We refer solely
to torture as the act of breaking physical pain or cause psychological
torment to one or more persons by a public authority or a subject covered by
it, in order to obtain the confession of a crime or any kind of information to
clarify a crime or given fact. In this regard, the torturer must be an
agent of the state, or at least the act must have some degree of official
approval.
Torture –according
to the above concept– was born in ancient Greece and was gradually becoming a
common practice in all subsequent civilizations. Slaves and foreigners were
tortured when testifying in a trial to ensure that told the truth. On the
contrary, it was considered that the word given by a free citizen because he
possessed was enough honor, lacking the slaves of such status.
In the early
nineteenth century the torture was outlawed in all European and American
judicial systems. In Argentina slavery was outlawed with the enactment of the
Constitution (1853), which, in his art. 18 states: "(...) are
forever abolished the death penalty for political reasons, all forms of torture
and flogging (...)".
Unfortunately,
torture is established as a negative habit during the last century, when used
by the fascist, communist regimes and by democratic states such as France [1] (v gr. In Indochina and during the Algerian War)
and by de facto governments in Latin America (by application of the doctrine of
national security) [2].
War crimes and
crimes against humanity committed in the Second World War (1939-1945) were
published in the Military Courts of Nuremberg and Tokyo, composed of a
presiding judge of each of the victorious countries (USA, France, UK and the U.R.S.S)
and their respective alternates, where laws dictated by the victors were
applied. That is, the leaders of the victorious powers did not sit on the stand
to be tried for the atrocities committed themselves.
Given the
previously described scenario and the resulting commotion generated worldwide,
the international community became aware of repudiating the acts of martyrdom
by the official bodies of a state.
As a result
several countries signed various instruments on public international law,
including the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading of 1984 [3] within the framework of the O.N.U, under which it
undertook States to prevent the use of torture within their borders, leaving it
clear that there is no justification for admitting torture of any kind on
people.
However, it is
virtually impossible to make a full assessment of the overall scale of torture,
since it takes place in the shadows. This is an international crime, a
political and diplomatic embarrassment and abuse that most governments
recognize as a wrongful act and condemn rhetoric but no effective action.
Often,
governments devote more efforts to deny or conceal the existence of torture to
conduct transparent investigations into the allegations to prosecute those
responsible.
Why is kept awake so long a prisoner? —Fragment of the German film "The Lives of Others" [4]
An innocent prisoner increasingly becomes furious as the hours go by, because he suffering injustice. He will be enraged and cry with angry. By contrast, a "guilty" prisoner will go calming down or cry. The latter knows is detained for a reason. The most effective way to establish guilt or innocence it is a continuous interrogation. People who tell the truth can re-formulate his sayings, and does. A liar has prepared sentences that repeat when you feel pressured. In the absence of such indicators, there is sufficient reason to exert psychological pressure on the even more intense prisoner (saying, for example, that if he don't confess we arrest his wife and his son will be given for adoption to another family) The prisoner is interrogated for the last time confesses. This macabre mechanism is difficult to breaking.
In many countries torture is probably underreported. This is because
the victims are less able to defend themselves against abuse by the
authorities, or their complaints are easily ignored or dismissed.
Perhaps a part of society recognizes morally correct use of torture
provided there is no other alternative. Which, personally, we consider
abhorrent.
In the American television series 24 (twenty four) [5] the main
character, Jack Bauer, torture and tortured; occasionally the wrong person,
often using methods unholy (v. gr.: improvising a cattle prod with a lamp),
always clandestinely and avoiding obstacles of justice.
What disturbing
is that Jack Bauer is the hero, not the villain of the series, and he is never
punished for his actions. Far from pity, the camera revels in torture
instruments and vexation, as it explained that "there is no alternative:
the enemy must suffer so that thousands of people were saved".
With this kind of
examples, we see how absurd it may be the lavage of brains that we are exposed
and the existing ignorance of news characterized by demonstrated aberrant acts such as those occurring in the naval base of
Guantanamo Bay (Cuba) and Abu Ghraib prison (Iraq). Both prisons belonging to
the –never well weighted– United States of America.
With this kind of
examples how absurd it may be the lavage of brains that are exposed and the
existing ignorance of news characterized by demonstrated aberrant acts such
as those occurring in the naval base of Guantanamo Bay (Cuba) and Abu Ghraib
prison (Iraq). Both prisons belonging to the -never well weighted- United
States of America.
Institutions
relevant as the army, police, security forces and guard prisons can easily fall
into the habit of mistreatment of people. Some people are not interested in the
note of cruelty, when it comes to keeping people within the limits of
obedience.
Drowning or
"submarine" sleep deprivation, overcrowding, lack of medical care,
deprivation of air, health or grooming , intimidation with dogs, forced
feeding, exposure to cold or heat, electric shocks , electric shocks on the wet
ground, whipping, beating and mutilation in any part of the body, sexual abuse
and humiliation. It's impressive how far the human ingenuity with the
application of the methods of torture can. There are thousands and some are
truly medieval.
Torture
is nothing but a primitive and inhumane act. NEVER justified. It is wrong and
counterproductive practice that vitiates the rule of law, replacing terror.
When governments allow their use nobody is safe. The prohibition of torture and other ill - treatment should be and is
absolute, no exceptions are permitted; and compliance with the ban cannot waver
even in emergency situations.
[1]
"The Battle of Algiers" (1966; director: Gillo Pontecorvo;
screenwriters: Gillo Pontecorvo and Franco Solinas) is one of the best films
made about colonialism, terrorism and revolutionary
movements. The torture scenes were censored in several countries.
[2]
The torture at the hands of Argentina police under the so –called
reorganization process– based on the doctrine of national security is seen in
the film "Night of the Pencils" (1986; director: Hector Olivera;
screenwriters Daniel Kon and Hector Olivera). During the first months of the
last civil-military dictatorship Argentina, seven teenagers in the city of La
Plata were kidnapped, tortured and killed for claiming a reduction in the price
of transportation for students.
[3]
This international instrument has constitutional status under art. 75 Inc. 22
Constitution of Argentina.
[4]
"The Lives of Others"; 2006; writer - director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck.
[5]
24 (twenty four). American television series; years 2001 - 2010; creators
Robert Cochran and Joel Surnow.
