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Let us grieve for Shelisha, and not kill her again

Jun 18, 2008 Letters

Dear Editor,
Another horrendous act of inhuman monstrosity has been committed on a defenceless girl. What was her only crime? Being a female; being a young and attractive girl in the wrong place at the wrong time?
What could possibly cause four men to want to, not only quench their ghastly yearning for sex by gang-raping an innocent teenager, but also proceeding to brutally murder her?

We seem to be asking these questions quite often these days. The increasing incidents of violence, including rape and murder, of our women and girls have not gone unnoticed.

Some might say that the perpetrators are ‘sick’ people and should be institutionalised; that they were under the influence of alcohol or drugs and, therefore, were not in control of their mental faculties; that they were provoked by the way the victims were dressed, or that they acted in a soliciting manner. Many more trumped-up justifications… And what is the role of the media?

Shelisha has been raped and killed, and the media is raping and killing her again. What are the innuendoes when the media writes “… the teenager was also consuming alcoholic beverages. She was swinging with guys with a mini bus”.

The media is raping her integrity and is urging the public to conclude that Shelisha “deserved” what she got. Is this responsible journalism?

No amount of excuses can justify this heinous crime against a young girl who still had her entire life ahead. Not only have the criminals robbed Shelisha of her human right to life, they have also ‘raped” the family by denying them the opportunity to hold, to nurture, and to enjoy their child.

They have incurred human loss on the community and society as a whole. Guyana has emerged poorer by this animalistic attack on innocence. One does not need to be an expert to recognise that we are living in an increasingly violent society.

What will be a fitting punishment for those guilty of such sadistic behaviour? No punishment will be too harsh.

The law enforcement agencies must ensure that the full force of the law is applied. Too bad that Shelisha was unable to receive the protection she deserved.

We know that our justice system will uphold the letter of the law, but we also appeal to those who enforce the system to defend the spirit of the law. The law must protect the innocent and punish the guilty.

Too many criminals and sex offenders go scot-free because of so-called loopholes in the law argued by skilful legal minds. On the other hand, the victims are either dead or remain with deeply hidden scars for the rest of their lives.

Guyanese Women In Development (GUYWID) calls on all Guyanese to be even more vigilant to bring an end to violence against our women, and an end to all forms of violence in our society. Life is too short and too precious to be wasted.

We express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Shelisha Khan. May God grant you the strength and courage to face and eventually overcome this grief.

GUYWID

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