APNU crowd violently breaks up PPP Victoria meeting
Written by
Thursday, 17 November 2011 04:32
- PPP activists attacked, one doused in kerosene and was going to be set afire
- PPP appeals to its supporters to remain calm but vigilant
SUPPORTERS of the opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) last night violently disrupted a meeting being held by the governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) in the Victoria, East Coast Demerara community.
It is understood that a crowd of APNU supporters, some of whom are reported to have been bussed in to Victoria, proceeded to disrupt the meeting, including violently attacking PPP/C’s afro-Guyanese activists at the meeting. This culminated in one of the PPP/C activists being doused in kerosene oil and was about to be set afire.
The PPP last night condemned this violence in the strongest possible terms and appealed to its supporters to remain calm but vigilant.
According to reports, there was a PPP/C public meeting scheduled to take place at Victoria gas station road, in front of the Victoria primary school at 18:00 hrs ( 6pm) yesterday.
Former PNCR member Mr Joseph Hamilton, who recently joined the PPP/C on the 2011 campaign trail, was the first speaker and he began to speak at about 18:15 hrs.
There were about 150 persons gathered at the place of the meeting. A majority of them were armed with APNU posters and placards bearing the name APNU and bearing derogatory and racist remarks regarding Mr Hamilton and the PPP/C.
They were shouting very loudly and chanting the name “Granger” and “PNC”. In short, their behaviour was disorderly and unruly.
The noise level prevented Mr Hamilton from being heard over the microphone and obviously affected his ability to make a proper presentation. While Mr Hamilton was speaking, on several occasions they attempted to storm the podium and the Police had to intervene to prevent them from getting their hands on the podium and Hamilton.
On many occasions, they threw their posters and plaque cards almost in the face of Hamilton. As a result, Mr Hamilton was forced to conclude his presentation. As Mr Hamilton left the meeting, ‘missiles’ were thrown at him and at his vehicle.
The next speaker was Mr Anil Nandlall. Again, the crowd continued with its disorderly and ruckus conduct, on many occasions throwing their placards and posters at him while he was speaking.
Also, a member of the crowd set on fire a PPP poster and waved it in front of Mr Nandlall as he was speaking. A glass coke bottle was also pelted and it hit the podium. On several occasions, while Mr Nandlall was speaking, the crowd attempted to grab the podium but the police had to physically intervene to create a human barricade between the crowd and Mr Nandlall. All this time, they were chanting, shouting and cursing, proclaiming their support for APNU, Granger and the PNC.
As a result, Mr Nandlall could hardly have been heard over the microphone and, like Mr Hamilton, he was forced to conclude his presentation. When he was finished, the police and PPP supporters escorted him to the Public Road and he left for another speaking engagement at another public meeting.
After Mr Nandlall left, the crowd then turned their attention to the PPP supporters and activists on the ground and physically beat and assaulted five persons.
One PPP activist was reportedly doused with kerosene oil and the crowd was going to light him afire. At the same time, another PPP activist was pelted with a bottle that hit him in the face and a man armed with a baseball bat then charged another PPP activist who had a licensed firearm and the PPP activist discharged two rounds in the air.
It was only then that the crowd receded and the police intervened and took the PPP supporters and activists to the Cove and John Police Station.
It should be noted that the attack is a clear breach of the elections Code of Conduct, which the four main political parties contesting the upcoming November 28th elections signed onto last Friday.
Analysts believe this is a clear sign of desperation by the opposition, especially APNU, since it is not the first time that ‘thugs’ were bussed in to disrupt the PPP’s public meetings during this current elections campaign.
“It is our hope that the law-enforcement agencies will take the necessary action,” PPP/C Campaign Manager Robert Persaud said late last night.
.
Written by
Thursday, 17 November 2011 04:32
- PPP activists attacked, one doused in kerosene and was going to be set afire
- PPP appeals to its supporters to remain calm but vigilant
SUPPORTERS of the opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) last night violently disrupted a meeting being held by the governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) in the Victoria, East Coast Demerara community.
It is understood that a crowd of APNU supporters, some of whom are reported to have been bussed in to Victoria, proceeded to disrupt the meeting, including violently attacking PPP/C’s afro-Guyanese activists at the meeting. This culminated in one of the PPP/C activists being doused in kerosene oil and was about to be set afire.
The PPP last night condemned this violence in the strongest possible terms and appealed to its supporters to remain calm but vigilant.
According to reports, there was a PPP/C public meeting scheduled to take place at Victoria gas station road, in front of the Victoria primary school at 18:00 hrs ( 6pm) yesterday.
Former PNCR member Mr Joseph Hamilton, who recently joined the PPP/C on the 2011 campaign trail, was the first speaker and he began to speak at about 18:15 hrs.
There were about 150 persons gathered at the place of the meeting. A majority of them were armed with APNU posters and placards bearing the name APNU and bearing derogatory and racist remarks regarding Mr Hamilton and the PPP/C.
They were shouting very loudly and chanting the name “Granger” and “PNC”. In short, their behaviour was disorderly and unruly.
The noise level prevented Mr Hamilton from being heard over the microphone and obviously affected his ability to make a proper presentation. While Mr Hamilton was speaking, on several occasions they attempted to storm the podium and the Police had to intervene to prevent them from getting their hands on the podium and Hamilton.
On many occasions, they threw their posters and plaque cards almost in the face of Hamilton. As a result, Mr Hamilton was forced to conclude his presentation. As Mr Hamilton left the meeting, ‘missiles’ were thrown at him and at his vehicle.
The next speaker was Mr Anil Nandlall. Again, the crowd continued with its disorderly and ruckus conduct, on many occasions throwing their placards and posters at him while he was speaking.
Also, a member of the crowd set on fire a PPP poster and waved it in front of Mr Nandlall as he was speaking. A glass coke bottle was also pelted and it hit the podium. On several occasions, while Mr Nandlall was speaking, the crowd attempted to grab the podium but the police had to physically intervene to create a human barricade between the crowd and Mr Nandlall. All this time, they were chanting, shouting and cursing, proclaiming their support for APNU, Granger and the PNC.
As a result, Mr Nandlall could hardly have been heard over the microphone and, like Mr Hamilton, he was forced to conclude his presentation. When he was finished, the police and PPP supporters escorted him to the Public Road and he left for another speaking engagement at another public meeting.
After Mr Nandlall left, the crowd then turned their attention to the PPP supporters and activists on the ground and physically beat and assaulted five persons.
One PPP activist was reportedly doused with kerosene oil and the crowd was going to light him afire. At the same time, another PPP activist was pelted with a bottle that hit him in the face and a man armed with a baseball bat then charged another PPP activist who had a licensed firearm and the PPP activist discharged two rounds in the air.
It was only then that the crowd receded and the police intervened and took the PPP supporters and activists to the Cove and John Police Station.
It should be noted that the attack is a clear breach of the elections Code of Conduct, which the four main political parties contesting the upcoming November 28th elections signed onto last Friday.
Analysts believe this is a clear sign of desperation by the opposition, especially APNU, since it is not the first time that ‘thugs’ were bussed in to disrupt the PPP’s public meetings during this current elections campaign.
“It is our hope that the law-enforcement agencies will take the necessary action,” PPP/C Campaign Manager Robert Persaud said late last night.
.
