Civil group, ‘Mourning Family and Friends in White’, yesterday staged a protest outside the office of the leader of the opposition Bharrat Jagdeo, and called on the government to launch an investigation into the extrajudicial killings that happened under the PPP/C administration.
The protest, which started just after 10 am saw just over a dozen persons walking along Church Street between Peter Rose Street and Shivnarine Chanderpaul Drive, holding up placards requesting the government launch an investigation into the killings of Courtney Crum-Ewing, Ronald Waddell and former minister Satyadeow Sawh and family, among others.
A number of police officers were seen along the protest route, including senior officers, who kept the traffic flow uninterrupted while also making sure the protestors were able to cross the road in a safe and quick manner.
One of the leaders of the group, who identified herself as Sister Penda Guyan, stated that they staged the peaceful protest asking the government to open an investigation into the killings that occurred under the PPP/C administration. “We’re asking the president and the government to open an investigation into the extrajudicial killings that occurred under the Jagdeo PPP/C administration. This is our second protest out here and we’re not here for any confrontation,” Guyan told Stabroek News.
The woman went on to say that they would like for the investigations to be opened, as family members of the persons who were killed are still traumatized by the deaths of their loved ones. “The families are still having nightmares and moreover with the advent of Roger Khan’s supposed release and should be coming back they are really, really grief stricken and worried. They are wanting to know what is going on, why no investigation,” she added.
Guyan went on to say that they would also like to know what role Khan played in the killing of those persons, stating that the entire former PPP/C administration should be investigated and not just one person.
The group chose to protest in front of the office of former president Jagdeo, so that he and members of his party would know that they would like to have answers as it relates to what happened while the party was in power. “We feel this is the best place for something like this,” she explained.
According to information received, Jagdeo was not in office at the time of the protest.
Another one of the protestors told members of the media that they chose to protest at this time as they have written numerous letters asking for an investigation to be conducted but have not received any response. The woman, who did not give her name, stated, “This should not have happened and we need closure. The people want to know what happened to their loved ones, we must have some form of justice, we will not forget them and we must have justice for those people”. She indicated that she was out there as a close family friend of Crum-Ewing.
Guyan stated that they plan to continue their peaceful protests until an investigation into the killings is launched.
