The PNCR has placed its members and supporters “on high alert” to respond to what it said are provocative actions where citizens’ civil liberties and human rights are being trampled on.
At the party’s weekly press briefing held at Congress Place yesterday, leader Robert Corbin said the PNCR would be meeting with other organisations over the next few days with the aim of sending a “united and clear message to the government and the security forces to understand that while they support them in their legitimate effort to solve the crime and security problems they will not allow the rights of citizens [to be] infringed.” As regard the murder of Marcyn King, the sister of wanted man Rondell Rawlins, the PNCR said it seems to mark the return of “phantom gangs.” Asked what actions the party intends to take to highlight its concerns, Corbin told the media that the party’s actions would be within the confines of the law though he did not elaborate further. The PNCR leader said at a meeting with members and supporters on March 12, at Congress Place, they were briefed on a number of recent actions taken by the security forces, including the arrests of its members without just cause. He said this seems to suggest that they have no intention of observing the rule of law or of respecting citizen’s human rights in conducting their operations. He said that examination of specific cases suggested “a worrying pattern that the actions of the security forces are influenced by political direction.”
Corbin said it is significant that a number of persons arrested and in some cases detained for days without charge, were first mentioned by political functionaries before any investigative work had been done by the police. He reiterated that it was no secret that President Bharrat Jagdeo had referred to former army officer Oliver Hinckson, without naming him, immediately after the Lusignan killings and before any investigation had been done. In the light of this, the recent arrest and subsequent charges instituted against Hinckson appear to be clearly politically directed, Corbin said, adding that he must not be allowed to become ‘another Mark Benschop.’
Corbin said he raised the issue of the arrests and the detention of party members and others on the flimsiest of excuses at the national stakeholders meeting on security at the Office of the President on Wednesday. He said “the party would not sit idly by, as though all is well in Guyana, and allow their human and political rights to be trampled upon.” Corbin informed the members and supporters at Wednesday’s meeting that neither the president nor the security forces gave any assurances that they intend to seriously address the concerns. Jagdeo, he said, claimed ignorance about his concerns and that he had “no previous knowledge of the charges laid against Hinckson. He also said that these concerns should be raised with the heads of the security forces.”
Corbin also said Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee advised that complaints about the conduct of the security forces should be made to the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), giving the impression that “the political directorate intends to treat these several complaints in a very callous manner.” Corbin contends that the manner in which the joint operations were being conducted; their mode of dress and the absence of name tags makes it difficult for citizens to be able to identify to which agency individual members belong.
Wednesday’s meeting of the stakeholders with President Jagdeo had reiterated support for the joint services’ efforts and agreed that that the rule of law and the constitutional rights of all citizens had to be respected.
Referring to the deteriorating security situation and the possible dangerous implications of the King murder, Corbin said the danger posed to the nation and the society in general cannot be overstated. He said if hired gunmen have returned this development was sufficient warning for adequate security measures to be taken by the official law enforcement authorities. Corbin pointed out that this was also noted from 2002-2004 when there was a surge in violent crime and “the Administration clearly turned to unorthodox means of curbing the crime situation, by outsourcing the responsibility for ensuring that the rule of law obtained” as in the case of the “phantom gang” or “phantom gangs.”
The PNCR said though it believes the government took the right step to convene a meeting with stakeholders on security it is imperative that every step and measure be taken to advance the process of crafting a national security plan, supported by all the stakeholders, which can draw a blanket of protection over every citizen.
