The United Kingdom has recommended to Guyana that it convene an independent probe into abuses allegedly committed by the phantom squad between 2002-6 and London has also urged that an “immediate” commitment be made to reforming the security agencies.
The British position was delivered in a statement at Tuesday’s consideration by the United Nations of the human rights situation in Guyana in the lakeside Swiss city of Geneva.
Tuesday’s statement represents the first direct call for such a probe by one of the key western countries and analysts say it represents a growing impatience with the government here over foot-dragging on issues such as the phantom squad.
Four recommendations were listed by the UK during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) for Guyana. These were:
*that the government set up an independent inquiry into abuses allegedly committed by a `phantom squad’ between 2002-6 and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice;
*that Guyana makes an “immediate” commitment to wide-ranging reform of the security agencies and the criminal justice sector, undergirded by broad consultation and transparency;
*that Guyana sets a formal moratorium on executions and removes all legal provisions for mandatory death sentences with a view to abolishing the death penalty;
*that Georgetown takes concrete steps to protect members of vulnerable groups from violence.
Welcoming Guyana’s commitment to human rights and the advances it has made, London said in this context it believed that it was vital that the Human Rights Commission and its associated commissions become operational as soon as possible.
“We hope that following this UPR, a stronger domestic and international collaborative relationship can be developed to build on progress, including open dialogue on issues such as ethnic discrimination, and security sector and criminal justice reform”, the UK statement said.
While acknowledging steps to identify and prosecute members of the security services accused of torture and mistreatment, the UK said that “we believe that more extensive reform of these agencies, inclusive of civil society input, is necessary to prevent future abuses”. This position comes after the much publicized withdrawal last year by the UK of funding for security reform after deep differences with the Guyana Government. Other measures to achieve security sector reform, notably Parliament’s Disciplined Forces Commission have been hopelessly stalled.
And though encouraged by the efforts to tackle violence against women and other members of vulnerable groups, including the recent passage of the sexual offences law, the British statement said that “given the disturbing levels of violence we strongly urge Guyana to ensure practical measures are urgently taken to address this issue”.
Noting and welcoming Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy’s call in September 2009 for a regional dialogue on laws that relate to sexual activity between consenting adults of the same sex, the UK enquired as to the plans the government had to initiate such a discussion.
The UK statement came on the same day as one by the United States which said Washington remains deeply concerned about reports of extrajudicial killings and “the continuing discrimination, violence, and exploitation against vulnerable groups” here. Analysts say the fact that both Washington and London voiced concerns about extra-judicial killings and claims of discrimination represents a hardening and synchronizing of positions on Guyana which could have other repercussions.
The raising of concerns about the phantom squad comes after months of revelations in US courts which alleged that there had been links between the infamous gang and government officials. The government here has steadfastly denied this but at the same has refused to heed calls for an independent probe. Several informants in US courts have said that the leader of the phantom gang, self-confessed drug trafficker Roger Khan worked closely with the government and senior officials.
Guyana’s human rights record came under focus before the United Nations Human Rights Council in the framework of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) under which the human rights record of each state is extensively reviewed every four years. Each member state is required to produce a national report in accordance with a UN Human Rights Council resolution and Guyana complied but without widespread local consultations. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett led Guyana’s delegation to Geneva.
