The National Human Rights Commission commissioned a university research team to study the civil rights situation for men who are serving out their military duty as riot police and regular police, and it turns out that a considerable number of draftees face regular beatings and other cruel treatment. 12.4 percent of survey respondents said they have experienced beatings or other cruel treatment while on duty, and one out of ten said they have been sexually harassed. It is truly distressing that a collective culture that tries to solve problems with violence has yet to be eradicated. The fact that there is no small amount of sexual violence makes you worry that the "nude promotion ceremony" photograph affair at a riot police brigade last summer is not all that exceptional.
Everyday violence in these police units can easily lead to suicide and other serious problems. 26 percent of respondents said that they have contemplated suicide or going AWOL after being beaten by their superiors. 2.2 percent said they had actually attempted suicide, so the situation is indeed serious. Meanwhile most said that when they are beaten or see beatings they ignore it or keep their thoughts to themselves. The practice commanders have of tacitly approving of the violence in order to manage their men and the habit of keeping quiet for fear of the punishment that would come if problems break out is largely what's to blame.
By the time you forget the latest story about someone taking his life to escape violence in his unit, a similar incident occurs. Currently the human rights commission is directly investigating about ten cases. Every time an incident happens the police come up with measures to fight the problems, but those are usually moves designed to evade the issue, such as "beating prevention training" and special reviews.
The unit command system is overdependent on seniority and must be improved, and there needs to be a prevention program that makes it possible for draftees to freely receive formal consultations about their civil rights. If necessary, they should consider adopting a program of outside controls, such as the presence of a "civil rights protection officer." Among young men about to face military conscription you hear talk about how the physical abuse is worse in the police than in the military services. Neglecting violence in police units only brings about bigger woes.
The Hankyoreh, 10 November 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] Eradicate Abuses Among Conscripted Police |
