Dear Editor,
Miranda La Rose’s report headlined “GHRA, Reporters Without Borders slam ads cut-off-Squalid practices such as these are ominous reminders to an older generation of the worst features of the Burnham era’ – human rights body,” (07.01.17) reveals a dismal attempt by the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) to take pot shots at Mr. Burnham who has been dead for more than 20 years.
I do agree that the government is completely out of order and are violating human rights in their attempts to silence the voices of Stabroek News, CNS6, HBTV 9, and VCT 28. I do further agree that we have to so something about it. But the GHRA should not be engaging in cheap politics, rather they should focus on the issue at hand and cause the government to see the folly of their ways. To do otherwise is to betray the rights the media and Guyanese are struggling to protect.
There should be no excuses or comparisons of the PPP’s rotten actions. The PPP during its 28 years in opposition condemned every action made by Mr. Burnham and promised to do better. The PPP socialised Guyanese to believe that better is deserved and better can be had, particularly in regards to media freedom, democracy and human rights. The PPP also managed to bring many on board to help what they tabled as a better Guyana. I remember among those leading voices was the GHRA.
The current media suppression before us is the conceptualisation and execution of the PPP government which started 15 years ago. Within 100 days of the PPP being elected to office fundamental rights were thrown out the window. I recall Clarence Chue and other customs officers being arbitrarily kicked out of office by President Cheddi Jagan, in contravention of fundamental rights; such as the right to be heard and represented. In the media, Adam Harris then Editor in Chief of the Guyana Chronicle was forced to resign as a result of the government’s political posturing and veiled antagonism. Clem David of radio was publicly threatened by President Jagan and got the axe. Public servants, the police and army were verbally assaulted and threatened by the PPP government for their ethnic make-up. GHRA those cases I have mentioned are human rights violations and during those days you sat silently by and let another section of this society suffer. The government became comfortable because their excesses went unchecked by organisations such as the GHRA then they started attacking private media accusing them of wanting to destabilise their administration. All this happened within 100 days in office.
Guyanese did not wake up in January 2007 and find that their world came crashing down. These cracks that are becoming bigger and bigger every day started in October 1992, so GHRA spare the historical talk of the Burnham era. The PPP has to be held wholly accountable for their transgressions. Guyanese in 2007, 22 years after Mr. Burnham’s death, do not care about Burnham’s so called transgressions. Guyanese care about the PPP transgressions that we live, breath and encounter every day over the last 15 years.
Yours faithfully,
J. Prass
