We are yet to master the skills of using the rulers’ actions to our advantage

Mar 17, 2015 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,
You don’t have to be a political expert in Guyana, to come to the conclusion that the brutal gunning down of Guyanese patriot and political activist, Courtney Crum-Ewing, in the Diamond community on the evening of March 10, 2015, was a political assassination. Even the police’s reaction so far has bolstered this point.
The fact that the head of the law enforcement department of the Guyana Police Force, Mr. Leslie James, found it necessary to call Guyanese Political activist and commentator Dr. David Hinds, who is based in Arizona in the USA, and who, immediately after the execution of Crum-Ewing wrote a piece entitled “No tit for tat”, to find out if he had any information on the death of Crum-Ewing, cannot be construed as serious police investigation.
Who are the intellectual authors and where the blame lies for this heinous act are not controversial issues, since in my opinion this crime points in one direction only. To await the outcome of the police investigation in a situation where the behaviour of the force when it comes to state-sponsored political killings is one of intransigence, is nothing but a waste of time. Our previous experiences with the police’s action in matters of this nature have always given rise for concern. This is going to be no different. In our efforts to work through this matter we have to consider both recent and past history.
This killing, coming a day after the ruling party election campaign launch at which an infamous call was made for kicking the opposition’s ass, speaks volumes. During the presentation there was a deliberate and intentional appeal to the PPP leadership, members and supporters, for a more aggressive, no-nonsense political campaign.
Given the politics of the ruling party, citizens knew that the opportunity was seized at Babu Jaan to give the PPP’s campaign, in this most critical General and Regional elections, a particular focus. When one considers the unprecedented rise in state-sponsored killings, which had characterized the previous regime and the fact that nothing has been done to address the question of the killing of the more than 200 victims, one has to ask the question about the extent of involvement in this the latest of assassinations of an outstanding and courageous political personality.
The political context of this execution cannot be denied, so much so that the PPP General Secretary Mr. Clement Rohee, speaking in his capacity as Minister of Home Affairs pointed to the killing occurring hours after Mr. Seelall Persaud was sworn in as Police Commissioner.
What is Rohee in the state of his confused mind, implying by his statement?  Is the minister not pointing accusatory fingers at the political opposition? I am forced to conclude that Rohee’s statement, coming shortly after the act of assassination, was intended to deflect Guyanese, Regional and International, from just who the “Intellectual Authors” of this despicable crime really are.
Both the PPP General Secretary and President Donald Ramotar are aware that the Guyana Police Force will not act when it comes to the criminal conduct at the highest levels. It is almost impossible for the force, even with overwhelming evidence at its disposal, to point an accusing finger in the direction of the high-ranking officials or their associates. It is therefore only reasonable to conclude that the subsequent exhortation for the police to go after the “intellectual authors” responsible for Crum-Ewing’s assassination was merely an attempt to engage in the politics of deception, with the clear intention of protecting the very intellectual authors that the party’s General Secretary seems to have knowledge of.
The slaying of Crum-Ewing is a clear demonstration that political violence, of the worst kind, is on the cards. It is being carefully planned and will be executed in a way to allow deniability. To all appearances the stage is being set for it to become a permanent part of Guyanese political life. This is the bitter reality that faces the nation, Citizens, in spite of the overwhelming fear they are experiencing must recognize the reality and like Courtney Crum-Ewing, speak out against these atrocities.
When those in control inculcate in their political culture and ideology the use of state terrorism to achieve political goals – the nation is in trouble. The act of state terrorism becomes institutionalised when the country’s citizens allow themselves to be beaten down by fear, and refuse to use their collective power as a deterrent to the abuse. In the absence of such a deterrent the plotters of this type of political violence will do as they please. Militants and patriots become easy prey to be cut down at the whims and fancies of those who arrogate to themselves the right to decide who will live and who must die.
The above mentioned weaknesses encourage those who instigate these heinous crimes and protect themselves from the law. They are thus able to continue to walk down the road of political violence and intimidation in their quest to hold on to power.
Since coming into office in 1992, the PPP has been systematic and calculating in its acts of repression. The nation has over time, become conditioned to accepting political violence and murder as a way of life. We have failed as a people to develop the kind of political culture capable to put limits to the abuse of power. The execution of pro-democracy militant, Courtney Crum-Ewing validates this position.
We are yet to master the skills of using the rulers’ actions to our advantage. We often fall prey to their calculations and respond as they expect us to do. Our conditioned reflexes, which have been fashioned by the rulers’ skilful manipulations, guarantee that we make the wrong responses, which are counterproductive, given the political reality.
Our wrong responses contribute to our oppression. Too often we become paralyzed by the machinations of the rulers. We refuse to engage in dialectical thinking – seeing only the obvious intention of the rulers. I repeat, we seem not to be able to turn the rulers’ actions to ours and the nation’s advantage. This is the challenge posed by the assassinations of Brothers Ronald Waddell and Courtney Crum-Ewing.
Tacuma Ogunseye

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