International action should support local activism on crime and torture

International action should support local activism on crime and torture – GHRA

Nov 01, 2008 News

The lack of official concern over the recent violent death of James Nelson in the Brickdam lock-ups illustrates a pattern of patent disinterest on the part of the Disciplined Services in resolving incidents of torture and death involving their personnel.

This is according to the Executive Committee of the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), which, in a press release issued earlier in the week, stated that such attitudes are encouraged by recent pronouncements, such as that of the Minister of Home Affairs in Parliament.

The GHRA stated that Mr Rohee found much satisfaction in reciting a long list of persons, and after each name announce “shot and killed” or “shot dead by the police”.

The GHRA noted that, while in Minister Rohee’s view, this constitutes improvements in crime fighting, in reality it suggests indifference to whether suspects are brought to justice or are extra-judicially executed.

The GHRA believes that such attitudes drive and encourage a culture of violence, which cannot be resolved by national action alone.

“The Guyana Human Rights Association is, therefore, now calling on the international agencies currently investing hundreds of millions of dollars in reform of the Guyana Police Force and justice systems to condition continued funding on immediate improved performance with respect to torture, conditions of detention, and deaths in custody,” the press release stated.

With respect to the James Nelson incident, the GHRA noted that the explanation given by the authorities that he may have inflicted fatal injuries on himself is totally ludicrous.

The Executive Committee stated that this was followed by the reported comments of the Police Commissioner that: “having had the report from the government pathologist, we recognise that the gentleman suffered some injuries and we want to find out how and why”.

Taking this into consideration, the GHRA is now questioning whether the police need a pathologist’s report to learn of injuries which occurred on its own premises.

“Does the additional comment that “we are not saying anyone is culpable” mean it is still an open question whether Nelson committed suicide by beating himself to death?” the GHRA questioned.

The association noted that no one is asking the Commissioner of Police to rush to judgement against his own ranks, nor should too much be read into off-the-cuff comments to the press; but, at the same time, Guyanese citizens have a right to expect more than the casual indifference, particularly at a time when serious crimes by acting and former members of the Disciplined Services are becoming a daily news feature.

Earlier this year, the GHRA urged the UN Committee against Torture and the Special Rapporteur on Torture to make urgent contact with the Government of Guyana on “measures it should take to halt the dangerous slide into routine torture in Guyana.”

“A more direct and assured avenue for getting the attention of the political authorities, however, is available to international financial agencies.

“Linking continued dispersing of funds to improved police performance and standards should be a clear requirement. Equally important, such benchmarks should be in the public domain, thereby empowering citizens and civil society to more effectively monitor the extent to which they are achieved.”