CAT/C/18/D/46/1996
page 3
2.2
Once there, they were each handcuffed individually and ordered to kneel
in the parking lot, with the sun full in their faces. Those who had
difficulty in kneeling were beaten with bludgeons or kicked. About 45 minutes
later they were brought to barracks and detained. They were not given any
food or drink and were prevented from sleeping. They remained handcuffed and
supervised, even when going to the toilet. No medical assistance was given.
Some of them were released in the night of 9 September, without being charged,
others were charged and some of them placed in preventive detention.
2.3
Mr. Cyril Le Gayic, born on 27 September 1953, General Secretary of the
Confederation of Independent Unions in Polynesia (Confédération des syndicats
indépendants de Polynésie), joined the above-mentioned meeting of unionists
at 12.55 p.m. The author attaches a medical certificate from a doctor, whom
he went to see after his release.
2.4
Mr. Jean-Michel Garrigues, born on 29 September 1961, states that he was
threatened by one of the mobile guards with a firearm, hit with a bludgeon
against the left temple, that his shirt was torn and that his head was smacked
against the wall with such force that one of his teeth fell out. He was
constantly beaten although following orders given by the policemen. He was
also given electric shocks with a sort of electric prod, and the marks of the
handcuffs, put on tightly took 10 days to heal. He submits that, having been
on the parking lot for about 15 minutes, he started to vomit. Brought to the
barracks, he was interrogated by a police officer in the afternoon. He spent
the night in the barracks, where the guards prevented him from sleeping. He
was not given anything to eat or drink. The next morning, a guard came to
spray the detainees with insecticide. Asking to go to the toilet, Garrigues
was shown one full of excrement, the door was left open and the guard stayed
with him. He was not allowed to wash his hands afterwards. In the beginning
of the afternoon he was brought to the Palais de Justice, where the
ill-treatment ended.
2.5
Mr. Tu Yan, born on 1 December 1955, states that when following orders
he lined up facing the wall, he was beaten with a bludgeon on his back and
right leg, later also on the right arm. During the ride in the van, he was
smothered by the weight of nine bodies on top of him. When brought to the
barracks, he says that he did not suffer further ill-treatment, but he was
refused anything to drink. He was released at 8 p.m. that same evening.
2.6
Mr. Bruno Sandras, born on 4 August 1961, states that he was threatened
with a pistol against his temple and that he was flat on the floor of the van
with others on top of him.
2.7
Mr. Eugène Sommers, born on 25 August 1958, states that he was thrown
into the van head first, and others were thrown on top of him. When he tried
to lift his head, because he could not breathe, a guard stepped on his head,
telling him to keep his head down.
2.8
Mr. Jacques Yeun, born on 12 July 1949, states that, after the mobile
guards entered the premises, he was bludgeoned and thrown on the ground like
an animal. He states that, while in the barracks during the night, he was
harassed by the guards, who continued to beat the detainees.