The United Nations (UN) in Guyana has noted with regret last Saturday’s killing of Yohance Douglas and is urging the government to organise an independent inquiry into the actions of the police force.
Meanwhile the Norwegian pathologist provided by Amnesty International has performed a post-mortem examination on Douglas’ body but the findings will only be released next week.
And Stabroek News understands that three of the young men who were in the car when Douglas was killed attended an identification parade with the police officers who are said to have fired the fatal shots.
The car in which the boys had been travelling at the time has been repossessed by the police as they now believe it may have some evidential value.
A release from the UN office in Guyana urged that “prompt and independent investigations of the Guyana Police Force actions and functioning be undertaken in conformity with national and international standards in order to ensure that perpetrators of human rights violations are held accountable.” The police are conducting the investigation in the shooting last Saturday and thus far the government has not entertained appeals for an independent inquiry.
The UN is hoping that the tragedy will be seized on by the government and other social actors to address long-voiced concerns and agree on measures needed to ensure the fullest personal security of all Guyanese.
The UN shared the concern that the escalating threats to personal security were sapping the vital energy of Guyana, rendering development and poverty eradication near impossible.
According to the UN it met with members of the University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS) on March 5 and earlier with the Guyana Bar Association where among other things there was a petition requesting that a UN Special Rapporteur for Extra Judicial Killing, Summary and Arbitrary Executions urgently visit Guyana “on a fact finding mission.”
As a result the UN office in Guyana has transmitted these messages through its Headquarters in New York to the UN Commission on Human Rights Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Asma Jahangir, who is currently in the process of examining the information. “In the context of a constructive dialogue with the government, the Special Rapporteur may, as a first step, request clarification and additional information from the government concerning steps taken to address these and previous allegations of extra judicial executions.”
A release from Amnesty International (AI) said that Dr Sidsel Rodge, a professor of forensic pathology from Norway was working at the request of the family of Douglas and Amnesty International.
The release said the professor was a “highly experienced pathologist. She has previously worked for Amnesty International, most recently in Kenya.” Further she is involved in human rights initiatives by the Norwegian medical practitioners and also conducts annual training of pathologists in Turkey and Bosnia.
According to the release, Professor Rodge was previously scheduled to observe the autopsy of Douglas carried out by the state pathology service, in order to measure the conduct of the autopsy against the principles embodied in the United Nations Manual on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-Legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions (New York 1991).
“Although the authorities granted permission for independent observers to be present, the autopsy took place on 5 March without observers.”
The release stated that as a delegate working on behalf of (AI) Professor Rodge was required to maintain confidentiality in respect of information gained and would not undertake any broadcast or written commitment related to the autopsy for the duration of her stay in Guyana. She is required to report directly to the International Secretariat of AI in London.
Meanwhile, the UGSS for the fifth consecutive day continued its march from the university campus into the city.
Although the number has dwindled significantly from Monday, many students continued calling for justice as they marched down the Railway Embankment into Sheriff Street and onto the corner where the young man was killed.
There they met some more of their colleagues, citizens and some schoolchildren. The group then took their protest to the Critchlow Labour College on Woolford Avenue where a memorial service was being held for the late trade unionist, Joseph Pollydore.
A vigil is continuing at the corner where Douglas died.
And also joining the voices in condemning the killing is the Seventh-Day Adventist community which in expressing condolences to Douglas’ family members pointed out that 70% of the membership of their church were youths who are students at the tertiary and lower levels of education in Guyana.
“We therefore, deeply regret this incident and do sincerely hope that there will be a thorough investigation, which will in some way help to avoid any such re-occurrences.” (Samantha Alleyne)