Dear Editor,

I wish to express welcome for the statement of the Guyana Bar Association, given to the press and television by its President, Attorney-at-Law Mr Kashir Khan condemning the government’s handling of the torture allegations against the security forces and the alleged misconduct of a minister of the government.

The GBA president gave an interesting explanation of the state of mind of the minister who made the statement suggesting a callous attitude to torture on the part of Guyanese.

The GBA and its president, together with the lawyers who took the issue of the “acting judiciary” to the High Court should encourage those oganisations that have without ceasing sought to speak on behalf of the poor and powerless, whether they were saints or presumed suspects.

The GBA statement, welcome as it is, also throws into sharper relief those who once protested human rights violations and now no longer do so.

Yours faithfully,

Eusi Kwayana