Dear Editor,
On October 2, 2018, Jamal Khashoggi a distinguished journalist walked into the Consulate of Saudi Arabia in Turkey but never came out again.
The Government of Turkey has provided information that this respected journalist, resident of the United States of Saudi nationality was murdered and his body dismembered by a special squad sent from Saudi Arabia to Turkey to carry out that dastardly act.
It is now being revealed that the head of the squad is a bodyguard of the crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.
This incident has provided more than enough evidence that the Saudi regime does not only support terrorist groups widely, but is itself a murdering government totally intolerant to criticism and devoid of human rights considerations.
This is a vicious attack on the most important of human rights, i.e. the right to life. It is also a devastating attack on free speech as its main motivation was to shut up a critic of the Saudi regime.
Equally disturbing is the attitude of a section of the government of the United States to this barbaric and criminal act. All indications are that they would allow the Saudi regime to get away with this act unpunished. The US President is using the excuse of economic relations with Saudi Arabia to allow them a free pass and to paper over this crime.
Thankfully many in Congress and the Senate are not taking the same position.
It is apposite to note that the US has far more to lose in a trade war with China, yet it is instigating the trade dispute and imposing punitive tariffs on China’s exports. Clearly moral and humanitarian considerations are not important to the US President.
I recall too that the US President had ordered the bombing of Syria without waiting for evidence of the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime. Up to this day no credible evidence has been provided. Yet the President’s attitude to the murder of Khashoggi is totally different. Clear double standard!
I call on the Press Association of Guyana and all democratic forces in this country to condemn this act. I call on the Guyana Government not to remain silent but let the nation’s outrage be expressed via a statement. They must condemn this criminality. I call on the international community not to allow the murderous Saudi regime to get away with this unacceptable behaviour.
Jamal Khashoggi is a martyr in the cause of freedom and free speech for all the world’s people.
Yours faithfully,
Donald Ramotar
Former President
