OAS pledges support to Guyana in resolving Linden problems

Aug 25, 2012 News

– Plugs defence of human rights and democracy

Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS) Mr. Jose Miguel Insulza has pledged the OAS’ full support to help the government maintain peace and security and strengthen human rights and democracy, following the recent unrest in Linden.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry here said, the Secretary–General stated it was important not to rush to

OAS Secretary-General Jose Manuel Insulza

judgment, to allow local authorities to resolve the problems which had arisen. The Ministry said Mr. Insulza expressed confidence in the ability of the Government of Guyana to correct the situation.
“He (Insulza) welcomed the agreements which had been reached among the Government, the Opposition and the Regional authorities and expressed the hope that the Commission of Inquiry which has been established would be able to clarify the events which had occurred,” the Foreign Ministry stated.
It said Mr. Insulza’s remarks summed up the sentiments of the OAS Permanent Council, following a presentation to that body by Ambassador Bayney Karran, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to that Organization last Wednesday, which was followed by interventions from representatives of Brazil, Belize, Dominica, Grenada and Venezuela, who gave assurances of their support to resolve the difficulties which had arisen.
Ambassador Karran informed the Council about the background to the electricity rate increases, the results of the protests on the affected communities, and the efforts by the Government to resolve the crises following the eruption of protests on July 18th, resulting in three fatalities, injuries and loss of property.
After informing the OAS about the agreements which had been arrived at the Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that the Guyanese envoy decried the promotion of ethnic hatred and conflict through social media networks and the peddling of misinformation.
“He (Ambassador Karran) conveyed the Government of Guyana’s concern about the precarious political situation in the country which has arisen since the November 2011 elections and stated that it warrants close attention by OAS member states.
The Chairman of the OAS Permanent Council, Ambassador Stephen Vasciannie of Jamaica, assured Ambassador Karran that the Council has taken note of the information presented and urged him to keep the Council abreast of further developments.
Three Lindeners were shot dead by the security forces on July 18th, the first day of a planned five-day protest against the electricity rate hike imposed by the government.
The shooting to death of the three Lindeners stretched the protest into a month and Region Ten, of which Linden is the central community, set up a team to negotiate a deal to bring a resolution to the crisis.
The government sent in the security forces to set up base on the ground. This was resisted by the Lindeners. The security forces only moved out when an agreement was reached on key issues between the Region Ten team, opposition political leaders and the government.