In the light of continuing reports and allegations of human rights violations during the G8 policing operation in Genoa, the conduct of the Italian law enforcement and prison officers involved should be comprehensively investigated by an independent commission of inquiry, Amnesty International said today.

* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *

31 July 2001
EUR 30/006/2001
133/01


In the light of continuing reports and allegations of human
rights violations during the G8 policing operation in Genoa, the
conduct of the Italian law enforcement and prison officers
involved should be comprehensively investigated by an independent
commission of inquiry, Amnesty International said today.

The organization wrote to Italy's Prime Minister, Silvio
Berlusconi, expressing concern about the alleged human rights
violations committed in the context of the G8 policing operation
and asking for the Italian authorities' cooperation in ensuring
that such allegations are promptly and thoroughly investigated.

While welcoming the initiation of criminal investigations
by the Italian judicial authorities, Amnesty International
believes that -- given the scale and gravity of the allegations
still emerging, and the very high level of domestic and
international concern -- these investigations are unlikely to
provide an adequate response.

"As well as safeguarding the interests of genuine
victims of torture or ill-treatment, a prompt, impartial and
effective investigation by an independent commission would also
serve to protect the reputations of law enforcement and prison
officers who may be the subject of unfounded accusations of
excessive force, torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment," the organization added.

In its letter the organization sets out the criteria that
should inform the establishment of a commission of inquiry,
including:

that it should comprise people of acknowledged probity and
impartiality;
that its scope, methods and findings should be made public;
that the commission should be given jurisdiction to take evidence
from alleged victims of ill-treatment, and that such people be
protected against harassment and intimidation;
that the commission should also be empowered to summon and take
evidence from law enforcement and prison officers.

"The commission of enquiry should file interim reports to
facilitate the prompt initiation of any appropriate criminal or
disciplinary proceedings, identifying specific instances and
individuals whenever possible," Amnesty International
recommended, adding that these reports should also facilitate
prompt amendments to regulations, laws, training and procedures
relevant to law enforcement and prison officers.

In a previous letter sent to the Italian Minister of the
Interior ahead of the G8 Summit, Amnesty International had urged
the Italian authorities to ensure that law enforcement officials
engaged in the policing of the G8 Summit were aware of, and at
all times acted in accordance with, relevant international human
rights standards.

"We are now asking the Italian authorities to
provide us with information on any relevant instructions and
training which were given to state officers in the lead up to G8
with regard to these standards," the organization said.

Background
Amnesty International is concerned about allegations that:

- in the days immediately preceding the G8 summit, some
protestors with apparently peaceful intent were not allowed to
enter Italy or were expelled and not allowed to proceed to Genoa,
thus violating their rights to freedom of expression and
assembly. In incidents at the Port of Ancona some such protestors
were allegedly subjected to ill- treatment by law enforcement
officers;

- law enforcement officers used excessive force on the streets
during demonstrations which took place on Friday 20 and Saturday
21 July, inflicting indiscriminate assaults, including beatings
with batons, on -- amongst others -- non-violent protestors and
journalists reporting on the demonstrations;

- during a police raid carried out on buildings legally occupied
by the Genoa Social Forum (GSF) in the early hours of Sunday, 22
July law enforcement officers subjected individuals detained to
deliberate and gratuitous beatings, resulting in numerous
injuries, some of them requiring urgent hospitalization and in
some cases surgical operations. Up to 20 people were reportedly
carried out of the building on stretchers, two of them apparently
in a coma;

- dozens of people were subjected to arbitrary and illegal arrest
and detention, including the majority of those detained during
the raid on the Genoa Social Forum;

- during transfer in police vehicles and inside detention
facilities law enforcement and prison officers subjected
individuals to beatings and other cruel, inhuman and degrading
treatment. It has been claimed, amongst other things, that
detainees were slapped, kicked punched and spat on, subjected to
verbal abuse, sometimes of an obscene sexual nature, were
deprived of food, water and sleep for lengthy periods, made to
line up with their faces against the wall and remain for hours
spread-eagled, and beaten, in particular on parts of their bodies
already injured during arrest if they failed to maintain this
position. Some detainees were apparently threatened with death
and, in the case of female detainees, rape;

- many people were denied the internationally-recognized rights
of people deprived of their liberty, in some cases for several
days. This included denial of prompt access to lawyers and, in
the case of foreigners, consular officials, and denial of prompt
and adequate medical care. In addition, many were not allowed to
have their relatives promptly notified of their whereabouts and
were not informed of their rights.


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