Indentureship Indian Heritage Month May 05

Subject:

[Indian Caribbean] Letter attach below from GID to Mr. Patterson....Any comments GIHA & ROAR??

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Indian emotions are beseathe in awe and dismay once more While I was still on the wait and see stance over who really ROAR and GIHA are, what are their true interests on the lives on Innocent Indians etc., I recently observe a very sad and disturbing event coming out from these unpredictable groups. I read that they are supporting the PNC criminals who are demonstrating and attacking The Minister of Home Affairs Mr. Ronald Gajraj who is denying he operated a phantom gang that eliminated some notorious criminals who were ruining the lives of innocent Indians in Guyana. Indians in the Caribbean are suffering just because of who God made them their race, their hard earn bread, etc. So much terrible atrocities, inhuman and most heinous crimes unleashed on Indians by those Criminals that were killed (by some rival gang) still yet, it is the Indians themselves who are disregarding and spitting on innocent Indians who suffer as result of such criminals in GY. What happened to all the marauding and touting about Indian plights they claimed they care For? Finally, they at last came out and support the criminals. What for? Political power and greed. Just for that Indian x on the ballot they sell out Indians over and over again dragging down such a productive and gentle people, what is wrong with this world. My sympathy and condolences go out to our unfortunate Indian brothers and sisters. Remember, I have written some time ago that it is Indians who are suffering Indians, no love, no brotherhood, no respect and lost of love for culture. Greed took over and we sell our souls sleeping with the destroyers of Indians. Even though I am not into politics and do not belong to any political party as I said I was on the wait and see stance with sadness I listened to the young descendant of Jahaji President Bharrat Jagdeo today on Television and I see a man whose life is made miserable by the coolie crabs. I have foresighted selfish political motive a long time ago before the true light came out . That is the using of Indians to further suppress and destroy our culture. I wish we only care to Save the culture and a great people you must unite and stand up against persecutors and oppressors of Indians. Stop this disregard for the lives of innocent Jahahjis by supporting the PNC and attacking the ones who tried to save them from the criminals. GIHA and ROAR know fully well that PNC protestors always attack innocent Indians on the streets. The Afro Guyanese find an excuse in their lawless protests to strip our Jahaji sisters and mothers on the streets. Many Indian victims are suicidal GIHA and Roar know this fully well they could have helped fight/ retaliated against those mobs but never. They could have taken some of the suicidal victims for counseling in the Palestine why is it they are attacking the Minister instead? Confusion mongers who do not know where their fight is has always been our weakness and this is why today Indians are suffering. Alvin GUYANA INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY (GID) 2809 Church Avenue, 2nd Floor Brooklyn, NY 11226 Tel: 718-282-2220. Fax: 718-763-8372. Email: guyanainstitute@aol.com. www.guyanainstitute.org January 15, 2004 The Right Hon. Percival J. Patterson, Q.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Jamaica and Chairman of CARICOM Office of the Prime Minister Jamaica House 1 Devon Road Kingston 6 W Jamaica, W. I. Dear Prime Minster: On behalf of the Executive and members of the Guyana Institute for Democracy (GID) I wish you best wishes for a successful and healthy 2004. I was very pleased to meet you in October, 2003, at Medgar Evers College in New York, where you delivered the timely speech on the way forward for our Region. GID is a nonpartisan Caribbean-American think-tank that is based in New York. Our mission is to promote the institutionalization of democratic ideals, good governance and human rights and freedoms in Guyana and the Caribbean Region. On December 12, 2003, GID inaugurated the annual Democracy Prize for the Caribbean Region. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, The Right Hon. Patrick A.M. Manning was the first winner of the Prize. Prime Minister Manning attended the award ceremony and accepted the Prize on behalf of all the People of the Caribbean. As President of GID, I participate in White House briefings on the Caribbean, along with all other members of the Association of Caribbean American Elected Officials and Leaders (ACAEOL), headed by Jamaica's own Una Clarke. Hence, GID plays an integral role in the leadership of the Caribbean American community in New York. It is within this context that I write to you in your capacity as Chairman of CARICOM. I wish to bring to your attention and that of other CARICOM Heads, a serious development in Guyana regarding a secret government "phantom death squad." Recent disclosures by a squad informant and financier turned whistleblower, reveal that an execution squad was secretly established by the Guyana government. It is said to constitute civilian supporters of the ruling Party. Over four hundred (400) young African men have been mysteriously and brutally executed with impunity within recent time. Over ninety-five percent (95%) of these murders are unsolved or have never been investigated. Ostensibly, the informant has now provided evidence that these murders were committed by the government's death squad. It also appears that this gang functions under the express direction and control of Guyana's Minister of Home Affairs, Ronald Gajraj. Unless immediate action is taken, this development can easily catapult into a morass of further political instability and civil unrest. GID is therefore formally requesting that CARICOM intercedes resolutely in this matter and strenuously persuade President Bharrat Jagdeo to agree to an immediate, independent investigation of these grave allegations. Our position is that President Jagdeo is no less culpable than his Minister of Home Affairs, for the nefarious crimes of the alleged government "phantom death squad." There appears to be significant evidence that the "phantom squad" was established by the government to conduct targeted executions. Allegedly, masked members of the squad conduct surgical killings using military and police paraphernalia. GID as well as the Stabroek News, the largest independent daily newspapers in Guyana, many civic groups and opposition Parties, have demanded the resignation of Mr. Gajraj, but the government continues to resist such requests. This is indeed a nonpartisan issue. Minister Gajraj has admitted to complicity. He has confessed to being in contact with some members of the "death squad," only because telephone records from his home and office may prove this fact. Press reports about the squad surfaced months ago but the government denied knowledge of it, blaming the murders on gang and drug related violence. However, the informant and members of the gang have now revealed the names of very senior government officials with connections to the group. There is also evidence that the gang is financed by named businessmen who are supporters of the ruling Party. Mr. George Bacchus, a City businessman and former "death squad" informant who blew Gajraj's cover, has admitted that he also helped to finance the operations of the "death squad". Bacchus has provided corroborating evidence to the US Ambassador to Guyana and the press which establishes that the squad was indeed secretly created by the government to eliminate identified persons. He asserts that after the original mission was accomplished, the gang began killing for hire, to which he objected. He said he complained to "a senior government official" about the gratuitous murders for hire. Shortly thereafter on January 5, 2004, his brother, Shafeek Bacchus, was shot and killed in front of their residence. The killers shouted "wrong man" as they escaped, thus George Bacchus believes that he was the intended target. Speculation is rife that Bacchus complained to Minister Gajraj. GID has been advised that Mr. Bacchus has passed a lie detector test that was administered by officials at the US Embassy. Thus far, the charred explanations of Minister Gajraj have been contradictory and esoteric. First he claimed that he had no knowledge of the squad. Then he admitted to having conversations with one Axel Williams, an alleged squad member who was recently murdered. He also circuitously claimed that his discussions with Axel Williams were passing references to inquiries about a "fire arm license." The Minister was then confronted with telephone records showing that both he and Williams frequently called each other very late at nights and wee hours of the morning. Other forms of evidence proving his involvement in the operation of the group was also produced. Consequently, Mr. Gajraj invoked the "interest of national security," claiming that the proven telephone conversations involved national security matters which he could not divulge. Such invocation of the national security interest strains credulity. What does the Minister have to hide? His statements lack integrity. First, the law designates responsibility for the issuance of firearms licenses to the Commissioner of Police. Second, since when is the Minister of Home Affairs the "collector" and "processor" of raw national security intelligence? That is the function of the Special Branch of the Guyana Police Force and the Military Intelligence. If the evidence against Minister Gajraj is proven to be incontrovertible, then he could not have acted in isolation. This pogrom must be thoroughly investigated! President Jagdeo cannot be exempt from accountability for any government phantom killers. Ronald Gajraj must resign if a credible investigation is to be conducted. He is unfit for public office. He has been prosecuted and convicted for crimes in the past, although he later received judicial relief. The recent discovery of the skeletal remains of Andre Ettiena behind the Botanical Gardens in Georgetown on November 25, 2003, speaks to the veracity of the allegations against the government. This is exactly where Bacchus said that bodies were frequently dumped by the squad. No democratic society can condone pseudo-genocide under the subterfuge of national security. Now that President Bharrat Jagdeo, who is actively promoting an Indian axis, has returned from India, he must be forthright with the nation. On January 10, 2004, the Stabroek newspapers listed the names of the following fourteen (14) young African men who were recently murdered, allegedly by the "phantom death squad." The headline read "Who killed these men"? These young men are real human beings with families who have human feelings. These victims' families deserve to know the truth. I have attached a list of the most recent murders. I do hope that CARICOM musters the will to act in the face of an emerging despotic regime in Guyana, to ensure that there is accountability and justice for the murders of over four hundred young African men. Yours sincerely, Rickford Burke President CC: Hon. Edwin Carrington, Secretary General of CARICOM