State torture of citizens ‘endemic’ worldwide: report

[unhappycamper]

State torture of citizens ‘endemic’ worldwide: report
By Agence France-Presse
Thursday, December 9th, 2010 -- 11:29 p

ARIS — From the "Jesus Christ" crucifixion technique in Eritrea to the Uzbek practice of chilli pepper enemas, torture is a routine practice for authorities across the globe, a report said.

"One can reasonably estimate that more than half of the member states of the United Nations resort to torture," said the 370-page report by the Paris-based Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT).

The report titled "A World of Torture" paints a chilling picture of state abuse based on a study of 22 countries on five continents and concludes that its use is "endemic in a large number of countries."

While the torture of journalists, union activists or rights campaigner tends to get much media coverage, most victims are ordinary people "who come from the underprivileged and vulnerable categories of the population."

Totalitarian states, dictatorships and many Islamic regimes are major offenders, as are countries that face political violence and instability, said the ACAT study, the first such annual report the group has published.

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[Norrin Radd]

2. kr

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

3. how else can we get "confessions" that agree with govt ? n/t

[azul]

4. It is as acceptable as factory animal farms

if it is out of sight, out of mind.

The media/marketing is complicit and enables us to do what we would not do if we knew the truth of the situation: presents it with a happy face of a clown and a feel-good catchy jingle.

[bemildred]

5. Ya think?

Where the state security apparatus is not independently accountable you will always have torture and murder. Coercion is so much quicker and easier than persuasion, especially when you are trying to persuade people whom you are screwing.