded on Sunday in a statement that said the allegations by lawyers on the teenager’s behalf and by the young man himself of the setting ablaze of his pelvic area while in police custody “is a source of great concern to me.”
She has described the act as” horrific and criminal” and urged that the perpetrators shall face the “full force of the law.”
Manickchand added that she is encouraged by the fact that the ranks responsible have been arrested and hoped that the local police will take the matter seriously and deal with those according to the law.
“These rogue officers of the police force must be made to understand that obtaining any statement or evidence in this manner does no one any good as any such statement or evidence obtained after this kind of brutality will most likely be thrown out by the court at the time of trial.” The minister said the government remains committed to providing an environment where children can thrive and their talents are given every opportunity to flourish.
Human Services Ministry’s Child Protection Unit ( CPU) Director Ann Greene also condemned the actions of the police, saying that the unit is saddened by the incident.
“If this is the truth, it is something very frightening because we rely on the police to help us to protect children from abuse,” Greene said. She added that this is the highest level of abuse and it speaks volumes for juvenile justice. “The boy is just a child and even if he was just wanted for questioning, it should have been done in front of his parents,” she said.
Greene also said that something needs to be done urgently about the matter.
A group of concerned lawyers and the human rights body here have earlier registered their condemnation of this act and also called for an inquiry.
In a statement on Saturday labeling the abuses as ‘excessive force’, police said an investigation has been launched into the allegations. | | | | Reads : 458 | | | |
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