Researchers investigate alleged use of torture by Yucatan police agencies (Part 1)

The Human Rights department of the UADY carried out a n investigation that was recently reported in the newspaper La Jornada Maya. TYT brings you the results of this research in a two part series appearing today and tomorrow…

MERIDA – The Ministry of Public Security (SSP) of Yucatan committed at least 31 cases of torture in Merida during the years 2014 and 2015 — sexual abuse, suffocation and death threats — that, when denounced, were not investigated by the authorities, but neither were they indicated by the human rights commissions as “torture”, said Maria de los Angeles Cruz Rossel, coordinator of the Human Rights Center of the Autonomous University of Yucatan (UADY), during the panel Human Rights in Yucatan: Situation and Challenges, on Monday December 11 at the Amaro restaurant.

The research carried out by the DH UADY Center and the international organization Open Society reviewed five thousand cases, among which 94 cases were found where torture was investigated (48 in 2014 and 46 in 2015). 33 cases were reviewed, as a sample of the complaints, so Cruz Rossel declared that in fact there is a widespread practice of torture in the SSP, and she contends the government does nothing to solve the problem.

Of the 33, in 31 the SSP was involved, in two the Municipal Police of Mérida, and in two more the state and ministerial police; in 21 cases there were blows and injuries; in 19 there were illegal detentions; in 12 death threats with weapons and intimidation to the detained person and his family; in 10 arrests the detained stayed in prison more time than the required; in seven the alleged criminals were forced to confess or sign confessions; in six people were injured by the use of handcuffs; in four they suffered electric shocks; in two cases sexual abuse was reported, both women; and in two others there was asphyxia with balls, water or urine.

To be continued tomorrow in Part Two…

Source: www.lajornadamaya.mx

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