…asks that commission speak out against violence against Indo-Guyanese
THE Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) has written to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, bringing to her attention the Opposition-led mayhem at Agricola on the East Bank Demerara last Thursday evening.

The IAC is also asking that the UN Human Rights Commission speak out against the continuous perpetration of violence against Indo-Guyanese.
In its letter to Commissioner Pillay, the IAC informed her of the political protest led by the minority Opposition Parliamentary party, the Alliance For Change (AFC) in collaboration with the main Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), resulting in the only thoroughfare providing access to the eastern and western side of the county of Demerara, being blocked with burning debris, including a bus that was overturned and set ablaze.
“As traffic came to a standstill, thousands of people, including school children, mothers with babies, the elderly and workers trying to get home, were stuck for hours. The related trauma they suffered is unimaginable,” the IAC stated.
During this period as many tried to flee the mayhem, gangs, working under the direction of the political Opposition, wielded cutlasses in the face of law enforcement officers, taunting them and even threw incendiary devices seriously injuring one rank, beat and robbed hundreds of innocent Indo-Guyanese.
The violence unleashed was not confined to the area mentioned but moved to parts of the Capital City, Georgetown, where many were in the process of seeking water taxis, an alternative means of transportation to West Demerara. That alternative became extremely dangerous since boats were forced to defy the restriction of only travelling during daylight hours and to traverse the unlit river during the night in an effort to mitigate the desperate circumstances of commuters.

‘FLASHBACK’: Scenes from the Opposition-led mayhem at Agricola last week.

The IAC letter referred to the harmonious existence among Guyanese, manifested through the free and open participation in, and the sharing of, each other’s culture and religion.
“However, there were occasions when this harmony was threatened by political actions by the Opposition, actions that resulted in serious consequences. The IAC has no doubt that your esteemed office is cognisant of the importance of the need of a harmonious society and the harsh penalties of its absence.
“In September of this year, the IAC was compelled to seek the intervention of His Excellency, Ban Ki Moon, through his spokesperson, Mr. Martin Nesirky, pertaining to the blatant promotion and facilitation of racial hatred by a local online news entity, www.demerarawaves.com. The target of such hatred was the Indo-Guyanese population.”
The IAC letter continued:  “Once again, on behalf of peace-loving Guyanese, the IAC is forced to bring to the attention of the United Nations, specifically your esteemed office, recent events that placed the lives of Guyanese, especially those of Indian ancestry, at risk.
“This is just one of the many instances where Indo-Guyanese were deliberately targeted by the Opposition and their thugs for political reasons. While it would be challenging to list all the cases in this letter, the atrocities meted out to Indo-Guyanese were routine acts when the current main Opposition was the imposing regime from 1964-1992, and continued especially during subsequent elections since. History would show that January 12, 1998, was one of the days when violence broke out and people were beaten, robbed and raped simply because they were of Indian ancestry. Over the years, many businesses owned by Indo-Guyanese were looted and burnt and in some cases, lives lost.
“What occurred on Thursday, October 11, 2012, was no different, except for the unjustifiable reason the Opposition used to inflict harm on innocent people. The IAC has in the past spoken out against such atrocities and in this recent case, has examined police, television and newspaper reports and even interviewed some who were made to suffer such an ordeal. The organisation has compiled related information and is most willing to make it available if necessary.
“In this regard, the IAC respectfully seeks your intervention to speak out against the continuous perpetration of violence against Indo-Guyanese in an effort to curb the Opposition’s proclivity for same. In addition, the IAC respectfully requests that your esteemed office take note of the situation in an effort to make those responsible be held accountable for their callous actions.
“The IAC remains optimistic of your kind consideration of its requests mentioned in the interest of the protection of Indo-Guyanese.”