Torture In the World
(June 26, 1998)


I want to start by thanking the survivors of torture who have blessed us with their presence 
for the last few days.  In particular, I want to thank Kifah Coleman, Sister Dianna Ortiz, 
Orlando Tizon, Carmen Valenzuela, Ani Pachen, Virginia Anikwata, Richard Valez and 
Mehdi Zana.  You have opened my eyes to a world I barely knew.  It has been an humbling 
experience.  You will be a part of my life for as long as I live.

Today marks the first time anniversary of an International observance day for victims and 
survivors of torture.  We have come together to remember the dead, to pay homage to the 
silenced and also to recognize the resilience of the survivors.  We are doing all this in front 
of the White House, an institution that can make a difference in our pain and suffering.  We 
are here to reach out with our message of hope to its resident.  We demand a better world.  
We deserve a better one.

It is ironic that our observance of the day coincides with Presidentıs visit to China, one of 
the most egregious violators of human rights.  We believe President Clinton does a 
disservice to the cause of humanity by putting trade before human rights.  For us, the 
standard is one, universal and unequivocal: human rights now, here and everywhere!

Tonight, we wish to remind the President that his policy of public silence on the first 
observance of this day for victims and survivors of torture has already sent a wrong signal 
to the torturers all over the world.  When the violence of the governments towards their 
citizens is condoned with silence rather then condemned in public, the road is paved for 
those whose impulse is torture and violence.

Mahatma Gandhi, a friend of this crowd, reflecting on the nature of violence notes that the 
good it does is temporary, the damage it causes is permanent.  The everlasting torture that 
has become the lot of our friends and loved ones here and elsewhere speaks of the truth of 
his observation.  It remains our enduring hope that those leaders who claim to speak on our 
behalf will sooner rather than later adopt this maxim as policy all over the world.

Last week, Amnesty International noted that extra-judicial executions happen in 58 
countries.  People disappear in 31 states.  Torture, it noted, is practiced in 117 places.  It is 
a scary world.  What is even scarier is our delusion that we somehow live in a golden age 
for human rights.

But if we can split the atom and travel beyond the planet, we can tackle this issue too.  It 
canıt happen by itself.  Advocates of humanity need to close ranks against the plague of 
torture.

Tonight, as a member of TASSC, I have been given the distinct privilege of reading the 
names of some of the countries that practice torture.  As I do that, I will also name an 
individual from that country and ask you to allow yourself to be blindfolded for the 
duration of this procession, app. an hour. By reliving this common practice employed 
against political dissidents all over the world, our act is one of solidarity with the torture 
victims and survivors.  

We only ask for volunteers.  I thank you for your presence here and look forward to your 
participation in our future activities till torture is abolished.

We can make our world a torture free one.  Thank you.

Kani Xulam