I heard Waddell incite violence

Jun 19, 2021 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

Tacuma Ogunseye challenged “Kissoon to provide evidence contradicting his position” (June 13) on Freddie’s contention that the late Ronald Waddell threatened violence against Indians. The evidence exists (ed). I agree with Ogunseye that people must not lie on the dead. But we must also not whitewash history, which must be accurately recorded for posterity.
Ogunseye contends that Waddell did not call for violence against Indians. I disagree! Freddie is right. Waddell was known to use language laced with specific calls for violence against supporters of the PPP. My recollection is Waddell speaking on Channel 9 imploring violence against Indians. This is in keeping with several other statements made by Waddell against Indians. And Freddie penned a series of articles relating to the violence. I distinctly recall Waddell saying that Indians were legitimate targets for violence because of their electoral support for the PPP. THIS WAS AFTER THE March 2001 election IN WHICH WADDELL WAS A PNC CANDIDATE. When it was brought to his attention that some Indians also support (vote) for the PNC, Waddell advised that “those Indians (meaning Indians who backed PNC) should seek shelter at Congress Place”. This was a fact that OGUNSEYE cannot DISPUTE! Others also affirm what I heard.
In one particular programme that I listened (watched), violence was advocated against Indians. PNC supporters were urged to take up arms against PPP supporters. Waddell called on PNC to procure weapons. The prison escapees who went on a killing spree murdering Indian businessmen and others were referred to as “freedom fighters” by Waddell. In one TV programme, Waddell called on the PNC to take measures to provide weapons to supporters “to defend themselves”. Also, I distinctly remember reading a series of articles penned by Freddie on the prison escapees, in which he condemned the murders of people; the Indians were killed simply for being perceived supporters of PPP based on their ethnicity. Contrary to what Ogunseye may suggest, economics played no role in Indians being targeted for murder by the criminal prison escapees.
There was a call to take Channel Nine before the Broadcast Authority for allowing all that violence talk on TV. For whatever reason, action against Channel Nine was not pursued. We all must eschew violence and repudiate those who spit racial venom in our ethnically polarised nation. We all must strive to build a harmonious and equitable society. And we must strive to portray history accurately.

Yours sincerely,
Vishnu Bisram

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