The Linden Martyrs must not be forgotten

Jul 22, 2012 Letters

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Dear Editor,
As concerned Guyanese in the Diaspora, we strongly condemn the killing of three Guyanese citizens and the massive injuries of dozens of others at Linden.
This is a timely reminder of how the Stalin and other Marxist leaders in Russia have terminated their people for political means as the people protested peacefully for “bread”.
Based on the reports we have received out of the township, the latest estimated unemployment level stand at some 70 percent of which roughly 55 percent are youths and to add ignorance to dotishness, an increase in electricity rates is being foist on the people when they do not have adequate economic means to absorb such increases. What kind of human development model is this?
Part of the preamble to our constitutional states we the people pledge to “to respect human dignity and to cherish and uphold the principles of freedom, equality and democracy and all other fundamental human rights.” Nothing done by the goons (“Target Squad aka Black Clothes”) of Minister Rohee in Linden during that protest respected the founding principles of this nation. In reality Rohee’s Force acted above and outside of the rule of law and thus immediately all involved including Rohee must step away from their role to “protect and serve” the people until an international and independent enquiry is concluded.
Since losing majority power, the PPP choose not to engage the majority of the people but to rule in a dictatorial manner (run to Court every day, pay people to protest Parliament in support of their corrupt ways etc) rather than accept the reality. They have also starved communities like Linden, New Amsterdam, Central Corentyne and East Bank Berbice that banished them at the polls.
Now they have added a new flavor to their menu of measures to drive the East Indians back into the PPP camp by using their bull whip called “fear.”  This is all part of the PPP grand strategy as they use their agents provocateurs to drive a wedge between the Afro and Indo Guyanese.
Clement Rohee has clearly stated in a letter to the press that “If ever there are tensions in our society it is because of the political opposition fuelled by sections of the media, and rarely the government.”  The play book was pulled out and the authors of the death of those Linden Martyrs were instructed since June 29, 2012 that the plan has to be put into action.
This country had changed for the better when Dr Jagan took up the struggle for the Enmore Martyrs and made the old PPP into a national movement.  If the political opposition especially the AFC does not take up this struggle for the Linden Martyrs and use the sentiments to apprise the people of the racist game being played by Jagdeo/Ramotar PPP, then Guyana will forever be ruled by this inept, dictatorial and corrupt PPP regime.
That is why we are calling on the true freedom fighters and non-racist Guyanese leaders like the Hon. Moses V. Nagamootoo and Nigel Hughes to take their rightful place as our leaders. We are determined to take this struggle forward.  There is no place for weak leadership “who are afraid to protest” and “who are prepared to dialogue with a murderous regime.”  The AFC must leave the tripartite talks and focus on gathering the resources to feed the people on the streets in Linden as they join hands with their brothers and sisters in the sugar belt in creating a peaceful and prosperous Guyana in which all and not only a privilege few benefit from its resources. In the process Guyanese must get rid of all the racist and corrupt personnel who continue to steal from the poor and the working class resulting in under-development in many communities like Linden.
In this time of bereavement, the AFC must seize this opportunity and act as consoler and healer of the nation against these oppressors. To this end, they should ask the nation to pray for the bereaved families and also expose those who secretly engaged in talks with the killing machine in the PPP. The AFC must join with all stakeholders and mobilize the people of Guyana to commence a nightly vigil at State House until the demands of the people are met. The blood of the LINDEN MARTYRS must not be shed in vain.
In this regards, the people should demand the following from the killing machine in the PPP:
1. The Police officers involved in the shooting must be arrested and charged for murder;
2. Adequate compensation must be paid to the families of the murdered victims who were cut down in the prime of their lives, as well as all those who sustained injuries at the hands of some rogue police officers.
3. President Ramotar must apologize to the families of the murdered victims for the barbaric act of these agents of his PPP Government;
4. President Ramotar must ordered the immediate suspension of the proposed increases in electricity tariffs until his Government does something tangible with regards to job creation in Region 10 to impact on the un-naturally high unemployment rate fostered under the PPP;
5. President Ramotar must consult with Lindeners to develop an economic plan that will provide long term and sustainable employment for the people of Linden;
6. President Ramotar must act on the reforms promised by the PPP as a result of the work by the Symonds Group from the UK to make the Police more accountable to the people;
7. The Forestry Commission and the Geology and Mines Commission must be moved to Linden to immediately create some new jobs for the people of Region 10.
We demand that the combined opposition place a vote of no confidence in Parliament against Minister Rohee for misleading the public and his mismanagement of the security forces.
It is the moral imperative of the combined opposition to demand the immediate end of the brutality in Guyana and an end to all PPP racist policies. We urged all Guyanese to stand up and defend the human rights of all citizens, particularly the poor and the working class who have been abandoned by the corrupt PPP regime.
THESE SENSELESS KILLINGS MUST STOP!! LET FREEDOM REIGN!!!
Sasenarine Singh MSc. and Dr. Asquith Rose

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