Dear Editor,
I refer to recent statements made by President Jagdeo, regarding the Roger Khan trial. (KN, 8.5.08). He said that “…we have an obligation that if presented with any information by the US Government about Roger Khan’s involvement in any criminal act that would be pursued by our law enforcement agency…That is my position.”
This is very gratifying to hear. However, the president also stated his position on the illegal practice of rendition (or abduction) conducted by US agents. He told the people of Queens, New York, that he and the government oppose the “abduction” of any Guyanese even if that person was Mr Corbin. This is on record.
The US court went on record to say that Mr Khan was abducted. Yet, this very president has refused to send a formal protest to the US, as is the norm.
This is what the Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Stephen Harper, for example, did in 2006 after US agents abducted a Canadian citizen, Mr Maher Arar. Mr Arar was taken to Syria for one year where he was tortured.
The president is engaging in doublespeak regarding Mr Roger Khan. Further, it is odd that Guyana has an “obligation” to politics (US government) and not law (US court).
Guyana is on its way to becoming a country that supports the abduction of citizens. I hope the president’s surrogates would be able to defend this legacy in the future, when it is credited to the famous “Jagan’s party,” long after the president has left the scene. Think well upon it.
Yours faithfully,
Rakesh Rampertab
