CAT/C/18/D/46/1996
page 4
2.9
Mr. Albert Tematahotoa, born on 16 May 1961, affirms that he was beaten
and ill-treated and states that he was released at 9.30 p.m., without having
had anything to drink or eat.
2.10 Mr. Ralph Taaviri born on 14 October 1954, states that he was threatened
with a gun and he was hit in the back with the butt of a rifle causing him to
fall. His hands were bound with electric cable, so tightly that he lost the
feeling in his fingers. In the barracks, the detainees did not get anything
to drink, nor were they allowed to go to the bathroom until a Polynesian guard
came on duty, who gave them one bottle of water for all of them, and allowed
them to relieve themselves. He states that late in the evening he was taken
for interrogation. He was chained by the arm to a guard and by one leg to
another guard, because it was dark and it was allegedly necessary for
security. During the night, guards continued to harass him, so that he could
not sleep. In the morning, when he had difficulty sitting down as ordered
because of cramp, he was kicked over onto his back on the floor.
2.11 Mr. Lionel Lagarde, born on 5 October 1934, confirms the story as told
in general terms above, and states that he was brought before the judge on
Sunday at 4 p.m.
2.12 Mr. Irvine Paro, born on 24 March 1945, states that he was at the police
station on Saturday morning, 9 September, in connection with the riots on the
preceding Wednesday, thereby escaping the maltreatment to which his colleagues
were subjected. Later, he was detained with his colleagues in the barracks
and suffered the same ill-treatment and humiliations.
2.13 Mr. Ronald Terorotua, born on 27 March 1955, states that he was in the
hall of the building when the mobile guards entered. He was threatened with a
gun, told to lie down and hit with a bludgeon. Later, he was hit in the back
with an electric prod while walking towards the van. He was pushed on top of
his colleagues in the van. Later, he was interrogated from 1.30 to 6 p.m.,
with a two-hour pause; all this time he was not given anything to drink. A
doctor came only to take his blood pressure and to see whether or not he was a
heart patient.
2.14 Mr. Bruno Tetaria, born on 3 February 1960, states that, when the mobile
guards arrived he was told to lie down with his hands behind his head, face
down. Having done this, he was hit with a bludgeon and told to get up.
Thrown in the van, he was again hit in the back, and when he lifted his head,
a guard stepped on his neck. At the police station he was told to kneel up
and was hit in the back, because he had difficulty getting into that position.
In the barracks it was very cold and he was shivering; nevertheless he was not
given a blanket.
2.15 Mr. Hirohiti Tefaarere, the General Secretary of A TI'A I MUA, born
on 19 June 1954, states that, when the police arrived at the union premises,
he told his colleagues to remain calm and not to resist. When he was standing
with his hands up, two guards threw him to the floor, after which he was
handcuffed and insulted. Another guard came and walked over his back. He was
then taken home to be searched where he was again maltreated in front of his
family.