President Jagdeo needs no lecture from Williams on Gaza issue

Jan 14, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
I refer to Mr. Roger Williams’ letter of January 9, 2009 in the SN, with the caption: “President’s statement on Gaza situation should not be considered a ‘Guyana’ position”.
The President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana is the Head of State, the Supreme Executive Authority and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and the President is constitutionally elected by the people.
Therefore, he has the authority to issue pronouncements on Guyana, as appropriate, and the President’s statement on the Gaza invasion is appropriate. The following is President Bharrat Jagdeo’s invited comment from the Guyana Chronicle of January 7, 2009:
“The Jewish people have suffered much over the years through persecution and the disproportionate use of force, and of all peoples, should understand the plight of the Palestinian people. Guyana condemns absolutely the atrocities being perpetrated against the people of Palestine, especially the murder of innocent women and children,” the President said.
The Guyanese Leader said that the Government of Guyana has over the years advocated a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the people of Israel and Palestine living in their independent countries in peace and harmony.
“The Government of Guyana will continue to support this position, and therefore calls for an immediate ceasefire and for the two sides to return to the negotiating table. Only through this medium could a solution be found for peace between the peoples of Israel and Palestine.”
Clearly, Mr. Willliams’ letter distorts the President’s message on the need for peace between both Palestinians and the Israelis in the Middle East; the President’s position is quite consistent with many democratically-elected world leaders’ position on the Middle East conflict.
Several world leaders are on record as condemning the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip. Do they have the right to make such pronouncements on this Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip?
I believe they do, and so does President Jagdeo. Here are some world leaders and the UN Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) pronouncements on the Gaza invasion:
President Nicholas Sarkozy of France “firmly condemns the irresponsible provocations that have led to this situation, as well as the disproportionate use of force”. Is this France’s position?
Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak issued warning to Israel on the consequences of the invasion, and apportioned responsibility on Israel for any civilians killed or wounded. Is this Egypt’s position?
Jordan’s King Abdullah II also demanded that Israel should cease its attacks on Gaza, and referred to the Israeli attack as “aggression”. Is this Jordan’s position?
A UNHRC’s resolution critical of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza was adopted, and said in part that Israel’s military action had “resulted in massive violations of human rights of the Palestinian people”. Is this the UN Human Rights Council’s position?
There is no question that this President has the right to make pronouncements on international relations, and so he does not need Mr. Williams to lecture him on what he should or should not address.
Prem Misir

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President Jagdeo needs no lecture from Williams on Gaza issue

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