Further, in cases where the accused are actually found guilty, we have been surprised to find that they have been promoted during the trial, and gone on to occupy positions of responsibility. The Government has shown itself only too willing to pardon them for any offences committed. In his Ombudsman's Report for 1992, Gil Robles complaints, for the third year running, of the refusal to suspend officers accused of torturing and abuse from their jobs, on the pretext of waiting until the courts pass judgement. Given the current situation, no torture victim can hold out hope of gaining suitable redress. Because of this, many people who claim to have been tortured either come to us or to other similar public organizations without even bothering to file an official legal accusation.
Impunity makes torture attractive and feasible.
Only then would we be in a position to prevent torture, which in my first report seven years ago I called the plague of the second half of the 20th century, continuing its unruffled march on into the 21st century.