Torture methods of the Ertzantza

As far as the treatment suffered by those arrested by the Ertzaintza (we have 26 reports of ill treatment), we find that there has been an increase both in the quantity and in the nature of the treatment dispensed to those arrested and subjected to incommunication. Up to now, we had observed how the treatment suffered by detainees at the hands of the Ertzaintza was mainly characterized by psychological ill treatment, with few cases of physical ill treatment, but during 2002, we find that they have combined both methods, increasing physical ill treatment.

Among the methods of torture those arrested by the Ertzaintza have reported, we find that they have concentrated on obtaining the physical exhaustion of the detainees, by making them remain in abnormal postures during the days of incommunicado arrest. Among the postures described, are the following: being forced to remain on their feet with legs spread and arms outstretched, in the shape of a cross, or with their arms above the head; standing with legs straight and torso bent over; standing with arms stretched out behind, torso bent over, head bent down and flexed knees; on their feet with knees flexed, arms stretched out behind and backside sticking out; spread legs and knees flexed, torso completely bent over with their head between their knees, and the ertzainas leaning on their back and pressing the detainees’ thighs with their legs. Kneeling down, crouching, standing on one leg. The detainees have also told us how they were made to do press-ups. The obligation to remain in the said positions would last both throughout interrogation (which were many, long, and constant), and during the time spent in the cells (the ertzainas would go to the cells and look through the spy-hole and if the detainee was not in the position they would be threatened); this would last until the detainees could not keep the position any longer and fell over with exhaustion, then they would be put back in the same positions, and would not be allowed to rest at any time; they would not be allowed to sit down, lay down or sleep. They were also made to walk bent over whenever they were moved anywhere.

The detainees have also reported they were subjected to all kinds of sexual abuse while they were in the said postures: nudity, groping all over the body, touching their genitals, backside, even underneath their clothes, feeling them up with various objects while threatening them with rape. In one instance a detainee was made to lean on a table while the ertzainas simulated raping him. One of the detainees even dropped his trousers thinking that “at least the bottle is small”. There was also abuse by moving obscenely against the detainee as well as pulling the detainees’ testicles and threatening to arrest and rape detainees’ sisters, mother or girlfriend.

Detainees have also reported being beaten until they lost consciousness. Somne have recounted having suffered widespread blows, to the head with hands, with a book, against the wall, punches in the stomach and back, blows on the ribs, kicks to the ankles, feet and knees, slapping on the ears, pulling their head backwards by the hair and forwards by the ears, the ertzainas would press in with their fingers on various parts of the body while they said it was a method often used by the Guardia Civil, which did not leave marks. They have also told us how, while they were made to remain in the various positions, the ertzainas would beat the cupboards, tables and walls, even throwing chairs against the wall beside them. Due to the blows and abnormal postures many of the detainees have had to be taken to hospital, with various injuries; bizipital tendonitis, sprained ankle...

The threats by the ertzainas have been constant; threats against the detainees and against their loved ones, parents, brothers and sisters, girlfriend... Threats such as “you are going to leave this place with your feet in front; we’re going to dump you in a ditch with a shot in the head; give me the gun, let’s kill him” (while they put something to his head simulating a gun); threats about the detainees’ girlfriends, “we are going to bring your mother and girlfriend in and we’re going to rape them with a truncheon”, and the ertzainas have even blackmailed the detainees, showing them arrest orders for their girlfriends. They have also threatened detainees by placing a gun to their head.

Reports also include visual impairment, either by making them face the wall at all times, with their head down and their eyes shut, or by covering their head with towels or rags every time they were moved from one place to another.

Insults and humiliations were constant: ertzaina murderer, bastard, son of a bitch, retard...

The detainees have suffered all kinds of sound abuse such as shouting in their ear, blows to their ears... Music would be constantly played at full volume, especially every time interrogation began. Detainees have also suffered sleep deprivation. The light in the cells would be permanently on, on occasion, during interrogation, the lights would be switched off while the ertzainas made noises, banging the cupboards, the walls... Temperature changes: it was hot in the interrogation room, the detainees would sweat and in the cells it was cold and they would not be allowed to touch the blankets.

They were given something to drink that was not water, and in some cases this cause them a kind of dizziness, while several suffered hallucinations: seeing smoke coming out of the walls, images coming out of the walls like windows...

The detainees have also reported that they could hear other detainees’ screaming and weeping in the police station, even hearing the voices, screams or sobs of relatives who were not in the police station.