Dear Editor,
Once again the account given by the newspapers of how how ‘Fineman’ was taken out, raises the question whether the stand-off could not have resulted in the capture of him alive. The armed forces would have outnumbered him. He was holed up in a building. Tactical measures coupled with time would have seen his surrender which would have been of vital importance to understanding the truth behind those massacres at Lusignan, Bartica and the burning of the miners’ camp in the interior.
The truth was killed along with the two criminals. It was easy to convince the general public that this course of action by the armed forces should be applauded. People were very infuriated and angry by the wanton murders allegedly committed by Rondel Rawlins and his gang, hence the news of their deaths would obviously be welcomed. The clear and objective thinker, however, would know that emotions can understandably cloud judgment.
When Lincoln Lewis spoke out against the killing of Fineman, it should not be misconstrued that he was supporting criminality, like some would want us to believe. It must be taken in the context in which it was expressed. We must suppress emotions and objectively look at the truth that the families of those who died at Lusignan and Bartica may never see true justice.
I tend to think that what happened to Mr Lewis recently is a stark warning intended in the form of intimidation to silence him.
Yours faithfully,
Norman Browne
Mr Browne, I think the answer is no, at present the security force of Guyana has a shoot to kill policy which does not help the judicial system, and leave the family with unanswered question. The police could of surrounded and contain the area bring in a negotiator I know this might sound far fetch for some bloggers but this is a technique that is used around the world not just on TV. If the police do not have these skill then training of these skill need to be implemented. Fineman was a pawn on a chess board to be sacrifice for a bigger corruption, there was no plan to take him alive. We live in shadow of intimidation from both sector criminal and those who are there to protect us, but the sad thing is that the victim and the family Lusignan, Bartica, Lindo Creek and fineman sister who was also an innocent victim, will never know the full story.
I must commend you on your response, you are a very astute and ardent reader….I could not have said it any better, you have my sentiments.
Norman my friend i agree with you, i even mention they could have surrounded the house and have a stand off which may take hours or days, but some of these bloggers are so thirsty for blood that they wanted him dead and forget about the truth of what really happened, and even the families are still living in fear although fineman and skinny is dead.
Well said Mr Browne,but who can tell whether Fine Man and Skinny would have confessed to those crimes.I am certain that you are aware that an accused,is innocent until proved guilty.Surely the joint services had to capture them,and in so doing,they were killed.The relatives of Fine Man and Skinny can still take private action if they think they were murdered.The can even complain to The Police Complaints Authority.
Give it up, will ya.It’s over and done with, move on.
When Sash Sawh was killed, the President said he knew who did it! No names mentioned! When the President launched his 2006 re-election bid, he said the PNC was in bed with criminals. When the Lusignan massacre took place, the President screamed for the PNC to condemn the attacks, causing people to think the PNC was linked to it. These criminal attacks all seem to fit a pattern and were well supported.
So, if Skinny and Fineman were PNC criminal operatives, why didn’t government/police take careful steps taken to get them to admit that link and expose their operational base? There hasn’t been a single arrest of a criminal who said he worked with or for the PNC. In fact, most of these criminals have been killed out without being placed before the justice system.
Real justice demands an official investigation, with findings, to determine who were the killers at Lusignan, Bartica and Lindo Creek? All we know is what the government/police tell us. And the fact the so many are inclined to close the door on the massacres simply because Fineman and Skinny are dead shows how deeply duped Guyanese have become by substituting extra judicial killings for real justice. This is dangerous! Anyone can now be labeled a criminal and be killed without people raising a hue and a cry because government/police have duped most into thinking the executed deserved what he got.
There is no real justice in Guyana and so we can expect more murders by criminals and the state!
Well said Norman. Those who talk about moving on refuse to move on from the rule of the PNC, but drums it up as an excuse for everything and anything that happens in Guyana. Their hypocrisy continue to be a stark reminder of the similarity between them and the porcine characters in George Orwell’s AAnimal farm.
If you live by the sword, you die by the sword., anywhere in the world!
He would be less of a fear and burden on tax payers to “care” for him in jail. Besides, he would never confess the truth as to why he did what he did.
Well I never heard any of you or their relatives put out a plea for them to surrender to the police.
The question to be asked is:::Why did these criminal killers not turned themselves in with their lawyers if they were innocent and wanted to be alive and well?Second::Why did their families not go to the police and media outlets and put out a statement for these crminals to turn themselves into law enforcement?
Who knows if the very people these criminals were working for “rat” them out because their bosses know their time is up and wanted them killed before they are caught alive and “sing”.They choose to shoot it out with lawmen and they met their demise.Lets not forget Mr.Cush whom they shot.Fineman and Skinny got just justice and in due course their hired masters will suffer the same faith.
Good letter Norman.
Some of the commenters here apparently did not read your sentence for they
seem to fallen prey!
Quote::
“The clear and objective thinker, however, would know that emotions can understandably cloud judgment.”
Indeed!
Mr Browne,
While your letter so eloquently addreses the issue of whether “Fineman” could have been taken alive, I think there is another discussion we are missing, in that no one knows what kind of reaction would have come from the relatives of the victims.
I think an important piece is missed here. These criminals deliberately targeted ethnic groups in an attempt to create mayhem and racial strife, but thankfully we never bought into it. My question is, do you think with having them alive for a public trial would have been the best thing for us as a country to deal with that?
I think the fact these criminals are dead, eliminates the need for a national discussion on race in that context, however I still feel the discussion is necessary, just not in that context.
Capturing them alive would have given meaning to exactly what they were trying to perpertrate on Guyanese citizens, violence and horror, and I do not think such credence should be given to what they carried out over the last few months.
I think we are missing a valuable opportunity for a national discussion on these issues related to race and the role of our Police in a crime ridden society. Fineman’s death should in no way cloud our judgement on this, for in the end, sad to say, he was just a common criminal.
Sorry, my view!!
Norman Browne well said. If only the majority of people can understand and appreciate what you, Lincoln Lewis, CN Sharma and Freddie Kisson are saying Guyana will be a better place. Guyana needs justice from Mr. Jagdeo and the PPP.
All those you mentioned here all all talk but no action…maybe they and you should form a political party…..coz all those and you only know how to talk talk talk and condemn but put forward not a meaningful plan…….