Dear Editor,
I have seen your editorial captioned “Common enemies of all mankind” (07.11.28) dealing with torture in its general scope and in relation to the specific cases of two young men of Buxton, whose cases SN, if no other paper, reported in clear detail.
Torture is a peculiar and crippling form of disease with a human vector. It is a mistake to think that it is a racial issue. If all people from all sections of the population, male and female and from various positions make it clear that torture must go, its defeat will protect everyone. Domestic violence is a form of torture.
SN had published a letter from Dr David Hinds and me on this specific issue of Mr Sumner and Mr Jones. We also made direct efforts and secured the services of reputable counsel who was ready and is, I believe, still ready to do what any people who reject torture would wish to do in the case of these two unfortunate young men.
Our purpose was to bring this matter formally before a court of justice for redress and relief and bring it in a form that will allow the Director of Public Prosecutions to withdraw it from the court. We said in our letter and maintain that the status of those we believe to be victims of torture, whether they are suspects or not, will affect our decision. I can easily explain the reasons that I do not attack the main opposition party the PNC on current matters. My sympathy is not with them but with the bulk of Guyanese to whom they have promised deliverance. I have my own opinion of the extent to which that party is at all political. The PPP is saved by being in government, but is fast catching up.
The PPP must account for its exercise of state power, and it is at that level that I write about its position on current matters.
On this matter of the torture of the two young men, or of any person, if I come to the conclusion that a political party is standing in the way, intimidating, cochoring or in other ways tampering with the families of those tortured in order to keep them from seeking redress, I shall feel compelled to let the public know of my conclusion.
In these days of open gunslinging, I give no further details.
Yours faithfully,
Eusi Kwayana
