Torture Survivors Testify Before Congress, Call on the U.S. to Investigate and Prosecute

By Sovereign Hager

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

Hans Hogrefe, assistant to Rep. McGovern, listened to testimony and asked questions during the hearing. (Photo Courtesy of The Epoch Times)

WASHINGTON D.C., United States - On June 25th torture survivors and advocates testified at a congressional hearing sponsored by Representative Jamex McGovern (D-Mass.) in observance of the Torture Awareness Month.  Congress was asked to investigate military torture of war prisoners.  

Many of those who testified found there to be problems with the U.S. response to torture.  Specifically cited as a problem is the fact that government officials go to lawyers and academics as "torture experts", rather than survivors.  "The voices of survivors are vital to confronting the issue of torture", said one survivor. 

One prominent speaker, Sister Dianna Ortiz who was tortured in Guatemala in 1989, lamented "the disturbing possibility that the Obama administration may believe that it has made an adequate response to the human rights abuses of the Bush era".  

Sister Dianna Ortiz (pictured above) started the Torture Abuse and Survivor Support Coalition after surviving torture in Guatemala in 1989.  (Photo Courtesy of Epoch Times)

Survivors called on the United States to be a leader in investigating and prosecuting allegations of torture.  However, many warned that collecting facts is not enough.  Attendees called on developed countries to "recognize . . . obligations and live up to these obligations."

The United States was criticized for its treatment of refugees who come to the U.S. after fleeing from torture and abuse in other countries. Survivors mentioned the problem of coming to the United States only to see other torture survivors deported back to where they were persecuted. 

Following the congressional hearing, a program was held at The Catholic University of America, where a panel of experts and human rights activists offered a review of the use of torture in U.S. foreign policy.  Speakers detailed U.S. government use of torture since the Vietnam war, stating that "our country has been involved in torture for a very long time".  

One speaker, Father Bourgeois, from Bolivia worked with a human rights activist in investigating stories of torture in Bolivia.  They presented their findings to American officials and the men were arrested and deported.  Father Bourgeois also discussed the United States' use of the School of the Americas, where many Latin American militaries were trained in torture and warfare by the United States.

Those testifying urged the Obama administration to "launch a formal investigation and determine who may be held accountable" for the sanctioning of torture during the Bush Administration.  This would go far, say the survivors in setting the precedent that "there are no circumstances that justify torture".  

Over 500,000 foreign victims of torture reside in the United States.  According to Amnesty International, torture is "widespread" in 70 countries,  and documented in 150 countries, including the United States. 

For more information. please see:

Ethiopian Review - Torture Survivors Testify at the U.S. Congressional Human Rights Commission Hearing - 1 July 2009

Catholic News Service - Torture Survivors Testify at the U.S. Congressional Human Rights Commission Hearing - 1 July 2009

The Epoch Times - Eradicating Torture - 30 June 2009