The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) said yesterday that the situation at Linden did not justify use of deadly force, and along with the majority of ordinary Guyanese it is “both disgusted and astounded” by the events of Wednesday afternoon in the mining town.
Protests over an increase in power tariffs took a tragic turn on Wednesday evening in Linden, when three persons were shot and killed and buildings and vehicles were set on fire.
The GHRA in a press release yesterday said that “either the lack of understanding of rules on use of force at the highest level of the Guyana Police Force is woeful, or a directive exists to set aside peaceful methods of policing demonstrations.”
The human rights body said further that even if the police allegations of robbery and burning of vehicles by protestors were true, that does not justify the use of deadly force.
“Direct threats to the lives of other people or the police themselves are the only justification for the use of such force,” the GHRA maintained.
It also noted that according to numerous accounts, neither justification was met in Linden.
It recounted one incident as told to it in its interviews with victims and medical personnel.
“One medical professional caught in the cross-fire recounted the most frightening aspect of the experience being the speed with which the shooting started. `I was crossing the bridge when I got a smell of tear-gas and started to cover my face. Almost immediately I heard gun-shots and saw police running and firing.’ The firing continued for some time both on the bridge and later around ‘5-corners’ some way from the bridge.
Another victim was shot in both legs while trying to pull her 15-year old to safety”, GHRA said.
The human rights body also observed that inevitable comparisons will be made with the use of rubber bullets by the police against crowds demonstrating in Georgetown in November last year following national elections. On that occasion, GHRA said, it was considered an over-reaction induced by heightened tension.
“However, it is legitimate now to ask whether the use of deadly force is standard operating procedure,” the GHRA posited.
The GHRA also noted that the electricity issue has been festering in Linden since the former government was in office.
Lindeners have been insistent that the local and non-partisan character of the protest should not be lost, the human rights body contended, while asserting that “this recognition of the civic and regional nature of the issue should be respected in any efforts undertaken to ensure social justice and political stability.”
