PPP General Secretary Donald Ramotar has told Amnesty International (AI) that its news release of April 19, 2002 entitled "Guyana - Legitimate debate around human rights issues must not be stifled" displays little understanding of the Guyanese reality and ignores the country's recent political history.
A release from the PPP yesterday said that Ramotar sent a letter to AI in response to its release which had urged the government not to resort to inflammatory language that might undermine the right to freedom of expression and lead to further human rights violations.
Ramotar noted that the core of Amnesty's concern appeared to be the government's complaint against the People's National Congress REFORM (PNC/R) to the effect that its campaign against the Guyana Police Force amounts to terrorism.
The PPP general secretary charged that the PNC/R, for over a quarter century, had "terrorised the people of Guyana with rigged elections, legal harassment of opponents, threats, victimisation, discrimination, denial of press freedom, gross violations of human rights" and other authoritarian practices.
Ramotar told AI that since October 1992 when Guyana had its first free and fair elections after 25 years, the human rights situation had been dramatically transformed, with free and fair elections, cessation of victimisation and discrimination and restoration of press freedom. He noted that consecutive human rights reports of the United States State Department have confirmed that.
The letter observed, however, that in the case of the press, "several talk show hosts with close links to the PNC/R have continuously peddled race hate, provocative taunts and threats against the police and have created a climate of fear and terror." At the same time, it said, the PNC/R has used the recent unfortunate death of Shaka Blair, who was shot dead by the police, to engage in activities which have led to violence. Ramotar pointed out that the police and government have promised a full investigation into the Blair case.
The letter said that these are activities which the PNC/R has practised and refined and continues to use, adding that after general elections in 1992, 1997 and 2001, which international as well as local observer groups had found to be free and fair, riots flowed from demonstrations organised by that party.
"Hundreds of innocent and law-abiding citizens' human rights were violated, there were even deaths, and billions of dollars worth of damage have resulted," the letter stated.
According to Ramotar, the PNC/R now seeks to utilise these same tactics for political purposes whenever it has disagreements with the government. "It is clear to us," the PPP executive informed AI, "that you acted on representations which were inadequate or misleading and we invite you to consult with us with a view to issuing a more balanced news release concerning the situation in Guyana, including allegations of extra-judicial killings."