Dear Editor,
In a matter of days three bold and murderous attacks occurred in Guyana. First there was the attack on an army vehicle in Buxton. This was followed by an all-out engagement by forces in Buxton against the GDF, resulting in the loss of life of an army rank. On late Friday night, the attack was taken to no less a place than Police Headquarters at Eve Leary. Soon after, in the wee hours of Saturday morning a murderous assault was visited upon the village of Lusignan. Eleven men, women and children were cut to pieces in a rain of bullets fired from high-powered rifles and shot guns. The facts are there, clear for everyone to see. Or, are they?
Allow me to point to a fundamental misunderstanding of what is happening on the ground, and what is being portrayed in the media.
Reports of these incidents refer to a criminal gang from Buxton. “Criminal gang” is often replaced by, or used synonymously with “bandits”. The impression conveyed is that the elements involved in these murderous attacks are intent on private gain through violent robbery. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Let me make this simple and clear. These are not simply bandits and everyday criminals. These men and women are part of an insurgency. What then, is an insurgency?
According to the online Encyclopedia, Wikipedia –
An insurgency, or insurrection, is an armed uprising, or revolt against an established civil or political authority. Persons engaging in insurgency are called insurgents, and typically engage in regular or guerrilla combat against the armed forces of the established regime, or conduct sabotage and harassment in the land in order to undermine the government’s position as leader.
This definition of insurgency clearly matches what is happening in Guyana. The sooner this is realized, the sooner the appropriate strategies and tactics will be adopted to root out this insurgency.
Criminal matters are usually dealt with by the police. Insurgencies are dealt with through military action and political responses.
One key difference between criminals and insurgents is that whereas the former hides from society, the latter hides inside communities. The communities that shelter the insurgents usually share some common political or identity grievance.
Insurgents can never survive by just taking cover. For their murderous deeds to mean anything, and especially to have any political implications, the mayhem they create must be supported by another army of men and women who write in the letter columns and preach on TV. Together, these white collar insurgents give both pluck and legitimacy to the dastardly acts of terrorism which are delivered at regular intervals. They know who they are. They are probably quietly celebrating. January 25/26 must have been good days for them. For those who have been fed up with the tedious business of bringing about change through Parlia-ment and the ballot box, this is the day they have been waiting for.
Insurgent leader Fineman has done his bit of the work for the ‘resistance’. Now the White Collar Insurgents will take over.
President Jagdeo and the PPP Government must now act, and act decisively. When the President acts let us make sure that the nation gives him the support he needs.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Randy Persaud