Dear Editor,
Street protests has historically been a manifestation of Guyanese social/ political culture – more so by the African community. In this process, nurses and other citizens were shot at to repress peaceful protest. The PPP/C leadership has demonstrated time and again their hostility to the African community, and the use of state violence is characteristic of their governance. I support and endorse the demand for justice for Quindon Bacchus and the protest actions in pursuit of bringing the murderer to justice. Readers should note that I am not acknowledging the violence that erupted at Mon Repos as the action of the protestors. My experience with the PPP/C’s government handling of African street protests convinced me, based on information, that the violence was the work of agents of the regime. The demonstrators passed through many Indian villages and there was no incidence of violence. There is also much evidence of this on social media coverage of the event.
The consensus of the police, government, reporters and observers is that the protest was a reaction to information received that the officer implicated in the heinous killing was released. This led to a spontaneous decision to march, possibly to the capital to let the powers that be know that enough is enough. I differ from those who are taking the position that the police should had taken decisive action and stopped the protest long before it reached Mon Repos. The police were dealing with the fallout from the Bacchus killing daily for almost two weeks and there was not a single violent action. The sensible approach by the police and government to the June 28th march/protest action should have been to ensure that the protestors arrive at their destination without any major incidents. Here we are dealing with citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful protest and the police mandate to serve and uphold the constitution. Unfortunately, it is that path the leadership of the Guyana Police Force and the government chose, as is evident by the police shooting and tear-gassing the residents of Golden Grove who returned to their village and assembled peacefully.
Now let me address the cusp of the matter. The present situation is clear and the Golden Grove and surrounding communities are demanding justice for the killing of an African youth by a police officer. This is not specifically an Indian/African matter. We must not lose sight of this fact as we press on in spite of provocations. Frankly speaking, our community has to collectively decide on the “price” that we are prepared to pay to stop police/security forces from killing Africans. In contemplating this issue, I am mindful of the lessons from the previous crisis of 2002 and thereafter. Then the rulers resorted to using gangs controlled by drug lords known as phantom killers. We must not repeat the same mistake. This time must be different.
Sincerely,
Tacuma Ogunseye
