UN committee calls for probe of extrajudicial killings between 2002 and 2006

Stating that it was concerned that extrajudicial killings continue to occur, the United Nations Human Rights Committee (HRC) yesterday called on the government to set up a Commission of Inquiry into such deaths during the period of 2002 to 2006.

Extrajudicial killings was one of the topics that Guyana had been grilled on during the consideration of its periodic report by the Geneva, Switzerlandbased Committee on the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights from March 18 to 20.

In its concluding observations issued yesterday, the Committee said it is concerned by reports that extrajudicial killings continue to be carried out in the State party, including by the police force.

“In this regard, the Committee regrets that it has not received sufficient information about the measures taken to combat and prevent such offences. Additionally, the Committee is concerned that the alleged extrajudicial killings that occurred between 2002 and 2006 have not been adequately investigated, and prosecuted, and the perpetrators were not duly sanctioned”, it said. In this regard, the HRC said it is concerned that no substantive progress has been made to establish the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate allegations of extrajudicial killings during that period despite the government’s plan to do so in 2018.

The HRC said that the State party should ensure that all allegations of extrajudicial killings are promptly, impartially, transparently, and thoroughly investigated; that perpetrators are prosecuted, and, if convicted, penalties commensurate with the gravity of the crimes are handed down and that full reparation is provided to victim’s families.

“It should, as a priority, establish the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate alleged extrajudicial killings during the period between 2002 and 2006. The State party should take all necessary measures to prevent such extrajudicial killings in the future”, it said.

In a response to the committee which Guyana said had not been included in the concluding observations, the government here said that the period referred to should be 2002 to 2008, rather than 2002 to 2006. The violent crimes which were perpetrated across the country did not end in 2006 but in 2008, it said.

Guyana added that it was “stunned by the assertion by the Committee that extra-judicial killings continue. The state party provided information regarding reports of incidents of excessive use of force by law enforcement and that these have been taken seriously by the State party and police have been brought before the courts. (eg. the killing of Quindon

Bacchus)”.

Guyana said that it also provided information on court ordered compensation for persons or their families regarding police overreach and abuse. It added that it also provided information on the training of police with regards to the use of their powers and human rights.

As it relates to the Commission of Inquiry, Guyana said that this had been a promise made by former President, David Granger, during his tenure.

“However, he failed to do so after announcing his intentions to have the COI conducted. It was also pointed out that the reason why the former President never appointed the commission is it would have implicated people within his own government and party”, the government here said yesterday.

Meanwhile, at his press conference at Freedom House yesterday, PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, who is also the Vice President, said that the government will be conducting a Commission of Inquiry into the crime wave of 2002 to 2003.