E/CN.4/1995/34
page 33
allegedly tightened the cuffs so that they cut through the skin of his wrists.
Three months after the incident, he reportedly suffered from numb thumbs,
tingling in his hands and scars on both wrists.
159. Albert Hatchwell Nielsen was arrested on 6 July 1993 in Christiania
and allegedly placed in a van in the leg-lock position, which caused numbness
and tingling in his hands. Seven months after the incident, he reportedly
continued to suffer from "pins and needles" in the forefinger of each hand and
a reduction of sensation, symptoms which an examining neurologist concluded
were due to a compression injury of the wrist.
160. Peter Lucassen was allegedly beaten by three officers, including with
a truncheon, after he had collided with one of the officers coming down
the stairs of his house in Christiania on 8 September 1993. He was then
reportedly placed in the leg-lock position. At the hospital the next morning,
doctors noted bruises on his left arm, shoulder blades, knee, and on the back
near his spine, as well as a swollen nose and forehead and abrasions on both
wrists. The numbness in his hands was said to continue and in February 1994 a
neurologist reportedly found signs of nerve damage to his left hand.
161. Mads Sjølund was arrested on 10 September 1993 by police officers in
Christiania, during the course of which an officer allegedly placed a knee on
his left hand, grinding it into the ground, while another officer put his knee
on his neck. He was thereafter allegedly handcuffed behind the back and
placed in the leg-lock position. At the hospital his left hand was placed in
a splint and redness, swelling and bruising on both wrists was noted by a
doctor. He retained scars on his wrists eight months after the incident.
162. On 17 October 1994 the Government informed the Special Rapporteur that
following discussions with senior police officials and police associations,
it had been decided to suspend indefinitely the above-described "leg-lock"
restraint technique. It had been claimed that under certain circumstances the
application of the restraint could cause the death of the prisoner. The
Danish Ministry of Justice requested the Medico-Legal Council, an independent
body of medical experts, to undertake an assessment of the medical risks
involved in the application of that type of restraint. Reviews were also
being conducted of other self-defence techniques used by police with a view to
identifying potential risks connected with their application.
163. As to the allegations in specific cases involving the police operations
in Christiania, examinations were being conducted before the Copenhagen city
court with a view to clarifying complaints against police conduct.
Djibouti
Urgent appeals
164. The Special Rapporteur transmitted an urgent appeal on 15 June 1994
advising the Government that he had received information regarding six persons
arrested on 5 June 1994 while participating in a peaceful demonstration by
displaced persons in Ariba, a suburb of Djibouti city. They were identified
as Addis Awalo Ali, Mohamed Daoud, Nour Barkat, Haidara Ashad, Dalle Ali
Cheicko and Daoud Ali. The Force d’action rapide (Quick Action Force) was
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents