Dear Editor,
The much anticipated report into allegations of torture, committed by members of the Guyana Defence Force on citizens is soon to be made public, according to Secretary to the Defence Board, Roger Luncheon.
Torture is an outlawed form of punishment for most civilized states or democratic nations, thus any allegations of such crime purportedly carried out by any government agency should be thoroughly investigated.
This investigation was promised by the Minister of Home Affairs, after the PNCR challenged the government for encouraging the use of such tactics as a crime fighting strategy. So what can Guyanese expect to see forming the basis of this report? It is my view that since the investigation was not carried out by an independent body, like the PNCR demanded, its findings can only serve to provide another basis for more investigations. Further, the fact is that politics in Guyana, particularly on the part of the administration seem to be based on “win or lose” thinking rather than what is in the best interest of a decent progressive Guyana, and the protection of citizens’ inalienable rights. I am, therefore, suspicious that the findings will not deviate much from this cardinal principle of the current PPP/C government. I believe, though, that had the administration demonstrated a seriousness to deal with these unfortunate torture allegations; real urgent efforts would have been made to ensure that an independent body of Guyanese professionals, with the requisite skills and talent, comprised the investigating team. But again, the government demonstrated sheer recklessness, lack of foresight and a blatant disregard for what can be characterized as the necessary openness, and transparency of democratic governments.
The government has again chosen to forego another opportunity to demonstrate good governance and missed the chance to create some amount of confidence in the Guyanese people in their government’s ability to be open. To allow the organisation charged with the allegation of torture to investigate itself cannot be acceptable to the Guyanese people, who the administration continues to take for granted. The government’s approach to dealing with matters such as these continues to challenge the true meaning of the rule of law and questions the administration’s ability, or desire to embrace this law at all times.
The benefits of an impartial investigation would have allowed for less controversy over the findings and hence a broader acceptance by all stakeholders.
So will the report be conclusive, will it be left hung in the air or will it just state that Patrick Sumner, Victor Anthony Jones, Michael Dunn, Alvin Wilson and others were experiencing just a bad dream or wild dream, and that no such brutality or torture took place? Or will there be a rationale for the Guyana Defence Force personnel to have conducted such brutality on their fellow citizens in order to elicit information to recover the missing AK 47 rifles? And, if this acceptance is laid in the report as justifiable was it not equal to torture, an interrogation technique which the Government of Guyana indicates by way of its signature that it is against? Will the findings answer the question, directly, as to whether executive orders or consent, have been given to carry out acts of torture, if torture is in fact established? There are certainly a lot of questions to be answered.
I suggest that the report be laid in the parliament for a national debate, yes, the issue of torture of any citizen is critical and important enough to call for a national debate on this investigation.
Let us look at what has happened on April 08, 2008 in the United States Congress; on this day the top two United States officials in Iraq; US Commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, and U.S Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, faced the US Congress to report on the situation in Iraq.
Why can’t Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, and Commodore Best face the Guyana Parliament to answer any questions the Guyanese people will have based on these findings.
Yours faithfully,
Lurlene Nestor
