Shocking and Disgraceful

Shocking news in Paradise

Paradise has been rocked by the news of the Paradise Police Force (PPF) officers involved in brutality and torture of suspects in their custody. Videos of several torture sessions have been circulated on popular social media. These videos clearly identified PPF officers and victims. What is intriguing is that the videos saved on a USB memory stick had already been handed over to the hierarchy of the PPF two years prior. So, for more than two years, nothing had been divulged or any serious action taken. We presume the government minister(s) were not informed of the contents.

The scandal is explicitly revealing, in the press, the details of torture and degrading acts even the use of tasers which are illegal in this country. This public revelation has only just now provoked arrests of the officers involved, two years after the facts. These officers have now been charged and appeared in court only to be let out on bail pending their court cases after investigations. These incidents have also been reported in the international press and TV5Monde carried two reports on their French language channel. Paradise’s reputation has taken a serious knock but most of the damage is with the population’s loss of confidence in the police force. A recent survey by Afrobarometer (see below) showed that almost half of those questioned said that they believed police officers engage in illegal activities. Furthermore, the Paradise population gave the PPF a very low score regarding police autonomy as a neutral body.

Indeed it is strange that authorities have not taken immediate disciplinary measures such as shutting-down the department that had used such interrogation methods. Why use torture to obtain confessions ? Could it be that the motivation is due to incompetency. The inability to obtain proof and/or forensics that would stand-up in court. Maybe it is the need to obtain quick positive case results to impress superiors. Or, is it the work of a sadistic team enjoying cruel and inhuman treatment of suspects.

As usual, sanctions within this force seem to be transfers of personnel or suspension with salary. You would think that at government level they would initiate a complete reorganisation of the police force. At least reorganise the detective departments but no, here it is business as usual pending the investigation and court cases.

Demands by opposition members of parliament for a board of enquiry were refused. However, one political party is compiling case dossiers to be forwarded to the United Nations office in Geneva. They have stated that many victims of brutality are coming forward and this probably represents nearly 100 cases. No doubt defence lawyers will be at work to obtain compensation and/or redress for the victims. We wonder how many convictions will be overturned simply because a confession was obtained by torture ?

From the original article at Afrobarometer.org – Key findings:

• Fewer than half of Mauritians say they trust the police “somewhat” (33%) or “a lot” (13%). This proportion has declined by 13 percentage points since 2014.
• One-quarter (24%) of adults believe that “most” or “all” police are corrupt, while fully two-thirds (67%) say “some of them” are involved in graft.
• Almost half (45%) of citizens say the police engage in criminal activities at least “sometimes,” including 15% who believe this happens “often” or “always.”
• A majority of citizens say the police at least “sometimes” stop drivers without good reason (64%) and use excessive force in managing protests (58%) and in dealing with criminals (63%).
• Only about four in 10 respondents (42%) say the police “often” or “always” operate in a professional manner and respect all citizens’ rights.
• More than six in 10 (63%) say the police favour particular people, parties, or interests instead of operating in a neutral manner.
• But 88% consider it likely that the police will take reports of gender-based violence seriously.
• And more than six in 10 citizens (62%) say the government is justified in using the police and security forces to enforce public health mandates during a health emergency.
• One in four citizens (24%) say they felt unsafe walking in their neighbourhood at least once during the previous year. About one in 10 (11%) report having feared crime in their home.
• Only 9% of citizens say they requested police assistance during the previous year. However, more than half (58%) say they encountered the police in other situations, such as at checkpoints, during identity checks or traffic stops, or during an investigation.
• Among citizens who asked for assistance from the police, three-fourths (76%) say it was easy to get the help they needed, but 3% say they had to pay a bribe.
• Among those who encountered the police in other situations, 12% say they had to pay a bribe to avoid problems.
• Only 21% of respondents say the government is doing a good job of reducing crime.

Having read many negative reports about the PPF we must not generalise. Many of those employed in the PPF take their jobs seriously and have vowed to serve their country and the population. We can only hope that the authorities will root-out the offenders and improve the recruitment process as well as initial and on-the-job training. Only if the government shows positive willingness to improve the functioning of the PPF will morale and public confidence be restored.

Notes: Paradise is a signatory to important treaties.

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (1948, art. 5)
INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS (1976, art. 7)

Brief Description. Section 7 of the Constitution of Paradise adopted in 1968, and amended in 2011, includes the following provisions: No person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading punishment or other such treatment.

Ratification by Paradise of the United Nations Human Rights Treaty – CAT – Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.