Artist tells of 'torture' agony

Oct 10 2007 By Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail

A BIRMINGHAM artist has told of the pain he suffered after putting himself through torture techniques used in the War on Terror.

Jiva Parthipan agreed to try the "stress and duress" techniques for a short film for the Amnesty International 'Unsubscribe' campaign calling for an end to human rights abuses perpetuated in tackling terrorism.

Hooded and dressed in just his underwear, the 33-year-old from Moseley was filmed bent double, squatting on the balls of his feet on two boxes with his hands cuffed behind his back.

The so-called 'enhanced interrogation technique' is one said to have been originally used on captives held in such places in Guatanamo Bay.

Jiva, originally from Sri Lanka, said his groans of agony were real and that he eventually needed help to stand up.

The performance artist said: "I'm physically fit and thought I could hold the position for about 15 minutes, but after about seven I literally collapsed.

"I stood there and just dropped down and down in a squat position until I couldn't stand up any more."

The experience brought back memories for the performance artist. His uncle Easan Maama was taken into custody in Sri Lanka and never seen again.

But he pointed out that the suffering for him was just physical.

"I didn't have the mental issues of not knowing where I was and what would happen to me. I couldn't even bear to think what it would be like for anyone else undergoing it for real."

Moazzam Begg, aged 39, from Sparkbrook, who was detained at Guantanamo Bay for three years before being freed said the film brought back difficult memories.

"I don't think I want to see it again," he said.

"It could have been anyone, it was me. When I saw it I felt a sense of disbelief, it was things I had to endure.

"It was not just the reaction to the stress position, the hard part was listening to the interrogator on the film calling his family.

"I relived in my mind how I felt listening to the guards talking about their own families. I had a child born while I was in custody and a child of six."

Mr Begg said he felt such human rights abuses increased the threat of terror and said Northern Ireland proved the only way forward was through peaceful means.