Association for Democracy and Human Rights laments
THE Association for Democracy and Human Rights has condemned the call for the Disciplined Services “to turn their guns on the State,” made by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) executive member, Tacuma Ogunseye, at a recent public meeting.
The association, in a release, related that the statement was intended to incite violence and intimidate the democratically elected government and citizens in pursuit of political gains.
“Such malicious and offensive comments erode the values of our Constitution and incite social tensions in communities. These statements have no place in a modern democratic state such as ours,” the association said.
The release further stated: “The timing of these atrocious and inexcusable comments is intended to create an atmosphere of fear at a time when Guyanese are preparing to exercise their democratic right to elect leaders at the level of the Local Government Elections.”
The association related that they support the Government of Guyana’s decision to ensure that swift and appropriate legal action is taken against Ogunseye.
Guyana protects a person’s constitutional right to freedom of speech; however, political actors must be held accountable for promoting racist ideology and instigating violence against people, just like all other citizens.
“We have more in common that unites us than which divides us as Guyanese. It is equally important that we continue to confront the forces of darkness that continually seek to divide us as a nation,” the association said.
The body encouraged Guyanese not to become distracted by the race-baiting and hate speech maneuvering by insurrectionist opponents of democracy; instead, to continue to take advantage of the unparalleled opportunities available, as Guyanese advance together as a country.
Ogunseye threatened last Sunday to incite violence in Guyana by waging war on the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
“A time is going to come in this country, very soon, when we will test our brothers and sisters…They will have to make up their minds whether they live with us or whether they live with the PPP (People’s Progressive Party). And they can shoot us down and we will shoot them back,” he said.
The WPA member had a strong message to the servicemen and women, which was aimed at creating public discord in Guyana and among Guyanese.
“We want them to be crystally clear and if the police and the army allow themselves to be used to slaughter African people, we will wage a war against them,” he said, as he urged his supporters to “spread the message.”
