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FM
Former Member

Burnham, PNC politicised Army, dehumanised Guyanese

February 21, 2016 10:37 am Category: latest news, Politics A+ /A-

… Rodney was not the only victim during era of terror politics — CoI report

The grim realities of the “Burnham Dictatorship” during which hundreds of Guyanese were constantly harassed, threatened or assaulted – and some murdered – for merely being supporters of the political Opposition finally came to light in a comprehensive investigation conducted by a renowned international three-member panel and categorically compiled in the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Report.

Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham

 

Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham

Dr Walter Rodney

 

Dr Walter Rodney

All the while, these depictions and interpretations were just hearsay from political leaders but having it validated on paper brings somewhat a new meaning to the harsh realism endured by many in the military-controlled State that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) persistently warned about, commentators have stated.

Based on testimonies given, evidence gathered along with the events and circumstances that occurred at the time, the report concluded that the then Prime Minister, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, had such an “absolute” grip and control over the society that he “de-humanised and belittled many Guyanese”.

The 155-page document provided extensive details on the relentless abuse and misuse of the State in carrying out activities that were in blatant breach of legislation which separated the Executive arm of Government from the doings of the armed forces.

According to report, Dr Rodney’s brother Edward Rodney in his testimony identified that the Guyana Police Force was acting as an arm of the ruling party; that the Police were being used to break-up strikes against people who were standing in lines and being unruly or waiting to get bread, kerosene and the Mounted Police were used to threaten and intimidate.

Notably, this was just one of the dozens who came forth to narrate the bleak circumstances that plagued the country during that era in the country’s history.
It was also revealed that the People’s National Congress (PNC) youth arm, the Youth Socialist Movement (YSM), was part and parcel in numerous of the beatings administered to Guyanese who opposed the dictatorship rule of Burnham. Two days ago, the PNC celebrated the birthday of their “founder leader” Burnham with great pomp and lauded him as a great leader of Guyana.
An excerpt from the CoI Report highlighted that the YSM was involved in violent activities in support of the PNC.

“At one stage, the YSM was led by Robert Corbin (former PNCReform Leader) and it worked in close cooperation with the House of Israel in carrying out acts of violence and intimidation against the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) members,” the report stated.

It also recapped that Reverend Gilbert testified that on one occasion, he was grabbed and rammed in his ribs by the YSM which eventually resulted in two broken ribs just before he was handed over to the Police.

It was also taken into account, the somewhat discreet threat declared by Burnham against the WPA – against Dr Rodney.

At the Third Biennial Congress of the PNC (August, 1979), Burnham exclaimed, “We are a party of peace, but we are not pacifists, and literally and metaphorically, we promise to match steel with steel and fire with fire…”
“So comrades, let us deal now with another of them – the Worst Possible Alternative. That is what they must be known by. What does WPA stand for?”
“Comrades, they had better make their wills, because so far as we are concerned, we are not asking them for quarter and we will not give them any…”
“Comrades, we are now in the Roman Amphitheatre. The lion and the gladiator cannot both survive; one must die, and we know that the People’s National Congress will live.”

The Rodney CoI Report expressed that there has been much debate whether the words used by Burnham represented rhetorical excess or whether they were serious and threatening words reflecting the extent to which Rodney and the WPA had become a matter of serious concern to him.

According to the report, many of the testimonies subscribed to the view that Burnham’s statements were indeed a threat.

Based on thorough considerations of these and many other incidents, the Commissioners concluded without hesitation that both the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the YSM along with those in command and Superintendents of those agencies were tasked with carrying out actions of violence against the Opposition.

The report concluded that there were constant surveillance on civilians, killing innocent persons who were associated with the Opposition; breaking up of political meetings, harassing, threatening, assaulting or beating members or supporters of the Opposition; arresting, locking-up or charging members or supporters or carrying out searches of homes and other places without reasonable or probable cause. (Reprinted: Guyana Times)

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Rodney was not the only victim during era of terror politics — CoI report

The grim realities of the “Burnham Dictatorship” during which hundreds of Guyanese were constantly harassed, threatened or assaulted – and some murdered – for merely being supporters of the political Opposition finally came to light in a comprehensive investigation conducted by a renowned international three-member panel and categorically compiled in the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Report.

FM

According to report, Dr Rodney’s brother Edward Rodney in his testimony identified that the Guyana Police Force was acting as an arm of the ruling party; that the Police were being used to break-up strikes against people who were standing in lines and being unruly or waiting to get bread, kerosene and the Mounted Police were used to threaten and intimidate.

FM

the PPP commission's report adds little to what we already know

the COI's imprimatur has little value since most dispassionate observers understand that its members were hungry belly political actors in a stage-managed PPP circus pimping Walter Rodney's memory for the cheapest and most ignoble of purposes

FM
cain posted:

The main thing is and will always be

GOOD TING PPP LOST

You start to sound like Marco Rubio who had an Obama mantra until Christie exposed him. You mantra ah get ole now. Staat sumtin new.

FM
Last edited by Former Member

Some right here on GNI were whipped at Hope Estate and people witnessed them hollering " Yes Massa whip me some more Massa, it feels good Massa"

 

According to the report some GNI members are NOT Human!!!

Nehru
Nehru posted:

Some right here on GNI were whipped at Hope Estate and people witnessed them hollering " Yes Massa whip me some more Massa, it feels good Massa"

hmmm . . . was that u?

confession oftentimes can be cathartic and good for the soul

explains a lot

FM
Last edited by Former Member
redux posted:
Nehru posted:

Some right here on GNI were whipped at Hope Estate and people witnessed them hollering " Yes Massa whip me some more Massa, it feels good Massa"

hmmm . . . was that u?

confession oftentimes can be cathartic and good for the soul

explains a lot

DONT FEEL SHAME, YOU DID IT FOR A POUND OF SALT AND LOVE OF THE WHIP.  ANYONE ELSE CARE TO COME FORWARD???

Nehru
skeldon_man posted:
cain posted:

The main thing is and will always be

GOOD TING PPP LOST

You start to sound like Marco Rubio who had an Obama mantra until Christie exposed him. You mantra ah get ole now. Staat sumtin new.

GOOD TING PPP GETTIN THEIR ASS KICKED. You happy now?

cain
cain posted:
skeldon_man posted:
cain posted:

The main thing is and will always be

GOOD TING PPP LOST

You start to sound like Marco Rubio who had an Obama mantra until Christie exposed him. You mantra ah get ole now. Staat sumtin new.

GOOD TING PPP GETTIN THEIR ASS KICKED. You happy now?

I knew you would be next to confess

Nehru
Budweiser posted:

How about forget the old political rethoric of the past and look into the future and make Guyana a great nation to live in peace and prosperity. 

The opposition here doesn't really care about anything other than pass transgressions so they could irritate us by constantly complaining.

cain
cain posted:
Budweiser posted:

How about forget the old political rethoric of the past and look into the future and make Guyana a great nation to live in peace and prosperity. 

The opposition here doesn't really care about anything other than pass transgressions so they could irritate us by constantly complaining.

HAHAHA You SHAMELESS just like Uncle Tom but we are not surprise.  Or you usually dont understand what you were writing on GNI????

Nehru
Budweiser posted:

How about forget the old political rethoric of the past and look into the future and make Guyana a great nation to live in peace and prosperity. 

I really wanted to forget about the old political rhetoric of the past and look into the future.  But the more I think of the future of Guyana, the more I want to look into the past.  Because it seems brighter.

Bibi Haniffa

Burnham, Chung ,Jagan and Janet duo ,Reid ,Hoyt etc are all dead, Jagdeo,lost the election and it's the same tune playing, Guyana ,needs new producers,lyrics and singers to make the audiences happy.

Now that the Rodney inquest is over ,will the current government press criminal charges and arrest all that were involved. President Granger held a top post then,when PNC was ruling.

 

 

 

FM
Budweiser posted:

Burnham, Chung ,Jagan and Janet duo ,Reid ,Hoyt etc are all dead, Jagdeo,lost the election and it's the same tune playing, Guyana ,needs new producers,lyrics and singers to make the audiences happy.

Now that the Rodney inquest is over ,will the current government press criminal charges and arrest all that were involved. President Granger held a top post then,when PNC was ruling.

 

 

 

Build a jail around Burnham's grave. Norman McLean is now a PPP soupie and the House of Israel last living founder is now a PPP MP. Most of the others are dead.

Mars
Last edited by Mars

I made a mistake by  mentioning Jagdeo loosing the elections, it's Ramoutar. Thanks. 

Navin Chandrapaul was forced to leave and died with grief and pains.Nagamootoo run  from the PPP because he wasn't the nominee. Now that he is Prime Minister, his dream come true, it's seems he has no vice .

Is Gregory Smith alive ?

FM
skeldon_man posted:
cain posted:

The main thing is and will always be

GOOD TING PPP LOST

You start to sound like Marco Rubio who had an Obama mantra until Christie exposed him. You mantra ah get ole now. Staat sumtin new.

WORST TING NOW WITH PNC.

K
Budweiser posted:

Burnham, Chung ,Jagan and Janet duo ,Reid ,Hoyt etc are all dead, Jagdeo,lost the election and it's the same tune playing, Guyana ,needs new producers,lyrics and singers to make the audiences happy.

Now that the Rodney inquest is over ,will the current government press criminal charges and arrest all that were involved. President Granger held a top post then,when PNC was ruling.

 

 

 

THIS WILL BE LIKE TRYING DEVIL IN HELL.

K
Budweiser posted:

I made a mistake by  mentioning Jagdeo loosing the elections, it's Ramoutar. Thanks. 

Navin Chandrapaul was forced to leave and died with grief and pains.Nagamootoo run  from the PPP because he wasn't the nominee. Now that he is Prime Minister, his dream come true, it's seems he has no vice .

Is Gregory Smith alive ?

You were correct, Ramotar was just Jags puppet. Jags lost the election.

and is a GOOD TING PPP LOST.

cain
baseman posted:
antabanta posted:
baseman posted:

Burnham and many of his cohorts may be dead, but their beliefs and philosophy is very much alive and around.

That Guyana should be ruled by one ethnic group only?

What does that have to do with race!!

My apologies. Allow me to spell it out.

In your post that "Burnham and many of his cohorts may be dead, but their beliefs and philosophy is very much alive and around." are you referring to said belief and philosophy that Guyana should be ruled by one ethnic group only? If not, what beliefs and philosophy do you mean?

A

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