| The North American arm of the People’s National Congress Reform yesterday became among the latest to condemn the actions of the ranks of the Guyana Police Force that has tortured a 14-year-old boy.In a statement issued to the media the North American arm of the PNCR stated that the “refusal of the Jagdeo Administration to take serious and drastic action in cases of reported torture, coupled with its failure to condemn such behaviour, leads one to the conclusion that the Guyana Government gives tacit approval to these acts of torture…Moreover, the Government by its inaction conveys the message to the Security Forces that such behaviour is acceptable.”It is alleged that members of the Police Force, while interrogating a teenager, set fire to his genital area after soaking him with methylated alcohol.According to the group, “This is not a singular case, but is the latest of several examples of the pervasive culture of the Police Force which permits such despicable behaviour.”The group pointed out that only two days prior to the exposure of the horrific incident, party leader Robert Corbin warned that the ruling Party,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) appeared to condone torture of individuals in Guyana by its dismissive response to reported allegations of torture.“Regrettably, the administration, which is a signatory to the UN Convention Against Torture, seems comfortable with the current state of affairs in Guyana.Article 2,NFL Jerseys China, Paragraph 2 of UN Convention clearly states that,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping,“No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture,” the group said.The Convention places a direct obligation on the government to respond positively to ensure that the provisions are not breached.“The record of the PPP/C in this area is utterly dismal and this provision continues to be observed in its breach.”According to the group, Guyanese have not forgotten the brutal torture of Edwin Niles while in the custody of the Guyana Prison Service and the reluctance of either the security forces or the Government to take any action until there was a public outcry.“To date, there has been no explanation or known investigation on the torture of Patrick Sumner, Victor Jones, David Zammit and many others by the security forces…Similarly the state-sponsored murder of journalist Ronald Waddell, informant Bacchus and countless hundreds goes uninvestigated and unpunished. Guyanese ask Where is the Justice?”It was also recalled that in January last year army personnel, Michael Dunn, Alvin Wilson and Sharth Robertson, made public their allegations that they were tortured by senior officers of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).Amidst the public outcry, the Government announced the appointment of a Board of Inquiry from within the GDF, the same agency against whom the allegations were made. The PNCR had challenged that notion and stated its position on February 7, 2008:“The only credible way for the investigations, into the allegations of torture, to be done is by an independent commission,Wholesale Cheap Jerseys, consisting of upstanding citizens of this Republic whose integrity is (sic) beyond question.”According to the PNCR North American arm the Guyana Government, covered up the matter by refusing to publish the report of the “so-called inquiry and Robert Persaud,NFL Jerseys China, Minister of Agriculture, choose to disrespect the National Assembly by defending the Army’s torture as roughing up.”The group also stated that the attitude of the PPP/C Administration in condoning torture was further highlighted by their prolonged refusal to debate a motion on torture brought to the National Assembly by the PNCR.“When the motion was finally debated, it was evident that the PPP/C had no remorse or any respect for the people of Guyana…These examples support the contention that the PPP/C Administration has condoned torture in Guyana in breach of their obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture.”Not only is the Guyana Government in breach of the UN Convention against Torture,Cheap Jerseys, but it is also in violation of the Constitution of Guyana, which by guarantees every citizen the right to protection from cruel and inhumane treatment, the group said.The Constitution of Guyana clearly states that: “No person shall be subject to torture or to inhuman or degrading punishment or other treatment…We, in the Diaspora, therefore call on the President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo to step down…We further call for the resignation of the Commissioner of Police, Henry Green and that of the Minister of Human Services and Child Welfare, Priya Manichand and the Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee…“The North America Region demands a full and impartial inquiry into the events surrounding this case by an independent body so that the perpetrators of this crime could be identified and punished.” |
