COVID-19: U.N. raises alarm about police brutality in lockdowns
UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva
GENEVA (Reuters) – The U.N. human rights office voiced concern on Monday about more than a dozen countries that have declared states of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic where police have arrested or detained hundreds of thousands of people and killed others.
“Emergency powers should not be a weapon governments can wield to quash dissent, control the population, and even perpetuate their time in power,” U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said in a statement that denounced shootings and detentions without being specific.
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A top official from her office said about 80 countries have declared emergencies due to the new coronavirus, including 15 where the allegations were deemed most troubling.
They were: Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Peru, Honduras, Jordan, Morocco, Cambodia, Uzbekistan, Iran and Hungary.
However, Georgette Gagnon, director of field operations, added at a virtual briefing in Geneva “there are probably several dozen more we could have highlighted”.
“A main concern on exceptional emergency measures is what has been described as a toxic lockdown culture in some countries,” Gagnon said. “As the High Commissioner highlighted, police and other security forces are using excessive and sometimes deadly force to enforce lockdowns and curfews.”
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Some of those countries have arrested and detained tens of thousands of people for violation of confinement measures linked to the pandemic, with the Philippines topping the list with 120,000 apprehended for curfew violations in the past 30 days.
In the case of Kenya, Gagnon said that authorities were investigating 20 cases related to deaths linked to police conduct in implementing curfew measures. The country has reported 14 COVID deaths to the World Health Organization.
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President Uhuru Kenyatta has apologised for police violence.
In South Africa, the U.N. has received reports of police using rubber bullets, tear gas, water bombs and whips, to enforce social distancing, especially in poor neighborhoods. Thirty-nine complaints including murder, rape, use of fire arms and corruption are being investigated, Gagnon said.
Police have described the use of whips as unacceptable.
In Nigeria, OHCHR has received reports that security forces killed 18 people in relation to COVID enforcement measures.
Nigerian authorities have attributed some deaths to prison violence.
She also raised concerns about police extortion in Africa.
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“Those who cannot pay bribes, poor people, are taken to mandatory quarantine centres although there is no indication that they have come into contact with someone testing positive to COVID.”
Gagnon, asked about China’s record during the crisis, said: “The office has received reports of censorship on and offline, intimidation, arrest and apparent detention of dissenting voices such as doctors, journalists, human rights defenders and members of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party).” The office was liaising with China on around half of dozen of those cases, she said.
(Reporting by Emma Farge; editing by Stephanie Nebehay and Giles Elgood)
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RELATED STORY:
Foreigner argues with cop over ECQ, faces charges
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THE local government of Barangay Dasmariñas in Makati City is preparing to charge a foreigner who argued with a policeman over an alleged quarantine violation committed by his househelp.
Javier Parra evaded arrest by entering his house in Dasmariñas Subdivision, but not before Police Senior Master Sergeant Roland Von Madrona had pinned him to the ground and attempted to handcuff him at past 5 p.m. Sunday, April 26.
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Separate video clips on the incident were circulated over social media.
A video clip taken by Parra’s wife showed the policeman assaulting Parra and pinning him down to the ground on Parra’s driveway. Parra, however, managed to free himself from the policeman’s grasp.
Another video clip released by the PNP showed Parra arguing with Madrona in a raised voice and telling the police to “f—- off” and “get the f—- out of my house”. Madrona was on the road while Parra was mostly on his driveway but occasionally stepped onto the road.
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The altercation occurred about a week after a policeman shot dead former army soldier Winston Ragos who allegedly violated quarantine protocols and was reportedly about to draw a firearm while being confronted by the police.
In a statement, the local government of Barangay Dasmariñas said charges of unjust vexation, verbal assault and violation of the ECQ were being prepared against Parra.�
“This resident was on the street and sidewalk which belongs to DVA common area, therefore a public place. He was committing a crime in the presence of the officer and could be arrested even if he retreated to his property,” the barangay said.
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PNP Chief Archie Gamboa said the Makati police are also preparing charges against Parra.
“Let me emphasize that police operations to enforce the law are strictly guided by the Revised Police Operational Procedures that every police officer making arrests or police intervention should strictly observe,” he said.
“Observance of the Police Operational Procedures establishes presumption of regularity in the performance of duty in any police operation,” he added.
Gamboa also directed National Capital Region Police Office Major General Debold Sinas to conduct an investigation on the incident.
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Gamboa said reports reaching his office said Madrona asked for the household helper’s identification card for the issuance of violation citation tickets for not wearing a face mask while outside residence.
The PNP earlier issued zero tolerance order against violators of the ECQ.
In its report, the Makati police said Madrona and Bantay Bayan Esteban Gaan of Barangay Dasmarinas were patrolling inside the Dasmariñas Village at about 5:45 p.m. Sunday when they chanced a certain Cherilyn Escalante watering the plants outside the Parra residence without wearing a face mask.
The police report said Parra and his wife, Abigail Salvador, emerged from the house after Escalante went inside.
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Police said Parra “verbally assaulted” Madrona, who was merely trying to implement the ECQ rules.
Makati Mayor Abigail Binay ordered the conduct of an investigation into the incident.
“Mayor Abby has ordered the Makati Police to conduct an immediate inquiry into the reporter incident at Dasmariñas Village involving policeman and a resident. The appropriate charges should be filed against thise concerned after a full investigation,” Binay’s spokesperson Michael Camiña said in a statement.
Camiña noted that the law must be upheld at all times especially during this time of crisis.
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Camiña also reminded the residents to observe protocols set by the government during the ECQ such as social distancing and wearing of face masks especially when outside their residence.
Metro Manila was placed on general community quarantine on March 15, 2020 as a measure to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
More restrictions were imposed after President Rodrigo Duterte extended and expanded the quarantine into an ECQ effective March 17. The ECQ was extended until April 30 and further until May 15 as Covid-19 cases increased in the country. (SunStar Philippines)/ Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo
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