28/08/09

Venezuela does not have cases of torture

A BBC editorial on torture in Latin America clearly shows that Venezuela is doing much better than other countries in the region in terms of respect for human rights and fight against torture and ill-treatment.

Map of torture in Latin America is the title of the BBC editorial which throws light on cases of abuse by governmental authorities in five countries: Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay and Venezuela.

BBC explains that their article is based on reports by various human right defenders, such as: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others.

Regarding Venezuela, the article explains that Amnesty International did not include allegations of torture or ill treatment in 2008.

BBC adds: “Various human rights organizations and public institutions [in Venezuela] such as the Ombudsman’s Office are working on a bill against torture and ill-treatment, which would be introduced before the National Assembly for discussion later this year. In April 2008 the government of Hugo Chavez enacted a police law with a commission to reform the force. Among the recommendations, the commission stressed the need to limit the use of firearms by the agents and the establishment of a police code of conduct, says Amnesty International”.

Colombia, on the other hand, is portrayed very poorly in this report. Amnesty International has documented cases of torture by both security forces and by paramilitary groups and guerrillas.

In 2007 alone, Amnesty International reported 80 cases of torture in Colombia. Quoting an Amnesty International report on Colombia, BBC says: “In about 45 of these cases, torture was followed by the murder of the person concerned. In seven cases the victims were women. Of the cases that have been found responsible for torture, the security forces were responsible for 60%, 27% paramilitaries and guerrilla groups of around 11%”.

Although the United States is not analysed in this report, the BBC states that “A U.S. attorney called this week to throw light on cases where the CIA allegedly made use of interrogation techniques that could be considered abuse in their quest to obtain statements from suspects in the ‘war on terror’”.

Both US citizens and foreign nationals are occasionally captured outside of the US and transferred to secret US administered detention facilities, usually outside the US, where detainees are tortured, abused or humiliated.

During the Bush administration, the US Department of Justice redefined torture in broad terms to allow harsh interrogation techniques, including waterboarding.

To read the BBC article click here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/internacional/2009/08/090826_1445_mapa_tortura_latam_med.shtml