-appeals to civil society for support
Continuing to press for an inquiry into alleged links between government and drug trafficker Roger Khan, the joint opposition parties yesterday made an appeal for the support of civil society, saying that the Guyanese people have a moral responsibility to condemn wrongdoing and demand accountability.
At the end of a meeting with civil society representatives at City Hall, leaders of the PNCR, AFC, GAP, the NFA and the WPA, and representatives of several groups passed a resolution supporting the demand for an international Commission of Inquiry, to carry out a fair and impartial investigation into all the violent acts committed in the wake of the 2002 jailbreak, including activities and relationships to the narcotics trade. It also resolved that the Terms of Reference for the inquiry should include the investigation of the allegations of torture and degrading treatment meted out to citizens at the hands of elements of the security forces and the involvement of criminal elements with the state. The resolution was passed with near unanimous support as only one person objected. Among the civil society representatives at the meeting were union leaders, religious leaders, women’s and rights activists, youth leaders and concerned citizens.
In response to the hosting of the meeting, government spokesman Dr Roger Luncheon last evening questioned the sincerity of the opposition parties, while saying that any discussion should include on the agenda their role in “tragedies” in Guyana in the period between 2001 and 2008. He accused both the PNCR and the AFC of supporting the Buxton gang during this period, a charge leaders of both parties strongly denied last evening.
On Wednesday night, President Bharrat Jagdeo, returning from overseas, was greeted by a protest at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri with demonstrators calling for an investigation of the allegations emerging from the trial of Khan’s former lawyer Robert Simels. Witnesses at the trial have testified that the government purchased surveillance equipment used by Khan here and that he met several times with Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy. Both government and the Minister have denied the claims.
GAP-ROAR MP Everall Franklin told the meeting that the issue had moved past allegations, noting that it was clear there was complicity by government in a criminal enterprise, that people were murdered and that laws were broken. “We are here trying to see if we could restore some semblance of dignity [and] get back the rule of law into this country,” he said, while expressing outrage at those who contend that the opposition is causing embarrassment to the country. “What preposterous nonsense! If what we have experienced over the past few years has not embarrassed this nation to people at home and abroad then I don’t know what will,” he added.
Franklin revealed that he had been advised against getting involved but he emphasised the need to stand up. “I say to them, if I and you, all of us, don’t get up and open our mouths and show indignation, then we are letting our children down,” he said, suggesting that citizens run the risk of losing their rights. In particular, Franklin singled out religious bodies. “A lot of religious organisations, I remember them having prayer meetings and fasting for Guyana,” he observed, “Well, your prayers have been answered!” He explained that the question they now face is what they would do with the information they have. He added that those religious people who have taken up positions within the government would also have to ask themselves if they are on the side of righteousness, what is right and the truth. “Because those who know better shall suffer the greatest consequences,” he declared.
Emphasising the need for truth, Franklin said every person who made up the society has to find the strength and courage to not die the thousand deaths that he said most have been dying, largely out of fear of victimisation and discrimination. “This is about waking people up to the fact that we all have a responsibility in this country to see that it runs well,” he said, “This is the time to face the facts, civil society, people of Guyana, it is about saving this country from what appears to be a slide so slippery, a slide into the depths so nasty and so violent that if we allow the country to slip there, God help us, I doubt we would ever come out.”
Also at the meeting were PNCR leader Robert Corbin, WPA co-leaders Dr. Clive Thomas and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan, NFA Leader Keith Scott and Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Gerry Gouveia. Corbin addressed the participants about the consistent calls for a probe and the need for an international inquiry, Dr Thomas spoke about the criminalisation of the state and its implications for the economy and Ramjattan spoke about admissibility of the evidence flowing from the Simels trial. It was moderated by chartered accountant Christopher Ram.
The opposition parties have agreed to compile a comprehensive dossier cataloguing the government’s human rights abuses, including extra-judicial killings, torture and complicity with known organised crime gangs and narco traffickers and the resulting corruption. The dossier upon completion will be submitted to local, regional and international bodies, including the courts with the appropriate jurisdiction and released to the media and the public. There were also suggestions yesterday that a joint rally could be organised after intensive public education, but participants were mixed about the plans for a way forward. There was agreement, however, among participants on the need for there to be a non-partisan approach to resolving the issue.
In response to the meeting last evening, Cabinet Secre-tary Dr Luncheon questioned the sincerity of the opposition’s actions, while arguing that parliament is “the most appropriate fora” to deal with the issues. In a statement, Luncheon also emphasised that the PNCR should be asked whether it is prepared for full disclosure about its role in the tragedies that affected Guyana in the period between 2001 and 2008. “More to the fact whether the PNCR and the AFC would be willing to disclose the basis for their support of the Buxton gang during this period,” he added.
Both PNCR leader Corbin and AFC Chairman Ramjattan welcomed Luncheon’s statement as a sign that there could be some movement towards a probe. At the same time, both leaders strongly dismissed the allegation of any complicity with criminals. “At least we are getting some reaction out of the government,” Corbin said, noting that all the opposition parties had called for an investigation into criminal violence on the East Coast years ago but the government has not acted. Addressing the charges of complicity with the Buxton criminals, Corbin added, “I won’t waste my time to deal with that. I am saying if they are so interested let them set up the commission of inquiry and let’s see what comes out of it.” He emphasised that it should be an international inquiry.
Meanwhile, Ramjattan said the revelations from the Simels trial are now the most important issue as it alleges a government conspiracy with narcotics dealers and the violence that the government and some ministers are involved in. Further, dismissing Luncheon’s assertion that Parliament would be the best place to deal with the issue, he recalled that a motion on the issue brought by Corbin for an urgent public debate of the issue was disallowed. “Parlia-ment is not the only forum that politicians use for purposes of taking matters at hand,” he explained. “We will definitely be back in Parliament but we want a commission of inquiry made up of internationally credible people; that is our demand at this stage,” he added.
Ramjattan said, “I am absolutely certain the AFC is not involved in any criminality.” He said the AFC would be willing to present all that it has heard about transactions between 2002 and 2006. He pointed out that he was self-confessed death squad informant George Bacchus’ lawyer and had indicated to the PPP/C government what was taking place. As a result, he said the governing alliance know the intellectual authors. Ramjattan added that it is a period in the country’s history that needs a truth commission to ensure closure and he said the government must be a part of it.
“We are begging them to have an inquiry, they will have their say and we will have our say, and inquirers can make a judgement call,” he said.
The main opposition PNCR quietly organised a protest at the airport to coincide with Jagdeo’s return on Wednesday. It triggered an alarm among security officials who were caught unawares. Protestors led by PNCR vice-chair Volda Lawrence reportedly stashed themselves and a string of placards inside two minibuses at the airport while waiting for Jagdeo. The authorities were unaware of the intention to picket up until the Caribbean Airlines flight shuttling the President arrived in Guyana.
Stabroek News understands that the group of protestors numbering around forty were ignored because the authorities believed they were a local church group. It was shortly before the President cleared immigration that the protestors whipped out the placards and started chanting.
“The authorities were shell-shocked because they had no idea we were there. There was nothing disruptive about our behaviour, it was a peaceful but impacting protest,” activist Jermaine Grant said last night.
Grant publicly announced his involvement in the airport protest at the City Hall meeting yesterday, declaring that he was “mad” with the current state of affairs and was compelled to “stand up and be counted as an indignant voice.” Grant said that he had no political affiliation with the protest, but rather the feeling of simply being a concerned Guyanese. He referred to the airport demonstration as important saying that Jagdeo must be aware that “it cannot be business as usual.”
He said the revelations from the US trial are serious and should be addressed by the administration as opposed to being ignored. Grant said too that the Head of State needs to discuss more than low carbon development strategy with the Guyanese public because “we are following the US trial too.”
According to Grant, the police briefly intervened and urged that they protest on the parapet and not the road since an official delegation was to wing out from the airport. He said that the protesters occupied the tarmac and also lined the parapet leading out of airport.
He said that a regular group of PNCR supporters were on the picket line, but noted that several other persons including him joined the protest under the banner of “concerned Guyanese.”
Grant also spoke briefly of efforts currently underway to mobilize a youth forum to discuss the implications of the allegations coming out of the US trial. Grant said that he was part of initial discussions to initiate the forum, adding that the focus is now on identifying “who to engage and how soon”. However, he said that the idea is to hold the forum very shortly and to involve as many young people as possible. (Additional reporting by Iana Seales)
