Human barricade thwarts bulldozer

Jul 29, 2012 News

---

Linden protestors clashed with security forces yesterday as attempts were made to clear a main link to that mining town. The clash came even as President Donald Ramotar was scheduled to make an appearance in that town to address residents on the issue of the recently put forward hike in electricity tariffs.
Electricity rates increases were to be instituted on July 1 but Government in light of the uproar, has since suspended the action.
The mining town for a number of years has been enjoying a subsidy that saw residents paying extremely low rates for electricity. Government had indicated the rise in electricity fares, but  Lindeners have been adamant that they are not in a position to pay the new electricity rates and they will not be doing so since no improved conditions in the community have been set up to raise the standard of living.
Despite efforts by the police force to have the residents disperse so that the road could be cleared, the ranks had to eventually abandon their task as the protestors formed a human barricade and grouped around an excavator that was clearing the road; rendering the machine inactive.
Around 9:30 yesterday morning, several persons were detained by the police in their advance to the Kara Kara Bridge to commence their clearing exercise to facilitate the President’s visit.  Although a few persons had originally converged at the Bridge, within minutes of the police commencing their clearing exercise, hundreds of persons started to present themselves on the scene.
It took the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to provide a measure of control between the police and the angry residents. While few of the police officers had shields but no guns, the army ranks were well equipped in riot gear and AK rifles.
Large logs, planks and other items used to halt the flow of traffic were scattered on the bridge and residents had set up a makeshift tent that shaded persons who kept guard. That was however destroyed along with the bridge railings when police officers using the excavator pushed away the material lodged in between the rail spaces, thus ripping up the safety bars with the large logs.
Police ranks were not spared their share of verbal abuse when they manhandled residents who flooded the street. As the police held on to one individual, others approached arguing their right to protest and their right to condemn what was taking place.
The residents further condemned the use of force towards one individual who was recording the proceedings. That man’s camera was slapped out of his hand by a police rank.
Prior to the police taking up their position on the bridge, they could be heard informing each other that the media was around and that they must watch what they did. The residents even complained about the police ranks not wearing their name tags as they worked and also stripping their uniforms of the badges of rank.
The Lindeners became even more enraged when during the bridge clearing process, a log fell on the leg of a young woman. The residents advanced to the excavator and it was not long before the police abandoned their task.
The residents became very emotional as they stood under a log that was raised by the heavy machinery. Many yelled that they were not moving and declaring that ‘they will die today, if it means the log should fall on them.” The excavator within seconds was swarmed by the residents who formed a ring. Men, women, young and old grouped together and it was almost impossible to see a dry eye. They embraced each other and broke into tears.
Several senior ranks advanced to speak to the crowd asking them to remove from around the excavator and the risen log. That proved fruitless.
For a moment it seemed as if residents had forgotten that they were focusing on the road being cleared as they took time out to “boo” and point out who they said was the first policeman to open fire on one of the three men who were shot and killed on the first day of the planned five-day protest that has now been prolonging for 12 days.
“You killed my brother; I saw you, I mark your face,” one man shouted as the particular officer traversed the scene videotaping what was happening. For almost half an hour the man had to endure taunts and jeers from the crowd before they again focused their attention on the heavy equipment.
It took almost two hours before the bulldozing equipment could have moved from where it was. The operator had to abandon his task when the residents were no longer threatened by the police and stood firm for the excavator to go no further. All this time a GDF helicopter circled the skies overlooking what was taking place on the ground.

---

---