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THE POLICE CANNOT INVESTIGATE THIS ONE!

Nov 02, 2009 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

Twenty five lawyers have taken a first and important step in condemning the recent torture of a teenager while in Police lockups. This is a decisive step, I believe in Guyana, and commences a momentum which could result in a serious overhaul of the manner in which the police treat with prisoners and suspects.

By the end of this week, those behind the signing of the statement by the twenty five lawyers should go knocking at the offices of every single lawyer in Guyana, including those who are aligned to the ruling party, and have them sign on to the statement which has been issued calling for an inquiry into the torture of the young teenager.

The police cannot investigate this one because if they do what will end up happening is that some Constable and Corporal will end up facing the brunt of the criminal charges.

However, there is need for persons higher up the command chain to be held responsible for what happened to this youth.

All those who had knowledge about what took place, all those who did not act with dispatch to stop the abuse, all those who tried to cover up this abhorrent crime; all those who had the parents of that child travelling from police station to police station should be sent packing immediately. From high to low, all those culpable should be made to pay for what took place.

I believe that this unfortunate incident will mark a turning point in this country because the professional class, an important segment of the middle class in Guyana, has taken a firm stand and I believe that a momentum will be built that will result in real change in the way that the police and other disciplined services treat with suspects and the public.

The graphic images of raw flesh caused by the use of methylated spirits and matches have ignited the anger and displeasure of Guyanese throughout this country and also of Guyanese who live outside of Guyana. What sort of thinking could lead one human being to do this to another human being?

The implications for the rule of law are more serious because a number of questions are going to be asked as to other cases in which suspects have claimed that they were forced into confessing their crimes. What we have by these revelations is a crisis in law and order in Guyana.

In addressing that crisis, what is needed is for the demands of those twenty five lawyers to be met. What is needed is not for a police investigation but for a Commission of Inquiry, since there is a need for all those who had knowledge of what took place and did nothing, all those who covered it up initially to be sent home immediately pending this investigation. The police cannot investigate itself. Any report emanating from the police on this matter will lack credibility.

Following the Mash Day jailbreak, a Commission of Inquiry was launched to look into lapses into the system. The same is needed here. But this will only happen if the professional middle class sign on to that statement that has been issued and this is why it is important that commencing today, that initial list of twenty five should be extended.

At least two lawyers aligned to the ruling party have already signed on to the statement. I expect that by the end of this week all those lawyers who are supporters of the PPP will signal their repugnance of what took place by signing that statement.

It is important that as many lawyers as possible sign before the wider society gets involved since from a strategic point of view what we are witnessing here is an important development where the local bar is making its voice heard on an issue that is of great concern.

That process needs to be deepened before it is widened to include other segments of the society.

For too long in this society people have had to put up with all manner of abuses at the hands of the police.

From traffic ranks harassing motorists to persons being thrown into lockups that are stink and inhuman, these abuses have been many.

Today, it is that child; tomorrow it is me and you. Let not history repeat itself. Let this incident, sad as it is, become the turning point for a renewal of law enforcement in Guyana.

For the remainder of this week, this column will be dedicated to the issue of torture.

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