13
TORTURE: AN ALARMING TREND
The team's discussions with various groups of people revealed that torture of detainees is increasing. It usually takes the form of electric shocks, beatings and immersion in water (water cure) and is done while the accused are in custody for interrogation pending investigation under the National Security Law. During the time torture was committed the accused was not allowed to have visitors and was held in solitary confinement. Among the agencies, the most notorious for torture tactics is the Anti-Communist Squad at the National Police Headquarters.
Psychological torture is also employed. Fear, stress, anxiety and feelings of worthlessness and despair which are caused by torture treatments, including use of derogatory statements, the depressing physical atmosphere and the uncertainty of release from a prolonged duration of detention — all make the detention more oppressive and dehumanizing.
Torture is committed basically to extract confession which police subsequently use in court. In some instances an accused makes confession under duress but later retracts from it in the presence of the magistrate.
Despite demands by students, lawyers and other groups to investigate into allegations of torture by the state security police, the regime has not taken any steps to comply with the same.
Arbitrary detention without an arrest warrant seems to be the common practice of police and Korean intelligence agents (KCIA). The Korean lawyers, whom the EFFT met, talked of long periods of interrogation of detainees done without benefit of legal counsel or the knowledge of their families. Some families of detainees expressed that the detainees were pressured into writing detailed reports of their activities including signing confessional statements in accordance with pre-determined charges by investigating agents. Failure or refusal to comply with meant more severe torture. Even in trial by court, kith and kin are not allowed to see and talk to the detainees.
Harassments like surveillance, house
arrest (a young man was arrested from his house the day after his marriage) or
communication-bugging are regular police security measures. During the IMF and
IBRD meetings, many students moved around