The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has indicated its preparedness to thoroughly and swiftly investigate alleged military brutality that has left a minor mentally unstable, with disturbing scars all over the body and damaged internal organs.
The traumatized teenager was accused of stealing a Techno Mobile phone which elicited what many have described as callous and senseless beatings from a group of soldiers in the Northern Region.
Christopher Bamah was handcuffed to a mango tree where the soldiers took turns to torture him. The brother of the 16-year-old boy, Richard, told Joy FM the soldiers melted plastic bags until droplets of black molten heat dripped over his body, even on his private parts until he fell unconscious.
His sad ordeal lasted for not less than five hours: from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Christopher cannot walk without support, vomits blood with suspected kidney problem as he undergoes excruciating pains daily.
He is however responding to treatment at the Nsawam Government Hospital in the Eastern Region.
SUE MILITARY
Human rights lawyer, Francis Xavier Sosu, who has taken up the case, told Joy News he would petition CHRAJ Monday morning on behalf of the victim’s family, hoping it will “bring perpetrators to book”.
He said the petition is just one of the “number of actions in mind to take” against the military.
He is also prepared to sue the military.
CREEPING INDISCIPLINE
Early on, a Deputy Commissioner at CHRAJ, Joseph Whittal condemned the brutality and said his outfit is “ready to welcome a complaint” from the public.
He assured that the Commission will “get to the bottom” of the matter and “ make the appropriate recommendations”.
Mr. Whittal bemoaned the “creeping indiscipline in some members of the armed forces”, an institution he said used to be disciplined.
He noted with pain that even though the Commission may see a glaring human rights violation, it’s unable to commence investigation without it being triggered by a complaint. He therefore encouraged the public or victims to file complaint at CHRAJ when they feel their rights have been violated.
NO STRANGER
It has emerged that Christopher Bamah is not a stranger to the soldiers who tortured him. He had been an errand boy for the military men at the Kamina Barracks.
Meanwhile, Corporal Samson Attuahene, Collins Agyei Boamah and a third person of 6th Battalion of Infantry, who are alleged to have meted out the brutality, are in military detention, the police claimed.
Story by Isaac Essel | tv3network.com | Ghana
