Provincial
Army torture claims rejected
Weapons seized from the rival clans on display. Police said more than 47 rifles and 900 rounds of ammunitions were recovered. Photo/KIBIWOTT KIBIROS
Posted Thursday, October 30 2008 at 20:35
The Government has denied claims that security personnel tortured residents during a crackdown on illegal arms in Mandera.
Mandera Central District Commissioner Ole Tutuithe told the Nation that the injuries residents claimed were inflicted by security personnel were “stage managed”.
Hidden gun
“From our records, only seven people sustained slight injuries in the operation.”
He said only the regular and administration police were taking part, contradicting area police boss Stephen Chelimo who on Wednesday said that the exercise was a joint police, GSU and army operation.
But a Nation investigation revealed that the army was participating as two military choppers landed at Elwak airstrip on Wednesday to refuel.
It was also established that more than 200 patients were nursing injuries at two different hospitals.
A resident, Mrs Fathma Abdi said soldiers stormed into her house in Wargadud location, Mandera Central District at around 8 pm on Monday while she and her children slept.
“When I told them that my husband was not in, they started beating me,” she said. “They said my husband had hidden a gun in the house but they did not look for it; instead they raped me as the children watched.”
Deep cut
Mrs Abdi is one of nine women who say they were raped. And despite the vehement denials from DC Tutuithe, the Nation saw the wounds.
Mr Edwin Hassan is nursing a deep cut on his left hand. He said he was hit by a security officer after he declined to hand over Sh20,000 and his mobile phone.
Mr Ali Noor, a teacher at Elwak primary school said he was dragged out of class and beaten as his pupils watched.
The Nation also found four elderly men at the hospital who said they were beaten by the officers after they failed to produce their sons who the security officers said had guns.
Mr Abdul Haji, the district staffing officer, was dragged out of his office while attending to teachers seeking transfers on Monday.
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Submitted by msewahurumaPosted November 03, 2008 07:25 AM
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Submitted by kaka777
I surely hope that was sarcasm, Eddy Boy. I'd like to know if you'd feel the same if someone you cared about was raped as these women were.
Posted November 01, 2008 03:08 AM -
Submitted by tonynjeru
I take it that the pompous DC wants us to take his word instead of that of the people he's supposed to protect and of the hospitals that have much more than "seven" victims who've sustained injuries? That alone is outrageous but what really gets on my nerves is the fact that none of these unpatriotic officers will ever face justice. The moment we achieve accountability in our country, we'll have solved a lot of our problems!
Posted October 31, 2008 09:35 PM -
Submitted by lydkar
I strongly disagree with abu baker concerning the raping of women by soldiers.This are wild allegations always made against the forces due to the nature of forcefull operations to get back guns.The victims are so stubborn and dont know life without a gun to safeguard their livestock,so when the operation start,the men get support from women who claim to be raped!!Let the victims be flown to Nbi women hospital and get the correct diagnosis to prove their claims.
Posted October 31, 2008 04:27 PM -
Submitted by abu baker
It is very disturbing to read from a District Commissioner refuting complaints of torture and rape allegations by soldiers. How can he possibly reject this allegations without first investigating. I can ask the DC ' were you there with the soldiers at the time when they went in to these people's houses?" If not how do you know these things didnt happen. It is common knowledge that soldiers rape and torture when they carry out such illegal operations and the government should be made to answer for these allagations. Abu Baker
Posted October 31, 2008 05:55 AM
RSS
is there freedom of speech, how will our voices be heard if you shut us up,Nation has rejected my 3 comments! North eastern has a history of massacres, for Gods sake we are kenyans too, we didnt fight the government!make peace, collect the illegal guns but not abuses,rape and humiliation. why should the Gov't destroy these womens lives? its better to kill someone than rape! Does nt the DC , the PPO, The president have Mothers, sisters, wives and daughters?