Anti-government protestor’s assassination…Opposition appeals for calm

Mar 12, 2015 News

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– Dr. Hinds urges “No tit for tat”
There is a general appeal for calm following the gunning down of anti-government protestor Courtney Crum-Ewing on Tuesday night, while he was exercising his democratic right by asking people in his community to vote.

The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change coalition is the latest to call on Guyanese to exercise restraint in the aftermath of the killing, which they say has to be considered within the context of increasing attacks on the rights of citizens to express themselves freely and without fear, as well as against the backdrop of an untenable environment of poor citizen security.
The appeal comes on the heels of a similar call from Dr. David Hinds, a political activist and commentator, who is also an Associate Professor of Political Science and Caribbean and African Diaspora Studies at Arizona State University.
Dr. Hinds in a statement yesterday urged Guyanese to resist being drawn into any form of ethnic revenge or tit for tat.
Crum-Ewing was shot dead on Tuesday night as he was walking in the Diamond, East Bank Demerara community with his bull horn, urging people to vote against the present People’s Progressive Party/Civic government at the upcoming General Elections on May 11.
Police have not yet declared what might have been the motive for Crum-Ewing’s killing, but many are convinced that it had to do with the activities that he was involved in.
Crum-Ewing rose to public prominence protesting the retention of Attorney-General Anil Nandlall in office after the AG was recorded warning of violent consequences against the country’s number one newspaper-the Kaieteur News.
For his efforts Crum-Ewing claimed he was subjected to harassment, threats and unreasonable detention by the Guyana Police Force.
On Tuesday night he took his activism a step further, and paid the ultimate price.
“Mr. Crum-Ewing’s strident activism and his commitment to democracy and justice were carried out with a rare energy.  APNU+AFC has lost a tremendous asset and for many a good friend,” the APNU+AFC coalition said in a statement.
Immediately after the killing the Ministry of Home Affairs was the first to put out a statement calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
But the APNU+AFC said that it finds it abominable that the Ministry of Home Affairs would put out a press release which includes the following ominous warning and attempt at what can only be described as a bizarre nexus: “The Ministry notes the deep coincidence between the fatal shooting incident and the earlier swearing in of the new Commissioner of Police.”
According to the coalition, Crum-Ewing’s death comes two days after former President Bharrat Jagdeo mounted a political platform and spouted “his divisive and violence-tinged rhetoric.”
Their position was echoed by Dr. Hinds who said that Guyana has crossed yet another dangerous line.
He too noted that the killing took place a mere 48 hours after the former Head of Government and State publicly suggested to his successor that governance in Guyana should include “kicking some asses,”.
“The barefaced murder of Courtney Crum-Ewing must now alert us that Guyana has become a semi-fascist state where protest by ordinary citizens is punishable by summary execution. This is not the first murder in recent times of an ordinary citizen exercising his or her right to protest against the current government; three years ago three protestors at Linden were shot dead by police while protesting against a proposed government electricity hike. Other anti-government activists, notably Mark Benschop and columnist Freddie Kissoon have been physically attacked. This murder also has echoes of the assassination a decade ago of known anti-government activist, Ronald Waddell,” Dr. Hinds stated.
He said that the ruling PPP cannot escape responsibility for Crum-Ewing’s murder.
Dr. Hinds explained that the atmosphere that was generated by the theatrics and rhetoric of PPP leaders at Babu John last Sunday was a recipe designed to create havoc.
“The “kick some asses” statement and its subsequent endorsement by other PPP leaders, in our charged ethnic and political environment, is an expression of political pugilism that could only lead to mayhem. When this is coupled with the clearly expressed ethnic identity of the PPP, the battle lines around the upcoming elections are clearly drawn.”
And Mark Benschop’s, The Independent Party also condemned the killing in the strongest terms.
“At this juncture when our nation is politically charged, violence in this form is especially nefarious, in view of the upcoming elections on May 11, 2015. The anti-democratic intent of the perpetrators could not be more obvious. We particularly urge the ruling PPP regime to reject its highly inflammatory and the racist ‘Kick Ass’ speeches by former President Bharrat Jagdeo and others at Babu John. The people of Guyana must continue to reject all forms of violence and to resist those who seek to destabilize our country for political gains,” The independent party stated.
Meanwhile, the APNU+AFC coalition has appealed to Guyanese to be both resolute and reasoned in their condemnation of the impunity with which human rights abuses are carried and condoned under the present government and for them to resist what they described as a “dastardly and cowardly act of provocation.”
“APNU+AFC appeals for calm in this trying time. On May 11 Guyana will be delivered from this evil which stalks Guyana,” the coalition stated.
The coalition is demanding a full and impartial investigation into Crum-Ewing’s murder along with independent observation of the post-mortem.
“The longer his killers escape justice, the greater an indictment of the PPP’s failure to keep this society secure,” it said.

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