Civil society group Article 13 yesterday expressed concern over sustained online attacks on one of its prominent members, Yog Mahadeo.
Article 13, which was formed last year and has taken up various public interest causes, said that the objectives of the Group have been publicised and reiterated and clearly demonstrate that it has no political agenda.
”Article 13 is open to all Guyanese to become members or supporters, of whatever political affiliation or leaning. This makes the targeting of Yog so unacceptable and raises the question whether he is being treated as a surrogate or as a `ringleader’ who must not be free to have any independent thought or conscience; or to hold, impart, express and receive ideas and opinions; or to associate with other persons, including the right `to form or belong to political parties, or other associations’; or to participate through civic organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State”, a statement from the group said.
It noted that via social media, Mahadeo has been accused of lobbying for a position in the Diplomatic Service; for government contracts for a business he and his wife run; and of being a whistleblower. His photograph has also accompanied an article that Article 13 is in receipt of money from Trinidad companies to finance a legal challenge to the Local Content Act.
“The only objective of these false and mischievous statements is to discredit Yog so that the work he is doing as part of Article 13 is compromised. Of course, in the process, Yog is being denied the rights set out in the paragraph above, all of which are guaranteed under the Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedom of the Individuals provisions of the Constitution. Some of these false posts have been peddled on the site for the group called Guyana Forum…Not only is the Guyana Forum identified with the ruling Party but it includes many prominent members of the Government”, the statement said.
Ironically, it said that Mahdeo hosted a TV programme during the five months following the March 2, 2020 elections in which he advocated for a fair count which eventually saw the PPP/C as victorious. Among his guests were now President Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Mark Phillips, former President Donald Ramotar, Gail Teixeira, Anil Nandlall and regional leaders and former State Department officials.
Article 13 said that not unrelated to this campaign against Mahdeo is the charge brought by the Police against Sherod Duncan, APNU+AFC Member of Parliament, for allegedly calling an employee of GECOM a ‘jagabat’ and a ‘trench crappo’.
“If the Police are using such a low threshold to bring charges under the Cyber Crime Act 2018, then there must be a stronger case for Police action in respect of some of the attacks on Yog”, the statement said.
