DATE=5/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232636
TITLE=UN / TORTURE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: UNITED NATIONS EXPERTS HAVE ACCUSED ISRAEL OF ROUTINELY
USING TORTURE IN INTERROGATING PALESTINIAN PRISONERS AND HAVE
CALLED ON THE NETANYAHU GOVERNMENT TO IMMEDIATELY END THE
PRACTICE. LISA SCHLEIN REPORTS THE ACCUSATION TOOK PLACE IN
GENEVA, WHERE A COMMITTEE REVIEWING THE U-N CONVENTION AGAINST
TORTURE JUST ENDED A THREE-WEEK SESSION.
TEXT: THE COMMITTEE ACKNOWLEDGES THE TERRIBLE DILEMMA THAT
ISRAEL CONFRONTS IN DEALING WITH TERRORIST THREATS. BUT, THE
COMMITTEE SAYS FEAR OF TERRORIST ATTACKS IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR
THE USE OF TORTURE. COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN -- CANADIAN LEGAL EXPERT,
PETER BURNS -- SAYS COMMON METHODS OF INTERROGATION INCLUDE
HOODING, SLEEP DEPRIVATION AND SHACKLING PALESTINIAN SUSPECTS TO
A CHAIR IN DIFFERENT AND PAINFUL POSITIONS.
///BURNS ACT///
THEY PLAY LOUD MUSIC FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME AND,
RATHER MORE INFAMOUSLY, AT LEAST IN THE EYES OF MANY,
THEY USE A METHOD OF SHAKING IN ORDER TO DISORIENT THEM.
AND, IT'S ACKNOWLEDGED THAT AT LEAST ONE DEATH HAS
RESULTED FROM THIS SEVERE SHAKING.
///END ACT///
IN ITS DEFENSE, THE ISRAELI DELEGATION SAYS ITS USE OF SO-CALLED
"MODERATE PHYSICAL PRESSURE" AGAINST DETAINEES IS NECESSARY FOR
ITS SECURITY. ISRAEL ADDS ITS ACTIONS HAVE RESULTED IN OBTAINING
INFORMATION WHICH FOILED SEVERAL POTENTIALLY DEADLY TERRORIST
ACTS.
TURNING TO ITS REVIEW OF GERMANY, THE EXPERTS EXPRESS CONCERN AT
THE LARGE NUMBER OF REPORTS OF ILL-TREATMENT -- MOSTLY OF
FOREIGNERS -- WHILE IN POLICE CUSTODY. WHILE NOT CONDONING THIS
PRACTICE, U-N MONITORING COMMITTEE MEMBER BOSTJAN ZUPANCIC SAYS
SUCH ALLEGED TREATMENT BY GERMAN POLICE DOES NOT AMOUNT TO
TORTURE.
///ZUPANCIC ACT///
MISTREATMENT, ILL-TREATMENT, BRUTALITY, TORTURE MADE BY
PUBLIC OFFICIALS AMOUNTS TO TORTURE AS PER CONVENTION.
IN THIS CASE, YOU MAY HAVE ILL-TREATMENT BY PUBLIC
OFFICIALS. (BUT) IT DOES NOT AMOUNT TO TORTURE.
///END ACT///
THE U-N COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT GERMAN AUTHORITIES MORE
VIGOROUSLY INVESTIGATE CASES OF MALTREATMENT AND PROSECUTE POLICE
OFFICERS ACCUSED OF SUCH CRIMES. IT ALSO SUGGESTS POLICE
OFFICERS BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A FORM OF PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION SO
THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY HARMED HAVE A BETTER CHANCE
OF BRINGING ABUSIVE POLICE OFFICERS TO TRIAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/PCF
22-May-98 9:31 AM EDT (1331 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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