Inquiry into National Service atrocities should be held

Jun 30, 2015 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,
A Commission of Inquiry is held into the murder of Walter Rodney some 35 years later to bring closure to that terrible act. A similar inquiry will help to heal wounds arising out of National Service.
Allegations of rape, violations of religious sanctity and cultural diets, beatings and other atrocities were leveled against the commanding officers and the entire programme of National Service (1974 thru 1992). The problem of sexual abuse was widespread and involved official levels of cover-up and turning a blind eye. Although complaints were made, no action was ever taken against officers. These should be investigated, especially given the fact that the APNU+AFC government plans to re-introduce national service.
Just last week, I met a teacher in New York’s public school system who confirmed that rape and the atrocities noted above did take place at the camps he was mandated to serve. He regretted he could not help the victims, claiming he was in no position to assist for fear of the consequences to himself (being denied a National Service completion certificate and/or the special food privileges he enjoyed).
That teacher plus other eyewitnesses and victims are willing to speak out on rape and other sexual abuses at National Service. The allegations warrant a commission of inquiry. Rape and sexual assaults have no statute of limitation; those who engaged in sexual misconduct or covered up wrongdoing should be brought to account.
It is recalled that failure to join national service led to victimization from government jobs and/or denial of promotions, admission at tertiary institutions or academic certificates, etc. Even females were forced to join the National Service in order to obtain diplomas at University of Guyana, Teachers’ College or at any Tertiary institution. Also, innocent females at several high schools were tricked into joining national service as a condition for entrance into university or obtaining GCE and CXC certificates.
Based on interviews of individuals who served in national service, many females were sexually assaulted (raped, inappropriately touched, kissed without permission, ordered to perform sexual acts, verbally abused, etc.) at boot camp. According to those I interviewed, many victims did not report their sexual abuses because of fear or recrimination and the stigma of rape or of people knowing that a female was in bed with an officer. But word got around anyway that the officer had “a nice time” with a certain female who felt ashamed that everyone knew “she was forced into bed by an officer”.
Evidence suggests that sexual exploitation was not a secret at National Service camps. Almost everyone knew who was a victim and who slept with which officer. And after an officer had a good time, he passed on the victim to another officer colleague who in turn passed her off to another officer. In short, some officers took turns abusing female participants of National Service.
Victims were stalked, harassed, intimidated and victimized. Several officers were repeat offenders. Would-be victims could not hold off the advances of superiors. As some noted, it was like being in a domestic-violence marriage that you can’t get divorced from, because you could not get out of National Service. You had to tolerate the abuse.
The violence of rape and the ensuing emotional trauma damaged people’s psyche. Victims recognized the futility of reporting sexual abuses to their commanders, and government officials knew no action would be taken against the perpetrators. No one in authority investigated any complaints. Every government official turned a blind eye to the abuses at various camps. Some officials were even complicit in the abuses committed by officers.
Some of the victims thought of suicide, although it is not confirmed whether anyone actually committed or attempted suicide. But according to doctors and mental health experts I interviewed, victims of rape suffered depression, paranoia, and feelings of isolation. They drowned in guilt, shame and fear as the psychological damage silently ate away at their lives. Eventually, some ended up taking their own lives.
Interviews with doctors in Georgetown and elsewhere revealed hundreds of females underwent abortions. They did not want to bear the unmitigated shame and embarrassment of carrying an unwanted pregnancy.
The females did not report their experiences of sexual abuses because they feared reprisals from their attackers, the authorities, and the government. They worried about the stigma and retribution from their own families. They did not want to lose their boyfriend and a hand in marriage. As teachers or government employees, they did not want to lose their only source of income should they be denied a certificate of completion of national service. Without a completion of national service, one risked losing one’s job.
Also, it is to be noted that those who performed sex were accorded favoured treatment. Their cultural dietary needs were met; otherwise they were subjected to pork and beef almost daily, in violation of the dietary restrictions, especially of Hindus and Muslims. No accommodation was made for vegetarians or those with special dietary needs. Those females who submitted their bodies to officers were given light tasks; accommodations were subsequently made for their dietary needs.
An inquiry was held into the Rodney murder 35 years after he was killed. There is no reason why a similar inquiry can’t be held into sexual crimes committed at various national service camps. The Government should appoint a commission to investigate sexual abuse and exploitation of females by their commanding officers, and take action against those who contributed to or turned a blind eye to rape.
To prevent a recurrence, the country needs to identify and punish the national service officers and troops who committed these sexual offences. The public needs to do all it can to prevent further sexual exploitation and abuse of females. There should be a public chorus for an independent closed-door inquiry into national service to allow victims to testify without revealing their identity in public, as is done in US, Canada and UK on hearings of sexual crimes in the armed forces.
Vishnu Bisram

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