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…Parliamentary motions seek to have victims compensatedFor several months now, the long-awaited report into the investigations of torture by the Joint Services has been kept secret,Matt Cain Giants Jersey, despite its completion. It will possibly surface this week, since it is expected to be laid in the National Assembly.The move is expected to coincide with the moving of a motion by People’s National Congress Reform central executive member and Member of Parliament Aubrey Norton that seeks to have the Government of Guyana “…review interrogation rules, instructions,Yasiel Puig Dodgers Jersey, methods and practices,Drew Stubbs Rangers Jersey, as well as arrangements for the custody and treatment of persons subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment in any territory under its jurisdiction, with a view to preventing any cases of torture.”Aubrey NortonThe motion also calls for the Government to honour its treaty obligations under Article 10 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment by ensuring that public officials are made aware that all forms of torture are prohibited.Another aspect of the motion that Norton is pushing also seeks to ensure that any individual who alleges he/she has been subjected to torture has the right to complain to, and to have his case promptly and impartially examined by competent authorities.”The motion also seeks to compensate those persons found to have been tortured.Recently, during a press briefing, Norton charged that if the report was not released soon, his party would have released the names of two officers from the Military Investigations Department who are allegedly implicated in the report.The party executive insisted that the Administration has adamantly refused to publish the report on torture,Babe Herman Dodgers Jersey, which is based on investigations conducted by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).He noted that the PNCR has held,Kevin Long Mets Jersey, and continues to hold, the view that the Administration is reluctant to release the report, which fingers members of the army who are reportedly close to the Administration.“However, the names of the officers concerned are well known, and in one particular instance have been placed in the public domain.”When asked why he was reluctant to release the names, Norton said that he wanted to give the relevant authority the opportunity to uphold its end of the undertaking.The GDF has reported publicly that it has handed in its report to the Defence Board, the contents of the report have, however,Larry Doby Indians Jersey, not seen the light of day.It was hinted that when the National Assembly comes out of recess and debates a motion on the issue that was presented by Norton, the report will be turned over to the House. Following this, the report is expected to be made public.The PNCR has long called for the publishing of the report,Pedro Alvarez Orioles Jersey, stressing that Guyana has acquired a reputation in the English-speaking Caribbean for engaging in brutal acts such as torture.On April 4 this year,Howie Kendrick Dodgers Jersey, Secretary to the Defence Board,Xander Bogaerts Red Sox Jersey, Dr. Roger Luncheon, had announced that the board of inquiry set up to investigate allegations of torture purportedly committed by members of the GDF had completed its task.Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee had promised the investigation, following statements by the PNCR that torture was a new tactic Government had introduced in crime fighting.The prominent allegations of torture emanated from two Buxtonians — Patrick Sumner, 30, and Victor Anthony Jones, 32 — as well as some army ranks who claimed that they were tortured in relation to the missing AK-47 assault rifles. |
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