NO ONE CAN FEEL SAFE WHEN HIGH-POWERED WEAPONS ARE IN THE WRONG HANDS

Nov 01, 2012 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

There were two executions involving the use of guns over the past two weeks. Regardless of the background of these individuals, the police have an obligation to vigorously pursue those who were responsible for their deaths.
No longer is the public simply going to be impressed by the fact that wanted bulletins have been issued in relation to one of these deaths. These bulletins merely indicate that the police are seeking persons who they feel may help them in solving the case; it does not assume or presume guilt or even suspicion.
The public has also become wary of these wanted bulletins. In the past, whenever there have been deaths involving persons suspected to have been involved in certain activities, these wanted bulletins were issued. But those on the wanted bulletins were hardly ever charged for anything, leading to the feeling that when it comes to certain cases, these wanted bulletins are excursions into speculation.
What is troubling, however, is the apparent lack of public concern over these violent deaths which have taken place at the hands of gunmen who, in both cases, used high-powered weapons.
Any police force should be concerned that there may be private armies out there with this sort of weaponry. They ought to be worried that there are individuals with this sort of firepower out there.
The entire nation needs to be worried and demand action from the police. This, however, is not likely to happen, and for some strange reasons.
The opposition parties have not yet seen it fit to issue any statement of concern over the inability of the Guyana Police Force to solve some of these crimes. And the public has developed an apathetic attitude towards the deaths of persons whom they suspect were involved in certain activities. The approach of the public is simply to not be bothered because of their impressions of the persons who were killed or involved. They see some of these killings as being related to illicit activities and therefore the victims are seen as being unworthy of sympathy.
But even if one could have accepted this proposition – which is really inconsistent with human rights – the public must recognize the dangers that are posed when we have persons with heavy weapons out there, and when those in possession of these weapons are willing to use them against their opponents.
Until such time as the Guyana Police Force does more than simply issue wanted bulletins; until such time that these execution-style killings are solved and those responsible are brought to justice, the safety and security of this country and all its citizens will be threatened.
Those who have access to these weapons can very well deploy them against innocent persons. They can use these weapons to commit other crimes and they can intimidate others simply because they have such a powerful arsenal at their disposal.
The fact that there may be persons out there with powerful weapons which the police have not yet intercepted can result in these weapons being used in hired killings to settle disputes, and this places the entire country at risk.
From the perspective of the security forces, the fact that there are persons out there with such powerful weapons represents a failure of intelligence gathering. But do not expect the opposition parties to call for anyone in the security services to be held accountable. In so far as the opposition of this country is concerned, accountability is reserved for ministers and other senior political figures. The opposition has not, despite all their condemnation of police action, made one call for anyone in the security services to resign or be retired. But they want those who are distant from police operations to be held accountable. This is the double standard that the bankrupt opposition in this country practices and why they should not be taken seriously.
The people of Guyana must demand justice for those who were executed recently because in demanding justice, the people would be safeguarding their own future.
So long as there are persons out there with high calibre weapons, no citizen can feel safe.

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NO ONE CAN FEEL SAFE WHEN HIGH-POWERED WEAPONS ARE IN THE WRONG HANDS

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