LONDON – The London-based Human rights group, Amnesty International says Guyana has failed to set up an independent inquiry into the deaths of more than 200 people allegedly killed by “death squads” between 2002 and 2006.
In its 2011 annual report, the human rights group said that Guyana’s human rights record was assessed under the United Nations Universal Periodic Review in September last year.
It said the authorities supported a number of recommendations, but rejected a wide range of others
“For example, they did not commit to set up an independent inquiry into the deaths of more than 200 people allegedly killed by ‘death squads’ between 2002 and 2006.”
The reported noted that at least one person was shot by police in circumstances suggesting it may have been an unlawful killing last year.
In June, 16-year-old Kelvin Fraser was fatally wounded by police on the Patentia estate in Essequibo Islands-West Demerara.
According to reports, Fraser and three youths fled from police investigating complaints that the boys were harassing girl students from the Patentia Secondary School. An officer caught Fraser and shot him in the chest while attempting to arrest him.
Amnesty International said that an investigation into the shooting was continuing at the end of the year.
It said that judicial proceedings against three police officers charged in connection with the torture and ill-treatment in October 2009 of three people, including a 15-year-old boy, stalled in the courts.
“One of the victims was reported to have accepted a compensation payment and the relative of another victim stated that the case had been ‘settled’. The three officers accused in the case remained on active duty at the end of the year.”
Regarding the death penalty, Amnesty International said that at least one person was sentenced to death in 2010.
“More than 30 people remained on death row at the end of the year. There were no executions during 2010; the last execution took place in 1997.
“An amendment to the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, which abolishes mandatory death sentences for murder, passed into law in October. However, the government rejected calls for a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.”
The human rights group also noted that levels of violence against women and girls remained high. According to UNIFEM, one in four women in Guyana has been physically abused in a relationship.
In April, the Sexual Offences Act was passed by the National Assembly.
The Act, which includes provisions widening the definition of rape and criminalizing rape within marriage, was welcomed as an important step in the eradication of sexual violence.
A Task Force, set up to develop and co-ordinate implementation of the National Plan for the Prevention of Sexual Offences, met for the first time in October.
Amnesty International also commented in the situation facing the country’s indigenous peoples.
It said that in September, members were appointed to the newly created Indigenous Peoples’ Commission whose primary functions include promoting and protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and making recommendations on economic and education policies to advance their interests.
Indigenous land claims continued to be addressed under the 2006 Amerindian Act.
“However, Indigenous Peoples alleged that poor demarcation processes were allowing the government to take over traditional lands and that in some areas demarcation had taken place without the free, prior and informed consent of the communities affected.”
Amnesty International said that stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV/AIDS remained a barrier to the successful implementation of treatment in the country. (CMC)