The Alliance For Change (AFC) is calling on the United Nations to set up a commission of inquiry to investigate claims that drug-indicted businessman, Roger Khan might have had a role in the killing of over 200 Guyanese during the 2002-04 crime wave here.
The AFC in a release yesterday said that it will soon write to the UN calling on it to immediately convene a commission of enquiry into the circumstances of the activities of Khan and persons associated with him. “It is no use asking the government itself to conduct such an investigation because we already know that our request will be met with a strong refusal,” the five-seat opposition party said. The US government contended recently in court documents that Khan in addition to ordering the execution of cyclist, Davendra Persaud and boxing coach, Donald Allison operated a killing squad believed to be responsible for the murder of over 200 Guyanese. The US wanted testimony to these killings to be accepted in Khan’s trial as part of a charge accusing him of heading a continuing criminal enterprise. Khan has since denied killing Persaud and Allison, but maintained that he assisted the Bharrat Jagdeo administration’s fight against crime during the 2002-04 crime wave.
The local police have since requested from the US information on the claims, but it is unclear whether there had been any response. The AFC said it continues to follow with great consternation along with the people of Guyana, the reported ongoing revelations coming out of the proceedings against Khan taking place in the United States of America. The party said the almost daily revelations read like a suspense novel, but the people of Guyana know only too well that this is no fiction, but pure facts now being revealed about a period that many of us are still to get the whole truth on.
According to the AFC just prior to his arrest in Suriname, Khan began enlightening the Guyanese public about his role and involvement with the Government in hunting “criminals”. He alleged in full-page newspaper advertisements that he played a pivotal role in support of the PPP/C regime in suppressing a plot to destabilize and overthrow the government. ”Back then, the leading figures at the Office of the President and Freedom House chose to remain silent and to wash their hands like Pilate of the whole matter…,” the AFC declared.
Now, the AFC said for the second time the government and the PPP/C have disowned the man who has documented proof of his heavy involvement. “They claim ignorance of a certain laptop computer crammed with hi-tech software that was used in a seek and destroy operation. This type of software which allows precise triangulation and location of cell phone users and also with the capacity to carry out voice recognition and recording can only be obtained by Law Enforcement agencies in a Government to Government transfer,” AFC asserted. How then did Roger Khan obtain this equipment if he was a private citizen if not through some official channel, the AFC asked, noting that someone was lying through their teeth. The party said the obvious question is why at this grim stage in his life, when he faces possible life imprisonment, would Khan make false statements to influence a Federal Judge of the US Federal Court knowing that he risks further jeopardising his situation if caught lying? He must be extremely stupid, or extremely honest, AFC asserted.
The AFC said it believes Khan when he says that he was engaged by the government of Guyana to fight criminals. The party said it was renewing its call for the holding of an urgent and immediate enquiry into the truth of the information coming out of this trial concerning the loss of life of hundreds of Guyanese, known and unknown and the purchase and entry into Guyana through customs, operation, and location of this sophisticated spy equipment.
Khan is charged with an eighteen-count indictment of distribution, importation, and possession of cocaine and engaging as a principal administrator, organiser, and leader of a continuing criminal enterprise in New York and elsewhere. He is accused of heading a powerful, violent, cocaine trafficking organisation out of Guyana. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted. The revelations by the US government in its court case against Khan have riveted local attention. A witness for the US is likely to testify when the trial starts that a phantom gang linked closely to Khan was responsible for around 200 killings.