Dear Editor,
The torture of three males, including a 14-year-old, by the Guyana Police Force during their interrogation as suspects in a murder and the outcries of the nation are indicative that the nation has been hit at its core. Torture is a transgression of one’s right. Regardless of who it is applied to, in whatever form and for whatever reason it is wrong, it is human rights abuse, has no place in modern society and must be condemned and the guilty brought to justice with all relevant reviews of the conditions that gave rise to such barbaric interrogatory methods. The barbarism that now confronts us did not occur overnight but for some strange reason many have supported it, turned a blind eye, or become immune to the transgression of rights by the Government, its agencies, and cohorts. The current torture is yet another manifestation of the continuous violations of human rights and the rule of law. It matters not whether these men were suspects or guilty, the judicial system must be allowed to work.
Society must embrace the rights of all its citizens, even those who break the law regardless of race, colour, class, or political affiliation. It is what civilized nations do. When George Bacchus blew the lid on the phantom force revealing its connections to the government allegedly through Minister Ronald Gajraj and as we now know Roger Khan (a US convicted drug dealer) it was revealed that many persons were taken to a secret place in Georgetown and tortured before they were killed. The relationship between the criminal Khan and the Government has been given greater credence through evidence in the recent Simels trial.
The methods of Khan’s Phantom squad in the “alleged crime fight” were given tacit support and executed without fear of impunity. As a society we must now look at the architects, the engineers, the Machiavellian hierarchy that could support such heinous crimes against our citizens from “Blackie” to the 14-year old, Deonarine and Navin.
The buck does not stop at the Divisional Commander, Paulette Morrison- who is being made the scapegoat- but at President Jagdeo and his regime who must be held accountable. If we fail to stop it now and for the right reasons of protecting all human rights then tomorrow we stand the risk of us and our families falling victims. Then it will be too late.
In August 2008 President Jagdeo referring to the Joint Services killings of the wanted men said, “I have made it clear to the soldiers and the police that I prefer to answer the human rights people, than to answer your wives and mothers when they come to meet me when you are killed. I made it clear, if you have people who have AK-47s shooting at you, protect yourself.” He went on to say that despite the fact that the security forces managed to kill Rawlins, they would remain focused on the fight against crime to rid society of criminal elements.” The nation needs to be reminded it is the President as Commander-in-Chief who gave the mandate to the Joint Services to use tactics, even similar to those used on the wanted men, to rid the society of criminal elements. It is a mandate that continues to hurt us.
Torture is not only the beating, burning or maiming of a person; it is also putting someone in surroundings and conditions humanly unacceptable. The Police lock-ups in Guyana have no beds and lights.
Cells are overcrowded and inmates sleep where they can, on pieces of cardboards and their clothing. Inmates bathe, wash, eat and drink from the same bucket. Prison food consists of stale rice and bread. Persons make spoons from cardboard and cups from plastic bottles. Human waste is deposited in the corner of the cell or in a newspaper then thrown away. In many cases when families bring meals they are turned away. This element of torture is also sanctioned by the political directorate.
The Minister of Home Affairs said he is satisfied with the prison conditions and persons have to understand prison is no five-star hotel.
The policy adumbrated by the President and Minister gives authority to the Joint Services to do anything. The call then by the Minister for the interdiction of the Commander has to be seen as a cover-up for bad policies. The Commander’s role involves ensuring the activities of the Force are implemented consistent with the policy.
If the policy of the President and Minister includes the non-provision of basic amenities and human decency to those in the lock-ups it is clear that torture and sub-human conditions are sanctioned by officialdom. To interdict the Commander for following through with policy without interdicting the Commissioner of Police and having the resignation of both the Minister and the President is wrong in principle. As policy heads who sanctioned the violation of prisoners’ rights and put systems in place to deny the accused his/her day in Court they cannot escape responsibility. The Commander is being made the scapegoat and the nation must not stand for it.
Justice is not built on one’s convenience. It is about a principle that guides actions. Alvin Wilson, Sharth Roberston, Patrick Sumner, David Leander, Michael Dunn and others who were tortured still await justice. Since the Minister who is now calling for the interdiction of the Commander used his vote in Parliament to oppose a mechanism to hold earlier torturers accountable and mete out justice to the victims but today sees it fit to call for justice in a similar case we must use this opportunity to demand a transparent inquiry into the incidents of all those who were tortured. The same principle must apply across the board. Commodore Gary Best had responsibility for the Army during the torture of Wilson, et al and he must be interdicted too. Torture is torture and there cannot be different rules and practices for it. To tell the nation in this case the two policemen will be prosecuted to the fullest is not enough. This Government must also move to have the Officers involved in the torture of Wilson, et al face the same treatment.
As we ponder on this case we need to ask ourselves how we have reached this low point. Many have bought into the Government propaganda and support their illegal actions.
But it is very clear this Government has a programme which executes actions deliberately designed to abuse the rights of citizens and it is only a matter of time before it personally impacts. Under these circumstances citizens have to stand up and demand their rights be respected and should not relent until such is achieved.
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis