The PNCR says it has noted President Bharrat Jagdeo’s decision to set up a board of inquiry into the torture allegations being made against the army, but believes that the same should be done for the previous reported cases.
At a press conference early last week, Jagdeo retreated from his earlier “don’t waste my time” position, and said his administration was taking the torture claims against the defence force seriously.
He has said too that the GDF was committed to investigating the allegations and the board of inquiry had already begun interviewing soldiers who made the claims.
Several soldiers including Michael Dunn, Alvin Wilson and Sharth Robertson complained about being brutalized by members of the Military Criminal Investigation De-partment during interrogation about a missing AK 47.
PNCR Member of Parliament Volda Lawrence, at the party’s weekly press conference, restated that there should also be an investigation into all allegations of torture including those by Patrick Sumner, Victor Jones and David Leander.
Sumner and Jones were taken from Buxton, East Coast Demerara into police custody for almost four days and when released their bodies bore marks of brutality, which they said they suffered at the hands of policemen and soldiers.
Leander who was wanted for questioning in a series of robberies and murder was taken into police custody and at two court appearances, could have hardly stood independently; he too claimed police brutality.
Lawrence said the investigation was critical since the United Nations Convention Against Torture states that there are “no exceptional circumstances whatever”.
She pointed out too that more importantly, the convention made it clear in article 12 that there should be an “impartial investigation”.
“Therefore the President cannot just declare that he is setting up a board of inquiry. It must be impartial and in keeping with article 13 of the convention,” she said.
Article 13 says measures must be taken “to ensure that the complainant and witnesses are protected against all ill-treatment or intimidation as a consequence of his complaint or evidence given.
The party also called on President Jagdeo to respect the United Nations Convention Against Torture signed by his government and be prepared to have those found guilty of torture punished by law and the victims compensated.