Something must be done
Editorial
Stabroek News
December 13, 2002
The failure to charge the three men found with a cache of illegal arms and ammunition last week Thursday in a pick up truck is unacceptable. The police have said the matter has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice but despite this surely some charges which seem to flow straightforwardly from the situation can be laid without prejudice to any that may be added later, unless there are legal problems with regard to ownership or possession, of which no indication has been given. In any event, the Director of Public Prosecutions is now reported as having given advice.
One can understand the predicament faced. Many now assume that there was a deal of some kind to work together to curb or eliminate the bandits who have wreaked such murderous havoc since February this year. The reasoning may have been that the police could not do this on their own by conventional means, especially as in situations of terror people are unwilling to provide information and/or testify.
But the propriety of such a deal, if there was one, is not the main issue here, though many would consider it wrong despite the exigencies of the situation.
The key issue is whether persons having been caught in flagrante delicto the authorities can afford to do nothing about it.
Democratic governments are totally unprepared for assaults of the kind experienced since February by organised criminal elements which at times have clearly challenged the authority of the state.
It is tempting to have resort to unorthodox or unconventional methods to deal with the problem, especially as the police and the army have not produced results so far and there is a reluctance to declare a state of emergency. But be that as it may, events having taken the turn that they did there can be no excuse for not taking appropriate action. Charges must be filed or the police will be discredited.
