Human Rights Commission Condemns Police Abuse in Video

Last week, amateur phone video captured the scene as police officers were beating up on a man, now identified as David Smalls. The video received condemnation from the public as two police officers hit the already restrained man and stomped him in the head. Today, the Human Rights Commission of Belize issued a statement condemning the abuse at the hands of law enforcement officers sworn to protect the citizenry. Coordinator Oscar Quiroz of the Commission says that it is a flagrant violation of fundamental human rights.

Oscar Quiroz

Oscar Quiroz, Coordinator, Human Rights Commission of Belize

“Anyone watching that video, their reaction would be the same. Watching that video, you become concerned not only for that individual, but for the community on a whole. Seeing police behave in that manner is definitely something scary to think about. We decided and a lot of time, you know these videos are becoming more common, but this one in particular shocked us because the individual was already arrested; he was on the ground unconscious and you can see clearly where one officer takes him and stomps him in the head. We decided that after evaluating the video and discussing it and others like it that we definitely need to start playing an active role in the community to condemn these actions. It is my view that that behaviour is criminal. The individual was already arrested, unconscious on the ground and you could see clearly where the police officers stomp him in his face, kick him up, dragging him away. That should be more than just some disciplinary charge.”