OUR organisation,  the United Federations for Arts and Culture, strongly condemns the unprovoked and unjustified attack on, and robberies of, people as well as the arson and violence against the police last Thursday afternoon at Agricola, on the East Bank of Demerara.

People were stranded for several hours, unable to reach the comfort of their homes
and enjoy dinners. They huddled in fear as the hooligans rained blows on them and relieved them of valuable property. Their bodies were violated and they were deprived of their freedom and their right to  property. It was lawlessness at its zenith and our organisation strongly believe that it was motivated by  race hate.

People were unjustifiably disrespected. They were deliberately targeted because of their race and robbed of valuable possessions.  Our mini survey of some victims on the West Coast of Demerara reveal that people were robbed of  tens of millions of dollars in valuables among which were expensive  jewellery and cell phones, not to mention cash.
Even overseas-based indo-Guyanese visiting Guyana were attacked by the hooligans and
relieved of cash and jewelry.  So many were prevented  from making their flights out of the country or reaching their destinations from the airport. Tens of thousands, including the disabled, children and seniors, were stranded on the East Bank, after work, school and business.
And many were also robbed in the Stelling area as they sought alternative modes of transport to reach home.  The attackers showed no moral compunction and they deliberately targeted Indians. The savage brutality and violence and the robberies show a total disregard for the value of human life. These acts must be condemned in the strongest words possible by all decent individuals and organisations.
Our organisation supports the right to peaceful protest to right injustice but we cannot condone violence against people regardless of  the motivation. Clearly, the protesters had ulterior motives and the organisers should have planned for the situation.
The ingress and egress of commuters should have been properly planned.  All efforts should be made to find justice for the victims and restitution of property relieved from them.

We call on the organisers of the demonstration to assist and cooperate with the police in identifying and or locating the criminals involved  in the beating and robbery of people.  And we call on the law authorities to take all lawful measures to protect the people.
May God bless our nation and may peace endure!