Reason for the Secrecy of Torture
A couple of nights ago I pondered for quite a long time over a seemingly simple question.
Why does institutionalised torture in democratic countries needs to be a secret?
In a democratic nation every one is innocent until proven guilty, therefore the persecuted must be treated as innocent until his judgement day. Which leads to my second point, every person has the right to a fair trial and a defence.
I understand often the military or the police need to incarcerate and persecuted people based on rumours and misrepresented facts. I think this is a fact of life that we will never be able to avoid. Consider yourself lucky, perhaps even extremely lucky if you have never been wrongfully imprisoned and/or persecuted.
Hence what I am saying, at times we cannot avoid to be wrongfully imprisoned or persecuted, mistakes of this nature are bound to happen and cannot be avoided. But while the accused awaits his fair trial he needs to be treated in the most humane way possible.
The excuse of the torturer is often similar. The individual being tortured is below those basic rights because he is not a citizen of our country, therefore our constitution does not apply to him. Hence the reason why torturers often torture outside their territorial lines. Or that the accused does not fall under the international Geneva Convention criteria because he does not belong to a group that is recognised by the convention.
But ultimately torturers maintain their actions secret, not because if those actions are disclosed they will endanger public security (often the excuse given to all kinds of institutionalised secrecy), but because torturers know that their actions are living contradictions of some of the most basic democratic rights. We do not even need to consider human rights when reprimanding them because this will only make the case of the torturer weaker.
The same way wrongful incarceration and persecution will always be a part of our life, institutionalised torture will always be a secret act.
But what is the solution for this problem?
The most obvious solution, I believe, would be for those who have suffered from torture to speak up and denounce their torturers.
But the same way the rape victim finds it difficult to discuss her rape, the tortured may find it difficult to discuss the actions of his torturer.
But let us not forget that issues are never resolved if they are not publicly addressed.
I believe there are many other solutions out there.
Perhaps you can help me point some of them.
Radio Zumbi, a radio do povo brasileiro na Nova Zelandia.
Saturdays 8:40 104.6 Planet FM
Why does institutionalised torture in democratic countries needs to be a secret?
In a democratic nation every one is innocent until proven guilty, therefore the persecuted must be treated as innocent until his judgement day. Which leads to my second point, every person has the right to a fair trial and a defence.
I understand often the military or the police need to incarcerate and persecuted people based on rumours and misrepresented facts. I think this is a fact of life that we will never be able to avoid. Consider yourself lucky, perhaps even extremely lucky if you have never been wrongfully imprisoned and/or persecuted.
Hence what I am saying, at times we cannot avoid to be wrongfully imprisoned or persecuted, mistakes of this nature are bound to happen and cannot be avoided. But while the accused awaits his fair trial he needs to be treated in the most humane way possible.
The excuse of the torturer is often similar. The individual being tortured is below those basic rights because he is not a citizen of our country, therefore our constitution does not apply to him. Hence the reason why torturers often torture outside their territorial lines. Or that the accused does not fall under the international Geneva Convention criteria because he does not belong to a group that is recognised by the convention.
But ultimately torturers maintain their actions secret, not because if those actions are disclosed they will endanger public security (often the excuse given to all kinds of institutionalised secrecy), but because torturers know that their actions are living contradictions of some of the most basic democratic rights. We do not even need to consider human rights when reprimanding them because this will only make the case of the torturer weaker.
The same way wrongful incarceration and persecution will always be a part of our life, institutionalised torture will always be a secret act.
But what is the solution for this problem?
The most obvious solution, I believe, would be for those who have suffered from torture to speak up and denounce their torturers.
But the same way the rape victim finds it difficult to discuss her rape, the tortured may find it difficult to discuss the actions of his torturer.
But let us not forget that issues are never resolved if they are not publicly addressed.
I believe there are many other solutions out there.
Perhaps you can help me point some of them.
Radio Zumbi, a radio do povo brasileiro na Nova Zelandia.
Saturdays 8:40 104.6 Planet FM
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