She explained that on the basis of the application received from VBTAI, the officials of Bauska district have started the departmental inspection. Law enforcement officers explain all the circumstances about possible violations related to the stay of young people in Brukna manor in Dāviņi parish of Bauska region.
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So far, LETA has not been able to contact the leader of the community, priest Andrejs Mediņš.
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It has already been reported that in the association “Kalnablību communiena” VBTAI together with the representative of the Ombudsman’s Office found that children were employed in field work from ten to 12 hours a day without access to medical care and in case of violations are punished by limiting food intake, representative of Taivo Trams.
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The initial inspection was carried out in response to information provided by an individual about possible violations of children’s rights, including physical and emotional abuse. On August 20, the VBTAI and the Ombudsman’s Office re-examined.
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During the initial inspection, the community leader was unable to pinpoint the number of children in the community, and avoided providing information about the children’s legal representatives and presenting documents justifying why the children were placed in his or her care.
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It was established that minors staying in Brukna manor are employed in field work for a disproportionately long time, but in case the child has not fulfilled the set daily norm, the work also continues at night. In the case of violations, one of the types of punishment is the restriction of food intakes – children are forced to live on bread and water.
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Given that minors do not have access to medical care if necessary, the VBTAI has also received information on cases where children have felt physically ill or even lost consciousness due to long working hours and lack of water while working in the field.
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There have also been reports of several episodes of physical and emotional abuse. An additional risk for children is the fact that they live in the community on a daily basis with adults who have previously been convicted of various crimes, as well as people with various addiction problems.
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Information on the findings of the inspection in accordance with the competence has been submitted for further evaluation to the LP, the Food and Veterinary Service and the State Labor Inspectorate.
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In the administration of Brukna manor, LETA admitted that the complaint about the alleged violations of children’s rights had been written by an addicted adult who did not like what was happening in the “Blessing Community of the Mountain”.
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Work in the community is organized voluntarily. People come to Brukna manor themselves, offer their help, get involved in home and garden work, involving children as well. Summer camps with a long stay in the manor are not organized, LETA told the administration.
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At present, all information and what is happening in the community is evaluated by the responsible authorities.
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