In search of the truth

MODERN history has been replete with intra-state conflicts. In fact, there are few of the world’s geographical regions in which countries have not had the experience of bloody violence emanating from a variety of causes. These have been bloody engagements of varying intensity, such as the horrific Rwandan genocide and the almost equally brutal scenario, such as the Srebrenica Massacre in the Bosnian war, Europe’s worst loss of lives through conflict since World War11; and the Kenya post-election civil unrest of 2007-8, in which many lives were lost.

But be it as it is, such conflicts and similar types, have always involved great loss of lives, with families losing loved ones, killed in actual hostilities and many disappearing under unclear circumstances, as in the Argentine experience of the 1970-80s.

It is inevitable that such internecine strife would leave the states—if they have occurred–fractured and scarred, with great fear and simmering tensions, and of course, with the many unanswered questions surrounding persons who were killed — how did they die?
Guyana, during the first decade almost, of the New Millennium experienced what has been definitely its worst encounter of criminal violence, otherwise known as the “Troubles”. It is a period that was characterised by criminal elements–some with alleged very strong affiliation to the then political administration–carrying out death squad executions and other acts that plunged the state into anarchy.

There were policemen shot down in the streets, including a very high-profile police officer; a known political activist who was assassinated; and a government minister who, along with some members of his family, were murdered at his home. Also, massacres that claimed the lives of over three dozen persons.

These were frightening incidents that held the state to ransom, paralyzing its citizens. What was even more surprising–shocking to be precise–was that the government of the day did not treat with the requisite seriousness such bloody incidents, since there were no inquests held, not even in the case of the former cabinet minister who was killed. It was even more surprising that the shooting death of the police officer never attracted any official investigation as far as was publicly known. The massacres, too, suffered this disinterest from the then government.

As alluded above, any state that has suffered such levels of violence would be left traumatised, especially where mass killings have occurred. Given the damage that would have been done to the nation’s psyche — particularly given the reach of the violence and the number of families that lost relatives — it was only quite natural that the then government account to the nation as to the causes, and those responsible for the numerous lives lost — 1431Guyanese.

These have been the kind of national crises that have taken place in other countries and have been the subject of mechanisms known as Truth and Reconciliation Commissions. The latter are a form of public inquiry carried out, with a view of soliciting answers as to what had been the responsible factors for the violence and loss of lives and the actors responsible.

It will be remembered that such a commission was constituted in Grenada to enquire into the shooting deaths of numerous Grenadians which occurred in 1979. The commissioner for the Lindo Creek CoI, Justice Donald Trotman, was the appointed head of that Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Grenada.

No state where the rule of law is paramount, the human rights and freedoms of its citizens are upheld and respected and the right to the truth is respected, should ever attempt to cover up and obfuscate the kind of horrific incidents that have dotted this nation for those early 10 years.

It is a gross dereliction of the national duty; a disrespectful violation, coupled with an unforgivable and callous disregard on the part of any government, as the then PPP/C coldly displayed, to have ignored especially those families affected by such violence. It is only but natural that their questions as to the how, and why of the demise of their husbands, brothers, sons/grandsons, nephews, and cousins, must be answered by the state which has the investigative capacity and power to provide the necessary information.

Therefore, it explains why the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change(APNU+AFC) government, named a Commission of Inquiry that has not so long ago, completed its inquiry into the Lindo Creek Massacre that occurred in 2008. It was one of the very brutal murders of the orgy of violence that descended on this nation, in which eight miners were killed and their bodies incinerated in an attempt to conceal the dastardly act.

It was what every responsible government that cares for the welfare of those it governs, had been expected to do – provide answers to the still emotionally traumatised families; bringing the perpetrators to justice, and thus closure to their years of grief and sadness.
Let it be emphasised that this would not a politically motivated inquiry, or one that will divide the country, as the Leader of the parliamentary opposition has stated. He must be reminded that he has failed those families, who for all the years of his government were crying out for the truth and justice.

In fact, the Terms of Reference of this type of CoI had ordered that it investigates with a view to making recommendations. In this regard, we must commend the erudite commissioner, retired Justice Mr. Donald Trotman who has made seeking the truth and nothing but the truth into the circumstances of the miners’ death, the watchword and guide for his commission’s work. He has gone wherever the evidence could be found, including a visit to Lindo Creek where the massacre occurred.

Thus. taking the commission to communities on the West Demerara, Linden and at Kwakwani, underlines the serious realisation that not only must the truth be found, but that there is a right to the truth which all states that adhere to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are duty bound to uphold, with its citizens assured rights to such, protected. In this way, the wounds of society will begin to heal.

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