As I write this in December 2005, Saddam
Hussein is (rightly) on trial for torture, among many other crimes.
Acts of torture that take place in Iran and Syria are often used as
evidence that we should invade these countries and overthrow their
governments.
Before we launch those invasions, perhaps we should deal with our
"friends" who practice torture. How can we claim that we stand for
freedom and liberty while either providing assistance or diplomatic
support to countries that practice torture on a regular basis? These
claims of torture aren't being made by some liberal somewhere, they're
being made by President Bush's own State Department:
All quotes from
2004 Human
Rights Country Reports
----------------
Egypt
Despite these legal safeguards, there were numerous, credible reports
that security forces tortured and mistreated detainees. Human rights
groups reported that the State Security Investigations Service (SSIS),
police, and other government entities continued to employ torture to
extract information, coerce opposition figures to cease their political
activities, and to deter others from similar activities. Reports of
torture and mistreatment at police stations remained frequent. In
prominent cases, defendants alleged that police tortured them during
questioning (see Sections 1.e. and 2.c.). Although the Government
investigated torture complaints in some criminal cases and punished
some offending officers, punishments generally have not conformed to
the seriousness of the offense.
Principal methods of torture reportedly employed by the police and the
SSIS included stripping and blindfolding victims; suspending victims
from a ceiling or doorframe with feet just touching the floor; beating
victims with fists, whips, metal rods, or other objects; using
electrical shocks; and dousing victims with cold water. Victims
frequently reported being subjected to threats and forced to sign blank
papers for use against themselves or their families should they in the
future complain about the torture. Some victims, including male and
female detainees and children, reported sexual assaults or threats of
rape against themselves or family members. While the law requires
security authorities to keep written records of detentions, human
rights groups reported that the lack of such records often effectively
blocked investigation of complaints.
Saudi Arabia
The Criminal Procedure section of the Basic law prohibits torture and
Shari'a (Islamic law) prohibits any judge from accepting a confession
obtained under duress; however, authorities reportedly at times abused
detainees, both citizens and foreigners. Ministry of Interior officials
were responsible for most incidents of abuse of prisoners, including
beatings, whippings, and sleep deprivation. In addition, there were
allegations of beatings with sticks and suspension from bars by
handcuffs. There were allegations that these practices were used to
force confessions from prisoners.
Nigeria
The Constitution prohibits such practices, and the law provides for
punishment of such abuses; however, during the year, police, military,
and security force officers regularly beat protesters, criminal
suspects, detainees, and convicted prisoners. Police physically
mistreated civilians regularly in attempts to extort money from them.
The law prohibits the introduction into trials of evidence and
confessions obtained through torture. In some cases, persons died from
torture in custody (see Section 1.a.).
Indonesia
The Criminal Code makes it a crime punishable by up to 4 years in
prison for any official to use violence or force to elicit a
confession; however, law enforcement officials widely ignored such
statutes in practice. Security forces continued to employ torture and
other forms of abuse. The Government made some efforts to hold members
of the security forces responsible for acts of torture. During the
year, the use of torture to obtain confessions from suspects was most
apparent in Aceh.
Torture was sometimes used to obtain confessions, punish suspects, and
seek information that incriminated others in criminal activity.
Security forces also allegedly used torture to extort money from
villagers. Reliable figures on the number of incidents of torture that
occurred during the year were difficult to obtain. Physical torture
cases included random beatings and acts involving hair, nails, teeth,
and genitals. Heat, suffocation, electricity, and suspension by the
feet were also used. Psychological torture cases reportedly included
food and sleep deprivation, sexual humiliation, and forced witnessing
or participation in acts of torture.
During the year, press restrictions in Aceh Province limited media
reports on cases of torture there. However, a coalition of human rights
NGOs reported 77 cases of civilians and 7 GAM members tortured,
compared with 256 civilians and 16 GAM members tortured in 2003. The
NGO Kontras reported that 214 civilians were tortured. In September,
Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported widespread abuse of prisoners in Aceh
by security forces. HRW reported that 24 of 35 Acehnese prisoners
interviewed claimed they had been tortured and forced to confess
involvement with the GAM. Examples of torture in the report included
electric shocks and beatings with wooden beams and gun butts. The
Government announced it would investigate the allegations contained in
the HRW report. AI reported that in January, members of Brimob arrested
a small shop owner suspected of being a GAM intelligence officer. He
was held for 24 hours, during which Brimob members allegedly beat him
in the face with the butt of a rifle and broke his nose. He also
allegedly was burned by cigarettes on his arms, stomach, and thighs. AI
representatives reported seeing dozens of burn marks still visible when
they met with him in May. He was released and fled the country after
his village paid $22 (198,000 rupiah) to Brimob.
Pakistan
The Constitution and the Penal Code prohibit torture and other cruel,
inhuman, or degrading treatment; however, security forces tortured and
abused persons, often to elicit confessions. Ordinary courts at times
dismissed such confessions. Under provisions of the Anti-Terrorist Act,
coerced confessions are admissible in Special Courts; however, police
had not used this provision to obtain convictions.
Security force personnel continued to torture persons in custody
throughout the country. Human rights organizations reported that
methods used included beating; burning with cigarettes; whipping the
soles of the feet; prolonged isolation; electric shock; denial of food
or sleep; hanging upside down; and forced spreading of the legs with
bar fetters. Officials from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
(HRCP) estimated 5,000 cases of police torture annually; the Lawyers
for Human Rights and Legal Aid Madadgaar Project recorded 1,101 cases
of torture during the year. At times, torture resulted in death or
serious injury (see Section 1.a.). For example, on January 2, police in
Choti Zaireen village, Punjab, beat Saifullah Ghangle with a blunt
object until he fell unconscious. Ghangla remained in a coma in Lahore
at year's end. Five police officials were charged in the case but none
were arrested. On November 21, Naddeem Latif died during torture in
custody. Two police officials were arrested in the case and remained in
detention at year's end. There were no new developments in the Rasheed
Azam case from 2003, nor were any expected.
Guatemala
The Constitution prohibits such practices; however, there were credible
reports of torture, abuse, and other mistreatment by members of the PNC
during the year. These complaints typically involved the use of
excessive force during police operations and harassment or arbitrary
imprisonment of commercial sex workers, suspected gang members, and
others targeted during extortion schemes. There were credible reports
of SIC detectives torturing and beating detainees during interrogation
to obtain confessions. During the year, the PNC's ORP investigated
2,088 cases of police misconduct. The PNC dismissed 506 officers for
misconduct. However, the Attorney General's office, or Public Ministry,
rarely has prosecuted fired officers for criminal misconduct.
There were credible reports that PNC officials or persons disguised as
police officers stopped cars and buses to demand bribes or steal
private property. In some cases, the supposed police officers assaulted
and raped victims.
----------------
Again, if we want to stand for liberty and freedom, the LEAST we can do
is to stop writing checks to torturers. When the US gets serious about
standing with the oppressed, the world will follow. If you question
whether any of these countries are either US military allies and/or aid
recipients, please write me with evidence that the US holds them in
disfavor.
-----------------------
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