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Camp Lindo murders

Arokium standing by his story

(‘Everything is compromised nothing they could say now to me and others that is truthful, but they (police) have to say what they have to say and I am saying what I know’ )

By Nigel Williams

Diamond miner, Leonard Arokium yesterday said he was standing by his position that the security forces were behind the murder of his camp workers and he dismissed comments made by the acting police chief, Henry Greene on Thursday that all leads are pointing to Rondell Rawlins’ gang.

“Everything is compromised nothing they could say now to me and others that is truthful, but they (police) have to say what they have to say and I am saying what I know,” Arokium, owner of the Lindo Creek, Berbice River mining camp declared.

Up to press time last night the security forces had not caught up with Rawlins and other criminals believed to be still trapped in the jungle. In a statement on Thursday the joint services said that acting on information received, during Wednesday ranks recovered an AK-47 rifle along with ammunition and articles which were dug up at a location at Ituni. The statement said 324, 7.62 x 39 rounds, four magazines for the rifle, five 20-gauge cartridges, two 9mm rounds, one 40mm round, one camouflage pouch and one green canvas tarpaulin were also recovered. The Joint Services had maintained since June 6 – following the police attack on the Rawlins camp at Christmas Falls - that the gunmen were trapped in the jungle. They have since not explained how the men were still able to move 90 miles to the Aroaima trail one week later where they hijacked a busload of passengers.

Two of the gunmen, Julius Chung and Cecil Ramcharran were shot dead the same day at Goat Farm. President Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday announced that his administration has since requested forensic pathology assistance from the US to help determine when and under what circumstances the miners were killed.
Greene speaking at a press conference on Thursday said Arokium was not forthcoming with information and he had made several stops after discovering the dead men last Saturday before reporting it to the police.

Asked about this yesterday, Arokium told Stabroek News that he chose to tell his story first to the media before making himself available to the police. “That’s all I did. I didn’t make several stops I contacted the media, gave them my story and then I made myself available to the police, Arokium said. Besides, he said that when he first received word that his workers were killed two weeks ago he had become suspicious that it might have been a ploy to lure him into the area and then kill him. “I was afraid, but when I went in and saw the bodies I turned back and that was it,” Arokium said. He said he was not upset with what the police were now saying, noting that it is in their interest to deny the allegations. “I am standing by what I have said and which I supported with details,” Arokium asserted.

Credible

Meanwhile, the main opposition, People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) yesterday repeated its call, for an independent investigation into the circumstances leading to the deaths of the eight miners. The party in a statement said that the controversial circumstances and reports surrounding the deaths of the men make it incumbent for a credible and independent Commission of Inquiry (CI) to be appointed to determine who was responsible for this tragedy. The Alliance For Change has also made a similar call and President Jagdeo said while he had not decided on whether to hold one, if he were to agree to a CI it would have to take in the other massacres to determine whether there was any political connection.

Trotman subsequently said that the police had already determined who carried out the two massacres at Lusignan and Bartica and as such doing a CI for those would undermine the lawmen’s work. The PNCR said it has taken careful note of the fact that there are at least two versions of the events surrounding the deaths of the miners. It noted that Arokium is confident that his employees were killed by the security forces and he has spelt out the reasons for this belief in several interviews with the media, while on the other hand the Joint Services, and more recently the Commissioner of Police have issued vigorous rebuttals to Arokium’s claim. “The Joint Services are contending that the miners were killed by the gunmen who were fleeing them after they were surrounded at Christmas Falls. More puzzling is the recent statement by the Commissioner that they are trying to locate two members of the Joint Services who were stationed in the area at the time,” the party stated.

According to the PNCR, its Leader Robert Corbin met with Arokium and other relatives of the deceased on Monday and from their discussions the party is more convinced of the need for such an enquiry after that meeting.” The Party therefore strongly urges the Jagdeo administration to stop the prevarication and urgently appoint a credible Commission of Inquiry. Such an Inquiry will be important for the credibility and public confidence in our security forces, now facing credible allegations of torture, and bring closure to the concerns and distress of the many families affected by this tragedy.” In addition, the party extended sincere condolences to the families of the eight miners: Dax Arokium, Cedric Arokium, Compton Speirs, Horace Drakes, Clifton Wong, Lancelot Lee, Bonny Harry and Nigel Torres.

The Party said it regretted the loss of life and, in particular, the undignified manner in which they were killed and their bodies disposed of. According to the PNCR the miners were the financial supporters of their families and their deaths are bound to place additional burdens on these families, at a time when the economic situation in Guyana is having a devastating social impact on most of our citizens.

Greene on Thursday had told the media that the miners were warned to leave the area following the June 6 attack at Christmas Falls. Yesterday Arokium said he was not aware of any warning being issued to the miners, noting that he found this strange since his workers were mingling with soldiers stationed at the UNAMCO gate. Investigators are yet to interview the soldiers who Arokium said had shared food with his miners at one time. Greene said whether the men heard the announcement but refused to leave or did not hear the warning at all was still an issue to be cleared up. He said what was clear was that Arokium knew about the joint services activities in the area as he had enquired from a policewoman at Kwakwani when it was safe for him to travel to the area.

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20 Responses to “Camp Lindo murders”

Victor Kersting
on June 28th, 2008 6:08 am

I totally support Mr. Arokium and the opposition parties calling for an independent inquiry. I never saw an advisory in the news papers at the time for miners to leave the area. If it was issued it probably was done on an individual basis to miners. If so is there a copy of the one issued to Mr. Arokium. In addition the Joint Services knew the miners were in that location. Could we see a record of how miny visits members of the Joint Services paid to those miners to urge them to leave the area and if they refused to leave what excuses they gave. Further if they refused to leave it was the responsibility of the Joint Services to check on their safey as long as the operation lasted since they could have been caught in the cross fire in the event of a shoot out.
This a crime committed where agents of state are accused that is why there is this urgent call for an enquiry. In the other incidents at Lusignan and Bartica agents of the state were not accused. All three incidents must not be lumped together in any inquiry. There is not doubt that inquiries are to be held into the social breakdown that has led to the Lusignan and Bartica killings but to lump them with the Lindo Creek Killings would be to dilute the issue of the alleged involvemnet of the agents of the state in the Lindo Creek killings. I think the President and the Commissioner of police is taking this accusation too lightly and trying to brush off the incident as just another of Fineman activities. This issue will not go away that easily.

[Reply to this]
amen-ra
on June 28th, 2008 7:12 am

I think the joint forces don’t have a clue where fineman is, how can he still be trapped in the jungle and he was 90 miles away at the aroaima trail. also mr. arokium should let us know who were those two callers that informed him that the miners were killed. There’s so many unanwered questions, i hope an independent investigation could shed some light here or it will be another unsolved killing with only fineman to be blamed.

[Reply to this]
dan
on June 28th, 2008 7:28 am

Crime is the worst every in Guyana, I believe Mr. Leonard Arokium story .
On the other hand the Join Service and the Government is trying their best to pin this on fineman through their “so call “ballistic test that so far has confirmed all the gun crime in 83,000 square mile was done by fineman.

It is not surprising that a magistrate who was a COP has recently shot a policeman.
The magistrate does not even trust the police, why should the general public.
If a survey is done concerning who the people think is responsible for the miners death, over 90% will say it’s the joint service.

Guyana needs foreign help since government seems to only have the brain power to cook up deal like the buddy Hotel and the Textile

[Reply to this]
rdman
on June 28th, 2008 8:54 am

Stick with your story mr.Arokium and wait for the U.S expert to complete his findings,if ever he comes,and be careful of the phantom squad.

[Reply to this]
ChocolateCCM
In reply to the above comment on June 28th, 2008 8:47 pm:
Good advice, rdman!

[Reply to this]
blacka
on June 28th, 2008 9:34 am

stay strong mr Arokium…..if thats what u feel happened so be it…….whats funny tho is that i aint know the joint forces had sonar equipment….or did they borrow that from roger khan……cause i wonder how they know guns and stuff bury in the ground up ituni…..or maybe there was a sign marked “Guns buried here” at the spot…….anyone know a good publisher….i want to write a book about these happenings in guyana….its gonna be a best seller i can feel it……there is suspense…..drama…..conspiracy…betrial….cover ups and romance……lol…..more to come

[Reply to this]
motherofmine
In reply to the above comment on June 28th, 2008 5:20 pm:
SOUNDS FUNNY BUT YOU ARE RIGHT ON TARGET

[Reply to this]
malaika06
In reply to the above comment on June 28th, 2008 5:40 pm:
Eh? wey de romance coming from?

[Reply to this]
ChocolateCCM
In reply to the above comment on June 28th, 2008 8:45 pm:
Smilingly, how funny, blackta.

In all seriousness, I sympathize with the familes that lost loved ones.

[Reply to this]
t_charmb5
on June 28th, 2008 10:30 am

Like I said in the beginning I believe my uncle story and I am sticking by him all the way. Our family is a strong bunch of people and we will not give up until the truth comes out. We are all educated people and know what is right from wrong. Uncle Leonard stay strong on be strong for your family and the rest of the miners family. The man have hurt in his eyes for his family and workers because he wants to know the truth. So the government needs to do something very quick.

[Reply to this]
motherofmine
In reply to the above comment on June 28th, 2008 5:22 pm:
I THINK THE GOINT SERVICES WILL TRY TO CHARGE YOUR UNCLE WITH SOMETHING TO TRY AND DISCREDIT HIM, WATCH AND SEE

[Reply to this]
BADLALL
In reply to the above comment on June 29th, 2008 12:46 am:
T_charmb 5
I feel your families pain and so does many other Guyanese. This is what you can do for Leonard Arokium and i know he will accept, let him have your password (SN) on this forum, let him log in under your name and tell us his story in his own words he must do a (reply to this ) . Send the password to him through a close friend or family member don’t do it directly. Do it ASAP. I will repeat this message tomorrow just in case you did not see it today.

[Reply to this]
cochore
on June 28th, 2008 10:47 am

All the actors on the stage called the PPP government need better lines, I mean…. it’s insulting and embarrassing when we hear the diatrib coming from these Gov’t officials on any issue. The Police Chief is the latest culprit and needs a good PR man to help him with Mr Arokium, who is telling a credible story everytime he’s quoted in the media.

[Reply to this]
Alicia
on June 28th, 2008 11:32 am

No No Jagdeo…these smokescreens about political killings can’t work anymore? What do you have to lose by having an independent CI? Only you can answer that I guess.

[Reply to this]
Adelene Stephenson
on June 28th, 2008 7:47 pm

Mr. Arokium is sticking to his “story”. I am awaiting his presentation of facts and evidence. Emotional thinking seemed to have replaced intelligence and logic. This is too serious a matter to be decided upon by “old talk” and “gaffe”. I will await the findings of an urgent independent inquiry.

[Reply to this]
totally fed up
on June 28th, 2008 8:41 pm

stay strong MR AROKIUM
IM AM EXTREMELY CONFIDENT WITH YOUR SIDE OF THE STORY, THESE PEOPLE ALWAYS TRYING TO LURE US INTO BELIEVING THEIR NONSENSE BUT THEY SHALL NOT GET THROUGH THIS TIME JUST BE ON YOUR GUARD AND AVOIDING BEING BY YOURSELF BECAUSE U R IN GUYANA AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY LOVE TO DO WITH THE EVIDENCE JUST B STRONG ONCE AGAIN AS I PRAY FOR YOU.

[Reply to this]
totally fed up
on June 28th, 2008 8:53 pm

BE STRONG MY BROTHER

I STRONGLY BELIEVE YOUR PART OF THE STORY THEY CAN FOOL SOME PEOPLE SOMETIME BUT THEY CANT FOOL ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME SO JUST STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU KNOW

[Reply to this]
BOEING777
on June 29th, 2008 8:12 pm

I believe Leonard Arokium’s version of the events that unfolded.

The lies and innuendos coming from all the actors are dispicable to say the least.

When will this regime come clean on all aspects of this so called “fineman”

The boloney is stinking to high hell…

[Reply to this]
maryjane
on June 30th, 2008 6:17 pm

O, Beautiful guyana!! NO MORE ! Jagdeo, Henry Greene, Best, you people got guyana as a slaughter house, killing innocent people. every killing is ” fineman”. why is it so hard for you to catch this man and his gang? .mr. Arokium is not a bandit and has no association with “fineman” . Roger Khan, what a shame? imagine another country, had to hand him over to the F.B.I.

Black people, let’s wake up! they always said that MR. Burnham was a bad man, but he’s not, compared with this present government.
Mr. Arokium lost his son and brother and his workers. They have kids, wifes, mother, friend and relatives. Then you sit there trying to frame Arokium. He is not a murderer. What would his motive Be? Mr. Arokium has been a Sworn land Surveyor for decades, he know the terrain at the palm of his hands, so he know what he’s talking about.

Jagdeo is calling for Guyanese to come back home. Jagdeo, we do not trust you to protect our lives and families lives. So sorry Jagdeo, we ain’t coming back.

Greene, god do not like Ugly. Suffering the poor trying to make a living, cutting short their lives, and not worrying to even do a thorough investigation. Just jumping on fineman. How could fineman be at all these places at the same time. Shame on you Henry.

Leave Arokium alone.

[Reply to this]
La vie est bonne!
on July 1st, 2008 1:13 am

I do not believe the version of the police.

Mr Arokium’s version is more plausible.

[Reply to this]