-says cops have two weeks on probe
Labelling the torture of a 15-year-old boy in police custody as inhuman, President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday said that he has given the force two weeks to complete an investigation into the allegations, after which all the perpetrators will face the full consequences.
However, if the report does not satisfy him other options outside of the police will be considered. Jagdeo said.
Speaking at a press conference at his office, Jagdeo said “I will allow for the probe to be done by the Police Force, which will be made public, and to take place early. And I will want to give them… a maximum of two weeks.” If I find it wanting, then I’m prepared to look at examining, any other option outside of the police themselves.” He said that he has called for an “open investigation” and further said: “I think that we have to take the strongest possible action against all the perpetrators”. This action will not be limited to the direct participants, but all those involved will have “to bear some of the consequences”, Jagdeo added.
When asked if he will be extending the current investigations into other allegations of torture by members of the joint services, the President said that presently he did not see such an extension occurring.
Labelling the recent incident as “outrageous, horrible and inhuman”, the President said that “any right thinking, decent person” would have to condemn such an act against anyone, more particularly against a child.
Meanwhile, Jagdeo said that the matter needed to be addressed urgently since it negatively affected the image of the Police Force. Jagdeo noted that while the force has many challenges it is still prepared to act professionally. The President said that he has asked that there be enhanced training of officers as it related to human rights issues. Pointing out that currently, training is done using a manual prepared by the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), he said that these efforts needed to be boosted. According to him, he has instructed some of his staff to seek foreign assistance that could add to the Force’s capability in this area.
The President noted that every time such hideous acts occur they do a great disservice to the sterling efforts of many members of the Joint Services. “They disparage and they affect the work of the many, many good policemen and soldiers, who we have out there, who day after day go out to protect our country, our borders and the society against criminals. Hundreds of them go out there every day, they are our frontline against criminals. These are the people we call upon when something happens and many of them inspite of very, very difficult situations- the remuneration is not great, sometimes the conditions of the service are not great- but they go out there and put their lives, in many cases, on the line for all of us and the recent incident in which they were targeted will show this…”he said.
Jagdeo said that the country “can’t allow the actions of a few to cause them to forget the hundreds out there who work professionally and with decency”. Consequently, the President said that actions have to be taken against those who acted in a rogue fashion inconsistent with the operating procedures and the standards of the institution.
Jagdeo also urged society, particularly those who were affected by the recent allegations, “not to lose sight of all the others who have faced so many difficulties coming out of a tough situation where criminals walked the land and targeted the police.”
He also called on the society to “allow due process to be involved in this matter”. “We can’t want due process sometimes only for criminals and then want public lynching immediately for others, there has to be an investigation”, the President said.
When asked about past statements by government officials which may be interpreted as tacit approval of excessive force being used by members of the joint services, Jagdeo responded by saying “that he did not know what sort of tacit approval could be given to acts of this nature”. Explaining his stance on the matter, Jagdeo recounted an explanation that he gave during the period the Joint Services were operating in Buxton. He said that during this time, it was understandable if the joint services entered a home in a particular manner.
According to him, when the officers went into the area they would routinely have persons shoot at them which clearly resulted in fear. He explained that in this sort of “operational context”, entering a home in a particular manner, even if it resulted in damage to property, would have been justified.