Dear Editor,
I write in support of Mr. Colin Bascom’s observations in his letter captioned “An entire community should not be criminalized for the transgression of a few” (08.02.27). Mr. Bascom was referring to the campaign to criminalise the African community of Buxton. In his letter, he made his case clearly and convincingly.
I have noted that Stabroek News in its editorial comment on the letter made the point that that paper was not a recipient of the specific release and it further stated that both the police and army denied issuing the release.
In the face of the reported denial by the two agencies which Stabroek News contacted, the origin of the release is now open to question. Guyanese must begin to ask if there are forces/individuals in the society who are manipulating the security forces to fulfill a sinister objective. If this is so it raises serious concerns about the future of the country.
(editor’s note: GINA has since indicated that it had issued the release with the photographs. Stabroek News has since received them).
There is no need for me to defend Bascom since no one can deny the validity of his concerns as stated in his letter. His call to the PNCR to take to the streets in support of the people of Buxton is most appropriate and necessary. It has my unreserved support. I will only add that the defence of Buxton is not the sole responsibility of the PNCR. It is the responsibility of the collective African community and its leadership, political, cultural, religious, and civic.
The inadequate response by the leadership of the African Guyanese community and the wider civil society following Donna Herod’s execution by members of the joint services and the subsequent operations by the state security forces in the community and the arrest and torture of two young men, appeared to have emboldened the government and the leaders of the state security apparatus who are now disposed to unleashing the most brutal treatment to the citizens of Buxton.
Where else in this world can be found a parallel situation which sees the security forces in a country adopting torture as a weapon of crime fighting and except for the raising of a few voices, this is greeted by a pronounced sound of silence by civil society leaders including those in the religious organizations?
In the face of the rulers’ refusal to condemn and sanction the wrong doers in the joint services I made a public call for a political response from the African Community in defence of the people and village of Buxton.
On that occasion my appeal fell on deaf ears. I hope that the same will not happen to Mr. Colin Bascom’s call for street protest in defence of the people of Buxton. Let us collectively rise to the challenge.
Yours faithfully,
Tacuma Ogunseye
