TORTURE & MARTYRDOM

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.

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[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.