Dear Editor,
Even for a country accustomed to official abuse, misconduct and illegalities, the revelation of torture inflicted on a child by members of the security forces has met with an outrage that was palpable and instantaneous. We have had the inevitable, obligatory and strident calls for action and “never again.” But in all our anger let us not forget that there is a child lying on a hospital bed, not only physically scarred but quite possibly, also psychologically damaged. Instead of simply joining the chorus, I would hope that Minister Manickchand and the Minister of Health are ensuring that the child receives immediate and appropriate medical and psychological attention.
Increasingly it seems that for the Army and the Police, abuse and torture have replaced intelligence and investigations as the preferred method of interrogation, in inverse proportion to the basis of identification of their “suspects”. For most of our post-Independence history, there has been a direct link between the criminal tendencies within the Forces and the political culture that encourages and sustains them. More recently, they were encouraged and became a cover for governmental complicity and action in the murderous campaign by Roger Khan that led to the ultimate torture – death – of several scores of mainly black youths.
Prior to that murderous campaign, there were calls for the Indianisation – rather than the professionalisation – of the Force. By chance or design, the rearrangement of the top echelon of the security forces has been accompanied by a noticeable increase of human rights abuses including torture and death. I witnessed first hand, late last year, the arrest and unlawful locking up of five Afro-Guyanese going about their ordinary business on a Sunday afternoon. It is a measure of the fear of victimisation and discrimination that now grips Guyanese that these working class men, who had to spend a miserable night at the infamous Brickdam Lockups, and whose families had to pay several thousands of dollars to secure their freedom and establish their innocence, refused to take action against the State for unlawful arrest and wrongful imprisonment.
That is why I consider it heartening that the Guyana Bar Association and a number of lawyers have taken a stand on this most recent issue. They should not be taken in by the protestations of outrage from Government persons, some of which are at one and the same time self-serving and revealing. The Minister of Home Affairs for example only objects to “excessive force”, while the Police seem more intent and diligent in identifying the source of the photograph rather than in showing genuine regret for their actions and concern for the victim. The nation and indeed the Police Force owe the “source” deepest gratitude for exposing the torture – not disciplinary action. Our lawyers must offer their collective protection to that officer and professional service to the victim to ensure that he is released from Police custody immediately and is compensated, so far as money can, for his suffering.
They must demand a reason for action being taken only against those allegedly directly involved and not against those duty-bound for the overall proper administration of the Force. The buck does not stop at the bottom, nor does it seem realistic – given the high profile nature of the case which gave rise to this latest atrocity – that the Crime Chief and the Commissioner of Police would not be kept informed over a period of four days, of developments in the case, including the status of the witnesses. Whether they did not know or did not want to know is equally bad and is itself a good enough cause for sanction against them. Only when people at the top are held accountable and punished for misdeeds under their watch, will we ever get to “never again”.
For too long we have made the cardinal mistake of isolating the conduct of the Police from the imposition of political influences on the Force, such as a number of acting positions including that of the Commissioner.
The Bar Association and the lawyers must insist that there is an independent body superintending the conduct of the Police, comprising civil society including the legal profession. They must demand as well, by court action if necessary, that the Government fill the constitutional Office of the Ombudsman, that defender of the ordinary citizens. They must hold to account the Government and in particular the President for his frequent abuses of the Constitution including on matters directly pertaining to the legal profession. They must do everything necessary to ensure that there is a return to the rule of law; that there is access to justice and information; the establishment of an Administrative and Constitutional Court supported by an Administrative Justice Act; a Freedom of Information Act; that they are watchful and vigilant against the raiding of the Treasury and the Lotto Funds; that there be campaign finance reform; that the Constitution is respected and observed; and that the wheels of justice are oiled and run efficiently.
These are formidable tasks, tasks on which the political opposition and civil society have had minimal success. Powerful and strategically placed as they are as a group, the lawyers cannot carry this national obligation alone. The medical profession should have been horrified by the prevalence of torture of which that of the child is the most recent example, and possibly most egregious. They have a duty to raise their voices and to offer their services.
And where are the accountants and other professionals? Their position of privilege imposes on them important duties as well. The activism and voices of all the religious denominations – Bahais, Christians, Hindus, Muslims – the entire trade union movement, whatever their political allegiances, and the state and state-leaning media, cannot be silent when the very well-being and indeed a measure of our humanity are under threat. This national outrage calls for a national response.
Yours faithfully,
Christopher Ram
Well said Ram! Not only children but include adults too. But include the pass outrage too. It has to be justice for all!
This is a complete National disgrace! Thanks PPP for a job well done!
here here!
@ Dandy and Brandon,
Ram’s comment that “For most of our post-Independence history, there has been a direct link between the criminal tendencies within the Forces and the political culture that encourages and sustains them” is an inaccurate. Foremost the police as the coercive arm of the state are always used to influence the political culture of its boss and the direction of the country. In every police force there are excesses, bar none. Excesses are checked through the Complaint Authority, Court, etc. If these facts are acknowledged then the police role under the colonial authority cannot be ignored. The point being made by me is that under the PNC (including the colonial era Ram ignored) as against the PPP attempts were made at curbing excessed as against now where none is done.
Responses are made ONLY where FACTS were presented, which were left incomplete.
In 1976 (Dandy it was 1978) the Linden bauxite workers strike and police reaction resulted in public condemnation, police disquiet and Commander Martin was transferred to Georgetown. In 1948 the Enmore sugar workers strike the colonial police shot strikers and killed 5. The public outcry forced the authorities to carry out a Commission of Inquiry. In 1999 under Janet Jagan government the police shot and injured public servants, the public outcry is yet to see the police being sanctioned or Commission of Inquiry held.
There is no knowledge the army or police killed Rodney on Burnham’s directive or support. The CIA declassified report listed Rodney’s death a successful operation. The PPP promised in opposition to conduct an Inquiry into Rodney’s death. The PNC under Hoyte and Corbin in opposition supported the Inquiry. Why is this not done? Last year Sam Hinds said the inquiry is not conducted because the government did not get approval from the Rodney family. Dr. Patricia Rodney responded in a letter to the media denying Sam’s statement.
Burnham appointing his friend as Ombudsman is completely different from Jagdeo not filling the office for 5 years. The Black Clothes Police was a creature of the PPP. Rabbi Washington was jailed and appealed his case and got additional years all under the PNC. Father Drake murderer was tried and went to prison under the PNC. After the allegation of rape made against Robert Corbin as Minister he resigned and when he was proven innocent he was re-appointed. On the barge a Commission of Inquiry was carried. Historically U.S has always use the withdrawal of visa as a sanction tool. This is not new but it is the first Guyana gov’t officials are seeing the withdrawal of visas. Name one person Burnham took on a helicopter ride?
The argument still stands that PPP is supportive of the Police cruelty and criminality and is doing nothing to curb the excesses of the force and their ministers. At least under the British and PNC efforts were made to curd these excesses. That is my point and this is what Ram ignored. Guess he could have calibrated his statement better. Despite this misrepresentation Ram wrote is a good letter and his cal for a national response is supported.
Ram, I remember the TUC was among the first that condemned extrajudical killings. The trade union was left in the cold to be destroyed by the gov’t. Where were Ram, the media and others who are now speaking out? What you is that you reap.
Albert, you cannot obfuscate the truth that despite the known transgression sof the PNC administration, it was the PPP that promised to run a clean and lean government. This is what we are dealing with, not your journeys back into the past.
Look, this extract about the creation of a political culture from Ram’s letter sums it up for me: “For most of our post-Independence history, there has been a direct link between the criminal tendencies within the Forces and the political culture that encourages and sustains them. More recently, they were encouraged and became a cover for governmental complicity and action in the murderous campaign by Roger Khan that led to the ultimate torture – death – of several scores of mainly black youths.”
Dandy Andy, I beg to disagree with you. The very section you quote from Ram is also very misleading. Admittedly there were instances of police brutality as happens in every society but systems were in place to curb the excesses. The Police Complaint Authority and Court worked. With what is happening now as against then:
1. Show where the PNC under Burnham or Hoyte supported the criminality of the police force as seen today and errant officers were not scantioned (dismissed, faced the court or stripped)?
2. Show where Burnham or Hoyte gave polcie the authority to kill and he’ll answer to human rights people later?
3. Show where under Burnham or Hoyte their Home Affairs Minister will praise police brutality and say people don’t have time with torture they are busying looking after barrels?
4. Show where under Burnham or Hoyte the Head of the Presidential Secretariat would say the gov’t will not discipline the army officers who tortured their fellow officers even after the Inquiry pointed to them?
5. Show where under Burnham or Hoyte a Minister of Agriculture would tell Parliament it was not torture just a little “roughing up”?
6. Show where the PNC did not have an Ombudsman appointed as Jagdeo had for the last five years?
7. Show where under Hoyte or Burnham there was a Roger Khan outfit and close association with gov’t?
8. Show where under Hoyte or Burnham a Home Affairs Minister allegedly worked with a phantom squad which later revealed linked to durg lord Roger Khan?
8. Show where Hoyte or Burnham promoted rouge ministers to ambassador?
9. Show where Hoyte or Burnham would have a minister in his employ who beat up a teenage in a rum shop then order the police to take away his gun and still keep him employ?
10. Show where under Hoyte or Burnham a Commissioner of Police had his visas revoked by the US because of his association to drug lords and he was allowed to keep his job as Top Cop?
If these questions cannot be positively answered by you or Ram then the argument falls on its own.
1. “Show where the PNC under Burnham or Hoyte supported the criminality of the police force as seen today and errant officers were not scantioned (dismissed, faced the court or stripped)?” RESPONSE: Too numerous to list here, but I will limit my response to the use of the riot squad to arrest and beat striking bauxtie workers in McKenzie in 1976 and throwing 42 of them into a small holding cell in McKenzie then TEARGASSING them with no where to run.
2. Show where Burnham or Hoyte gave polcie the authority to kill and he’ll answer to human rights people later? RESPONSE: The Burnham-Reid then the Burnham-Hoyte regimes held absolute control over the police to the extent the police beat the hell out of even innocent people. Before Burnham died, a group of black clothes police descended on some Lindeners hanging out outside International Disco and beat them bloody without provocation. The GHRA filed its usual police brutality reports, but Burnham had political cover from Caricom, Commonwealth and even the ABCs because of the ‘political alternative’ – Jagan.
3. Show where under Burnham or Hoyte their Home Affairs Minister will praise police brutality and say people don’t have time with torture they are busying looking after barrels? RESPONSE: This specific incident is isolated and barrels were not an economic feature back then as they have become in the last two decades.
4. Show where under Burnham or Hoyte the Head of the Presidential Secretariat would say the gov’t will not discipline the army officers who tortured their fellow officers even after the Inquiry pointed to them? RESPONSE: This was no necessary to say; it was a given that no officer would be punished if they too action in defence of the PNC or government.
5. Show where under Burnham or Hoyte a Minister of Agriculture would tell Parliament it was not torture just a little “roughing up”? RESPONSE: Burnham reportedly used to take people who get into crosshairs with him on helicopter rides over the Atlantic Ocean and threaten to make them jump if they don’t ‘behave’ themselves. That kind of troture is enough to make you behave when you hit ground again.
6. Show where the PNC did not have an Ombudsman appointed as Jagdeo had for the last five years? RESPONSE: Name the Ombudsmen that served during the PNC era and I will tell you each one was a servant of the President and a supporter/member of the PNC.
7. Show where under Hoyte or Burnham there was a Roger Khan outfit and close association with gov’t? RESPONSE: Burnham trusted no one with any outfit that wasn’t under his direct control. That does not mean his government was not just as criminally inclined as Khan’s outfit.
8. Show where under Hoyte or Burnham a Home Affairs Minister allegedly worked with a phantom squad which later revealed linked to durg lord Roger Khan? RESPONSE: I know of at least one now deceased gnja baron who was close to a top party bad man and I know of a religious leader whose followers were used as attack dogs by teh PNC to intimidate opponents of the Burnham regime, and even had a priest killed.
8. Show where Hoyte or Burnham promoted rouge ministers to ambassador? RESPONSE: Burnham’s government after 1968 was illegal and so all who were appointed by his government served illegally.
9. Show where Hoyte or Burnham would have a minister in his employ who beat up a teenage in a rum shop then order the police to take away his gun and still keep him employ? RESPONSE: Are you for real? Whether it was beating a teenage or an adult, the fact is, cabinet ministers did commit acts of physical violence on others, and two of them are still alive an din the PNC executive!
10. Show where under Hoyte or Burnham a Commissioner of Police had his visas revoked by the US because of his association to drug lords and he was allowed to keep his job as Top Cop? RESPONSE: Visa revocation was not the order of the day in the Caribbean during Burnham’s era, so the question is irrelevant.
If these questions cannot be positively answered by you or Ram then the argument falls on its own. RESPONSE: I answered your questions and the fact remain unchanged: “For most of our post-Independence history, there has been a direct link between the criminal tendencies within the Forces and the political culture that encourages and sustains them.” That covers both the PPP and PNC eras.
1. Show where the PNC under Burnham or Hoyte supported the criminality of the police force as seen today and errant officers were not scantioned (dismissed, faced the court or stripped)? The Jim Jones affair was riddled with police and army knowledge of what went down there. Teekah’s mysterious death?
2. Show where Burnham or Hoyte gave polcie the authority to kill and he’ll answer to human rights people later? Dr. Walter Rodney? man like you gat a memory leak we might have to check your application for performance failures.
4. Show where under Burnham or Hoyte the Head of the Presidential Secretariat would say the gov’t will not discipline the army officers who tortured their fellow officers even after the Inquiry pointed to them? Ahhhh the difference here Albee is that there never was any inquiries under farbes.
5. Show where under Burnham or Hoyte a Minister of Agriculture would tell Parliament it was not torture just a little “roughing up”? Ah did you ever hear about Rabbi Washington?
6. Show where the PNC did not have an Ombudsman appointed as Jagdeo had for the last five years? ummmm how is the PNC any better even if they had an ombudsman that was only in name budday. Rememeber how they had an elections commission that used to rigg elections left right and center?
7. Show where under Hoyte or Burnham there was a Roger Khan outfit and close association with gov’t? uhhhh chips come and get your plantain chips. Budday u fughet rabbi already?
8. Show where under Hoyte or Burnham a Home Affairs Minister allegedly worked with a phantom squad which later revealed linked to durg lord Roger Khan? ow budday rabbi rabbi
8. Show where Hoyte or Burnham promoted rouge ministers to ambassador?
Rogue minister? you ever see hammie? carbin?
9. Show where Hoyte or Burnham would have a minister in his employ who beat up a teenage in a rum shop then order the police to take away his gun and still keep him employ? umm didn’t farbes bruk viola hand one time?
‘
10. Show where under Hoyte or Burnham a Commissioner of Police had his visas revoked by the US because of his association to drug lords and he was allowed to keep his job as Top Cop? This is something that the US State dept recently brought into practice so not a fair comparison. But i like this point anyway.
If these questions cannot be positively answered by you or Ram then the argument falls on its own.
Mr Ram, I am impressed by your letter but as they say, action speaks louder than words. The PPP has no effective opposition and this is why they are able to get away with such excessive abuses.
Lead, Mr. Ram if you want me to follow. Lead!
Good observation. But do you not get the impression sometimes that Corbin is allowing all this to happen so the stage can be set for Jagdeo to declare a national state of emergency and offer shared governance with the PNC as a panacea, especially if he knows his government could collapse as a result of actions by the US against his government, vis a vis Roger Khan and other criminalities?
After 45 years of Burnham and Jagan the people are tired and disenchanted. They have lost the will to fight for change as change has not brought them what they expected. The country is like a failed loveless marriage. People see the P.P.P. in power forever because of the racial divide and the Indian majority. There is no “Indian” Walter Rodney on the horizon and continuous fights over a shrinking pie. We are doomed to failure led by politicians who exploit our differences.
Well said Bora.
Borapork, couldn’t have been said better
Indeed, well said Bora, well said Chris Ram.
Mr Ram Sir , A time and place i am going to show up even if it’s in Guyana . Many of us talk the talk , now lets join hands and walk the walk . For too long , much too long we just sit back and watch things happen, it’s time for us to make things happen .If we don’t do it now when are we as Guyanese going to get up off your you know what and do what we have to do to get our Country back . Good letter.
Is Chris being wicked , scared, cautious or careless to suggest that these sorts of things happened under the PNC?
This is definitely not true and Ram must correct his statements.
The issue is not about police excess. That is a universal issue what is not universal and acceptable is the condoning of these by the Head of State and the government. This only happened with states such as Nazi Germany and Russia under Stalin and Iraq under Sadam Hussain. It seems like Guyana has a reincarnation of these three men in our youngest head of state.
The strange thing here is that the things we condemned the PNC for and held them accountable for were things that pale in comparison to what this government is doing. They were regular things like importation policies to conserve on foreign exchange, a constitution that we condemned that Jagdeo now says is the best and which his government embraces. Rigged elections that were never so sanctioned by the courts as was the 1997 elections which were declared vitiated making that the only record of rigged elections in Guyana. The killing of father Darke for which the court meeted out justice, the death of Walter Rodney that the PPP laid at the foot of the PNC but yet failed to launch an investigation into when they came into power. Food lines during austere days of rationing; scarcity of foreign exchange and rising oil prices and global downturn, NIS which is today a main pillar of social and economic stability; politicising of the TUC but today the PPP establishes their own political serving federated body, Komal Chand sits in parliament post 1992 and the PPP now says that it is fine policy. Chris, good job but definitely not an excellent piece. Make a complete break of those chains which prevented you from speaking up for the five young black boys. It is ok to do so.
We all know the PNC has Rabbi washington as their main enforcer back in the day, what are you trying to do rewrite history?
give me a break. I am clearly no fan of the PPP but the PPP has basically usurped the role of the dictatorial PNC anyway. So what are you griping about?
Brandon Samaroo, what happened to Rabbi Washington? Under whose gov’t was he tried and jail? Can you say the same for the PPP? Answering this question honestly will also answer if wrong doings are dealt with under the PNC and PPP. The difference will speak to the quality of gov’t we have now as against then?
Well sojourner you are talking about a man who at least had some conscience that is Silver fox. But lets be clear silver fox had to incarcerate Rabbi to protect his own tail. Don’t jump too high and haller too hard about that.
You know what I am saying? Remember silver also got rid of Hammie and several other enforcers within the PNC. So don’t celebrate too much.
Silver fox had his flaws but deep down he was a decent man. Towards the end of his days I think he got a bit dissillusioned but nevertheless I still have respect for the man.
BS,
Silver fox is Guyana’s best President every and One of it’s true patriot. Say what you want it was the crazy, illegal and down right nasty acts of the PPP that force him to confront them with threats and demonstartions. It takes a man like MR. Hoyte a long time to get on the other side and when the PPP failed to reason he was left with no choice but to deal with them appropiately. In my mind his actions were justified. Look at us today.
The President is incapable of finding solutions using a genuine stakeholders’ approach to good governance. I guess his training in the former Soviet Union (where communist dictatorship reigned) at the Peoples’ Friendship University, Patrice Lumumba has put him at a tremendous disadvantage.
With his time soon coming to and end, I can see him leaving a legacy as the worst President to have presided over the affairs of Guyana.
CRIS RAM, WHICH TICKET YOUR NAME WILL APPEAR ON COME 2011,.. YOUR CAMPAIGN SEEMS TO BE SWINGING INTO FULL GEAR NOW…. DON’T THINK ANYONE WILL DISAGREE WITH YOUR ABHORANCE OF POLICE BRUTALITY THAT SEEMS A HALLMARK OF THE GUYANA POLICE FORCE… but placing the entire blame at the feet of the GOVT….IS A DIVISIVE political tool,..and you know it… so your reason for sustained attack against the govt… could only mean political ambition,…. ..especially when you ssek to single out BLACK YOUTH AS YOUR PRIME EXAMPLE OF POLICE ACTION… YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF THE NUMBER OF POOR INDO- GUYANESE WHO HAVE BEEN BRUTALISED AND EVEN DIED WHILE IN THE HANDS OF POLICE STATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY?.. many of these hapless individuals, dragged to the lock-ups on allegations of domestic disputes and neighbours quarrels etc?…. sure you do,… then why your hypocritical observation, relative to the ethnicity of the alleged incident you QUOTE.. COME ON MR. RAM,… YOUR PIECE REEKS WITH “ENLIGHTENED” self interest…. it is sad when persons of your level of prominence in a society such as ours, puts self in front of national interest… AND ANY DIVISIVE PUBLIC POSTURE, AS PORTRAYED IN YOUR COMMENTS could never help our society at this stage..THE POLICE HAS A CULTURE OF VIOLENCE,.. INCULCATED MANY YEARS AGO,… BY A REGIME THEY FULLY SUPPORTED… AND A REGIME WHO HAD TOTAL CONTROL OF THEIR ACTIVITIES… .today it differs.. the CULTURE is still there, maybe ENHANCED, but the control is lost,… for obvious reasons,…I DO HOPE, you find the bed you are trying to prepare, comfortatable to lie in, should you suceed…
Well said Mr RAM,bring out the entire nation on a hunger strike,no work until jagdeo and his boys step down.
Well said Mr. Ram. With any luck your call to action will be answered by those who see the great wrong in this crime. I have great sympathy for the boy and his family. i wish him a speedy recovery from the people who were suppose to protect him.