Dear Editor,
At first I thought that the headline was a misprint. That the number massacred in Bartica was “1” or “2” and not “12.” Not again. Not so many. No! No! No!
Coming so soon after Lusignan, this is beyond numbing. There is an unspeakable dread and sense of siege -even from afar. There is a paralyzing and pervasive fear: where is next? And how many will be scythed down? There is fear at the massive carnage; at the near absolute absence of any semblance of control by the government; and at the absolute ruthlessness of the gunmen.
The ante has been raised. No more games, no more talking, no more pussyfooting. This is war, and a one-sided one at that. Citizens of all colours are fair game, and are dying by the dozen. Race does not matter anymore. January left ineradicable memories of Lusignan. Now, February has seized our consciences through the bloody stranglehold of Bartica. What will March bring us? Who will make it to April or May?
Mr President (and party and government), please listen. There are two sounds in the land: that of guns and the cries of victims. There is no need to acknowledge–at least publicly–that intended solutions are too many days late, and too many bodies short. The walls are closing in, and from all points. The time is overdue to listen. Listen, please!
Lusignan identified that the situation is beyond control. Bartica reinforced this with more innocent blood. It cannot be contained alone. It cannot be resolved alone. There has to be outreach, inclusion, negotiation, and compromise for anything of lasting substance to be achieved. In less than 25 days, 24 have been murdered. They have paid the ultimate price for us the survivors. Do not let our brothers and sisters and children and neighbours be sacrificed at the altars of intransigence and miscalculation. The current approach is not working; it has no chance of overcoming. How many more innocents have to die before there will be a cessation of confronting insanity with insanity?
It is the responsibility of government and leadership to take the first step to stop the killing by listening, talking, acting. I plead that this first step be taken today. There are intermediaries waiting. The nation will be a better, far less bloody place if such actions occur.
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
