Report only serves to demoralize Joint Services

Dear Editor,

I refer to the report ‘Lindo Creek massacre – Fineman story came from two women on hijacked bus –police’ in SN  (July 25). I also express my heartfelt sympathy to relatives of the victims of the Lusignan, Bartica, and the most recent Lindo Creek massacres.

Having read this article and a sampling of the seventy-six comments posted online, I cannot help being dismayed by the open display of bias, disrespect, and intent to discredit the Guyana Police Force, which feeds the animosity of the commentators toward the Joint Services and the administration of our country.

The comments seem, for most part, to  convey the feelings of an orgy of hatred.

The victims’ blood is Guyana’s blood and it is offensive that some should use the terrible events to fuel hatred for any other section of our society. Guyana is ours whether we are at home or abroad. We are all to blame, and we must all feel the shame of these ugly events. The tone of the report suggests cynicism for GPF and a disregard for rational thinking by both the writer and those posting comments on the article.

With the concluding paragraph seeming designed to ignite and feed the hatred of and banish all reason from those waiting commentators, I wonder what standard the Stabroek News adheres to, that allows it to conclude the report by saying, “Police have so far not explained how the gang would have moved 90 miles from the original confrontation with weapons and supplies when they were supposed to have been on the run. The police have also not explained how since the Joint Services had control of the area there was no sign of smoke from the camp when the bodies were being burnt some time in June after the June 6 Christmas Falls shootout.”

This makes me wonder if the writer of this report is Mr Arokium, or is so lacking in impartiality or independent thinking that Mr Arokium’s story must be accepted as gospel.

In all the reports and comments read so far, those intent on accusing the security of the country of such a horrendous deed seem to be conveniently avoiding some relevant factors. The attitude is that Mr Arokium’s story is right but everything from the Joint Services or an opposing view is suspect.

If I were a member of Guyana’s security forces I would find the paragraph quoted above extremely revolting.

The writer implies that the only reliable source is Mr Arokium, and that in his mind he and his commentators have tried and convicted the Joint Services which must now prove otherwise. Any reasonable and clear-thinking person will consider the following factors before blaming anyone. Mr Arokium had not been at the camp for an extended period prior to the discovery of the remains of his men. Even though he made contact once during his absence, could he be sure to whom he spoke? It has also not been established when the men were killed, so the theory proposed for ruling out the gang is a weak one.

Could they not have been killed before the army went into the area? Accusing the Joint Services without any evidence or the findings of an investigation can only be considered illogical. The Joint Services have never been involved in any atrocity of this nature, and there has been no indication that they have displayed a propensity towards such behaviour. The other basis on which blame is being placed on the Joint Services is that fire or smoke from the burning of the bodies should have been seen by them. Such a claim can only be made by people who know nothing of the vastness of the jungle.

They seem not to realize how puny man and his activities are in the vastness and power of nature. It is therefore unreasonable to conclude that “the Joint Services had control of the area” and expect them to detect everything in the vastness of the jungle – that is if we assume they were in the area at the time of the crime, although it has not been determined definitively when the crime was actually committed.

The report and the attached comments would serve no constructive purpose for our country. It comes through as an effort to demoralize the Joint Services. It seems to be following the pattern of efforts to satisfy the delusions of some who claim to be ‘opinion makers’ and who can see nothing positive happening in Guyana. In their efforts to distract the government from its focus on developmental efforts, they create an illusion of our country as a society ‘falling down,’ a ‘failed state’ and focus their energies in getting everyone to see it through their eyes and with their twisted thinking.

I would be pleased to read less partisan and negative reporting and comments by my fellow Guyanese. There is need to reflect love for our country and focus on positive energy for its development, and support for its institutions. It is by focusing on the good there is, that we attract what is good for ourselves to build a better Guyana.

Those who continue to see only evil in Guyana and focus their energies negatively could be reminded of the words of Job: “The thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.” We are the world. The blame starts with us. Each is responsible and it is irresponsible to live our lives blaming others for everything. Wasting our lives generating negative thoughts and energy to manifest as biased reports and comments with serious flaws in reasoning would do no good for Guyana.

Yours faithfully,
Art Foster