Latest update November 18th, 2024 1:00 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

There was pervasive and widespread torture during the dictatorship

Aug 28, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
In recent days, several correspondences appeared in the media about torture.  Freddie Kissoon, for example, insinuated there wasn’t much torture during the dictatorship, while others gave examples with names of political opponents (from the WPA and PPP) being tortured – lit cigarettes being placed on their sex organs, etc.  I too know of and witnessed examples of torture. There was pervasive and widespread torture during the dictatorship.
Roy Nancoo of Canada, a brave freedom fighter, was picked up and savagely beaten by the intelligence police during a visit to Guyana in the late 1980s.  After he came out of the dungeons of Camp Street, he could not be recognised.  His face was bloodied and swollen taking the appearance of two heads. This torture occurred during the Hoyte dictatorship.  Roy was kept in lock up for years on sedition charges when his only crime was to advocate for the restoration of democracy and an end to election rigging. Doodnauth Singh was his lawyer in court.  There was no evidence to keep him in jail. Charges against him were dropped after democracy was restored.
I saw and experienced beating of students at the hands of police on the Corentyne in February and March 1977. I saw the military police pointing guns at students with school books in their hands.  Also, police came to the homes of students who were leading non-violent protests calling for religious freedom and arrested them on charges against the state.  Students were terrorized and had to run into peoples’ homes and buses for shelter.
Dr.Ravi Dev was picked up by the intelligence police in 1989 for questioning and beaten with a rubber hose.  He was quizzed about his presence in Guyana and his association with opposition political parties and harassed over several weeks.
There are numerous other cases of torture that Freddie needs to be informed about.  He should consult Moses Bhagwan, Doonauth Singh and other lawyers who donated their time to represent those who were branded enemies of the state.
Vishnu Bisram

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 15th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Brewley’s ‘glut’ inspires Hard Knocks to ExxonMobil Futsal Championship Finals 

Brewley’s ‘glut’ inspires Hard Knocks to ExxonMobil Futsal...

Nov 18, 2024

-YMCA awaits in $1M Showdown on November 23  Kaieteur Sports –Futsal fans were treated to a thrilling spectacle at the Retrieve Hard Court in Linden on Saturday evening as Hard Knocks and YMCA...
Read More
Final T20 between England and West Indies washed out

Final T20 between England and West Indies washed...

Nov 18, 2024

Zion Gray propels Eagles to GBF Elite 16 Semi-Finals 

Zion Gray propels Eagles to GBF Elite 16...

Nov 18, 2024

Looknauth stars as Anacondas lift inaugural GCB betCageSports National T20 Title

Looknauth stars as Anacondas lift inaugural GCB...

Nov 18, 2024

Gold is Money wins inaugural Chung Global ‘Champion of Champions’ Tournament

Gold is Money wins inaugural Chung Global...

Nov 18, 2024

Afraz Budhoo – A promising cricketing star on the horizon 

Afraz Budhoo – A promising cricketing star...

Nov 18, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]