AT THIS time of the United States-led war against terrorism (more precisely against Osama bin Laden and Afghan Taliban), and the revenge killings and destruction in Afghanistan - one of the world's poorest nations - it may be "no big ting" for some to learn of the latest attack on the Guyanese TV 'talk show' host Kwame McCoy.

Perhaps it will only become a big event, something to generate the usual denunciations and lamentations, if McCoy should come to grievous bodily harm, or worse. He has already been assaulted, threatened to be killed and chased publicly on at least six occasions. The police are in possession of a number of reports.

The police and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) should offer some explanation for their inaction in the case of harassment of McCoy and threats on his life. Or is this indicative of the buck-passing exercise between the DPP's office and the Police in relation to the shocking failure to prosecute those for criminal offences on what passes for TV talk shows on a pro-PNC station?

From my perspective, the recent report in the Stabroek News of the latest attack by a group of hostile elements chasing after McCoy in the city, forcing him to pull his licensed firearm after they cornered him in a churchyard, was a despicable act, one that could easily be categorised as terroristic and also racist behaviour.

I will tell you why the racist dimension also has to be considered, although in terms of ethnicity both the victim, McCoy, and his attackers are of Afro-Guyanese stock.

McCoy, host of the `Square Talk’ television programme on a claimed pro-PPP station, and currently also a Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Health, is known to be an activist of the governing PPP.

His latest trouble, as reported, seems to have resulted from the claim by a woman that she was spat upon by McCoy, a charge the young Guyanese television personality has strongly denied.

Not even an offered apology, in the interest of "peace", was acceptable and he had to run for his life from his angry pursuers who were shouting, as reported, "Ayuh beat he and kill he"; "PPP slave"; "He like talk up on TV, kill he".

The police have received the reports and are investigating. At the time of writing, it could not be confirmed if anyone had been arrested and charged with any offence connected with the angry mob attack on McCoy.

But the police will also do well to remember the previous post- March 19 election incident in Georgetown when McCoy came under attack when a crowd hurled stones and bottles, and he had to seek refuge from his attackers, identified as supporters of the opposition People’s National Congress (PNC).

The racism evident in the verbal abuse hurled at McCoy suggests that his attackers are certainly not neutral in the politics of Guyana; that they are in fact anti-PPP. Worse, that the Afro-Guyanese McCoy is a traitor for being associated with the PPP of which he is a "slave". And, for his "talk on TV", he should die. "Kill he", was the shout.

The venom displayed at the two publicly known and reported mob attacks on McCoy cannot be divorced from the politics of hate and the raw racism nurtured by certain elements associated with the PNC.

The Hypocrisy
Some of these PNC activists are also television personalities, but who, thankfully, have not come under the cowardly attacks and terroristic threats experienced by McCoy. It would appear that you can "talk you talk" freely on TV, or else, even inciting public disorder - if you are on the side of the PNC. .

Herein lies the dangerous hypocrisy that a crippled 'reform' cannot correct. In the circumstances, young Guyanese like McCoy must be applauded for their courage. Instead of posing a threat to law and order they help to encourage inclusion and harmony.

I have not come across any report of either the PPP or the PNC reacting to the harrowing experience of McCoy following the news item in the Stabroek News.

Nor do I recall any editorial denunciation of the lawless behaviour and evident political harassment of McCoy as a consequence of his political association, or any response whatsoever from any section of civil society.

Is it that they do not understand the implications of these ugly attacks on McCoy; that, in fact, more than the physical safety and civil rights of this Guyanese are at stake in the face of silence over such incidents?

They must know that such acts, left uncondemned and without appropriate and effective action by the law enforcing agencies, breed lawlessness and condemn others to such political terrorism, something of which this country has been held hostage for too long. Partly by the cowardly silence and double-speak of those in position of influence across the ethnic divide

Vulgarities
Instead, I have heard the cynical remarks about McCoy's preferred lifestyle. What about his rights as an individual? What about those TV elements, "talk" hosts and others, who make a virtue of spewing political and racial hatred, even now, having done their damnedest during the March 19 election that the party of their choice lost.

Will there be no end to the vulgarities, the abuse of media freedom and freedom of speech - the latest victim being the new Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission?

If racism itself cannot be seen as the major enemy of this country, if an Indo-Guyanese or Afro-Guyanese is not free to support a party of his or her choice without being verbally or physically abused, then Guyana is simply a spinning top in mud and is doomed to live with the baggage of horrors of the past that extends right up to just eight months ago.

The attacks on and harassment of McCoy must be viewed in the context also of other Afro-Guyanese who were attacked and beaten on election day and after in Georgetown by activists of the PNC as if they have no right to their political views and association.

This is another cowardly, shameless way to attack another ethnic group to keep "our own" in line. Yet, all parties in the country rightly seek to broaden their support base beyond their traditional ethnic camp followers.

There must be a consistent and significant show of revulsion for the politics of any party, group or individual that can only succeed in sustaining racism, discrimination, alienation and hatred in Guyana, and so make a farce of the national motto of `One People, One Nation, One Destiny’.