The Office of the President last week rebuffed the document which is the Joint Opposition Political Parties (JOPP)’s compilation of a partial list of citizens unlawfully killed by citizens between 1993 and 2002; a partial list of citizens allegedly shot to death [and] otherwise unlawfully killed by the “Black Clothes” squad or other rogue elements of the security services, the “phantom squad,” as well as other instances of extra-judicial killing, execution or assassination; and a full list of extra-judicial and other killings between 1993 and 2009, numbering 449.
In its first formal response to the dossier, the government said the compilation of abuses, including the torture and murder of citizens allegedly carried out with state support contained inexplicable and reckless entries as well as major omissions. “It is obvious that the PNCR and their acolytes in their parliamentary opposition parties have used the publication of the dossier to advance their grand design which is to sensationalise, to confuse and to score partisan political points using the circumstances of the dead as their primary tool,” OP had said in a statement.
PNCR leader Robert Corbin reading the party’s statement at a press briefing yesterday noted that the administration’s contention is that the information outlined in the dossier is inaccurate.
“If indeed the PPP/C is certain of their declared position then there should be no hesitation in heeding the call for an international inquiry. Surely, this would vindicate the regime from all the allegations. The PNCR is not fooled by the usual propaganda that has become a trademark of the administration’s response,” Corbin stated.
He stated that the publication has motivated many Guyanese to provide much more information that had been omitted from the dossier and in this vein he said the party welcomed the developments and call upon all Guyanese to supply the relevant information to ensure that the dossier becomes a more comprehensive document.
According to OP, a preliminary review of their dossier reveals that among the 449 entries are: persons who are alive; persons “officially” listed as missing; victims of criminal/terrorists gangs; law enforcement officers, police and soldiers killed in the line of duty; known wanted criminals who died in armed confrontations with the joint services; victims of vehicular accidents; cases currently under police investigation; and cases subjected to judicial review. It added that if the compilation is to be deemed “appropriate and comprehensive, the omission of major cases would have to be explained.” OP did not cite any of the “major” omissions.
Referring to the objection from OP that the document had omissions, Corbin stated that alleged inaccuracies did not diminish the objective of the JOPP.
“The dossier is not intended to replace an inquiry but rather to make the case for such an inquiry to be held. The evidence to support the contentions therein would be left for witnesses to provide to the inquiry when established. No amount of criticism therefore could diminish the need for such an inquiry,” he reiterated.
He added that the party in collaboration with all opposition parties will continue to pursue the objective of an international inquiry to investigate the links between the Jagdeo administration and a criminal enterprise led by Roger Khan as well as the numerous human rights abuses highlighted in the dossier.
Corbin urged too that all Guyanese to support the JOPP’s efforts to ensure that justice is served and closure can be brought to the lives of the affected family members of the victims.
