Army should only play supporting role to police outside state of
emergency -PNC/R
Stabroek News
June 19, 2002
The army should only be playing a supportive role to the police in carrying out
its operations in the absence of a declaration of a state of emergency, the
People's National Congress REFORM (PNC/R) says.
PNC/R's central executive committee member, Raphael Trotman, said last
Thursday that his party had noted the launching of Operation Tourniquet by the
Guyana Defence Force to assist in the fight against rising crime in the country.
He pointed out the role of the military in Guyana is clearly defined by the
Defence Act, Chapter 15:01, to be the defence of the security of the state.
He said the PNC/R recognises the need to activate aspects of the military from
time to time to fight crime but this must be in a complementary role to the
Guyana Police Force.
"In keeping with the doctrine governing the deployment of the military in civilian
matters, the PNC/R expects that the current operation remains limited to a
supportive role, is curtailed in time and is carried out with due regard to the
Constitution and Laws of Guyana," he said.
Trotman said the PNC/R is concerned that the military has been activated to the
point of encamping in villages along the East Coast Demerara, having armed
attendance at village conferences, carrying out criminal investigative work, and
was preparing to carry out house-to-house searches.
He stated this should not occur unless Guyana was in a state of emergency.
Trotman stated the soldiers should ensure they are not being used as scapegoats
and urged the army to maintain its reputation as a disciplined and professional
defender of the state and people of Guyana.