Torture, Hampton & Saddam Hussein

Torture, the most brutal violation of a person’s human dignity, is outlawed in major international and regional human rights instruments even in times of war or emergencies.
The Convention Against Torture (CAT) 1984 is a potent instrument designed to combat torture.
Yet torture is universally prevalent in varying degrees. One reason is the mindset of the law enforcement personnel who firmly believe that torture is necessary for detection and successful prosecution of crime.This mindset must be eliminated by education and sensitisation.
Another problem in combating torture is immunities from criminal prosecution granted by new regimes to perpetrators of torture in the previous regime. This being a part of the price of a transition from a regime of brutality to more open forms of governance. Recent thinking is that blanket immunities and amnesties are impermissible under international law and CAT.
They violate the victim’s rights to access to court and to obtain compensation and other redress. The validity of such amnesties and other issues relating to torture were animatedly debated at the recent seminar in New Delhi on Right to Reparation for Torture Victims in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Incidentally, is there any remedy for the torture inflicted by some netas, erudite judges and eminent jurists on account of their long, rambling and repetitive speeches? Could that be the reason why our country, after signing CAT, has not yet ratified it?
2002 has been a bad year for the world of jazz. Lionel Hampton, the musician who made the vibraphone ‘sing’, passed away last week at the ripe age of 94.
The vibraphone has metal keys and is played with soft mallets that produce vibrating tones. Of Hampton’s numerous recordings Hot Mallets, recorded in 1937 is a classic. There is an electrifying mute trumpet solo by Dizzy Gillespie followed by a rousing tenor sax chorus by Chu Berry.
Hampton joined Benny Goodman in 1936, which with fellow black musician Teddy Wilson on piano was a milestone in racial integration in jazz. No racial disturbances took place as apprehended when the integrated band played in public but Hampton and Teddy Wilson were often mistaken for servants.
Racial equality indeed. Hamp’s most famous recording with his big band was Flyin’ Home. It is said that officials of a Connecticut town sent police into a theatre to ensure that the Hampton band did not play Flyin’ Home because the leaping and stomping of feet that had accompanied an earlier show had seriously threatened to bring down the house by collapse of the mezzanine balcony.
Moonglow recorded by the Goodman quartet featuring Hampton is my perennial favourite. Of all the medals and citations Hampton received he prized most his appointment as Goodwill Ambassador for the United States. He ‘‘was an American music legend and will be sorely missed.’’ No one can disagree with President Bush here.
Arco Rodricks’ sudden passing away in Delhi has left a void in the Indian jazz scene. Arco was a fine saxophonist who doubled on the clarinet and the soprano sax.
He delighted audiences by his fluent solos. He was a member of Mohsin Meneze’s group and also a composer. He will be sadly missed.
Disclosure of idiosyncrasies and sexual prowess or lack of it of former mistresses and lovers when they are dead and gone is distasteful. Princes Diana has been a cruel victim of this ugly trend. Recent revelations by Parisoula Lampsos, the alleged mistress of Saddam Hussein, are enlightening: Saddam needed Viagra, drinks milk and honey in the morning, enjoys whiskey on the rocks and likes to wear suits by Pierre Cardin. And his favourite song is Sinatra’s ‘Strangers in the Night’. A civilised person indeed. Sinatra fans will certainly not want him to be bumped off whatever President Bush may think.