May 2002: It is the view of this site that the PPP/C government is first and foremost responsible for all the deaths and violent attacks being waged against the Guyanese people, especially their constituents, Indian people, who are being gunned down, raped, robbed, and terrorized by criminals while the army sits idly by and the police hampered.

We believe that unless the Indian people stop waiting and start a serious campaign of criticism against the PPP/C, they are bound to suffer over and over. We think one of the major problems in being a Guyanese at this time in Guyana is being an Indian. One is automatically marked for death or attack. Criticism of a government is a duty. Help save a life!

Dec 30, 2002: the year can best be described by one word-death. There has been death everywhere. This week alone, as we celebrate xmas and wait for the new year, there are funerals to attend, not only for Desmond Hoyte, but for a grocer from annandale and a rice distributor, both succumbing to gunshots received from gunmen. A carpenter from mon repos who ahs been kidnapped is still to be freed or found. This year has been a long one. Next year? Same story, if not worse.

Prelude to an Age of Eye Pass:

Sundyal Singh is killed in 1997 post-elections bomb explosion at CN Sharma's TV station.

Endnotes:

On June 28, the Guyana Police Force issued a press release which noted that criminal elements were being used to "destabalise" the country, and that many of the crime victims were purposefully selected by race. This list compiled herein consists primarily of recorded facts from cases that made the Guyana press. Naturally, it does not include all post-elections violence and criminal disobedience, nor very personal cases such as rapes. Some cases for which correct names and/or dates were not totally established were also, for the most part, ignored. Ragnauth Ragoobar who was shot and killed by bandits is one such example.

Quotes:

"You are either with them or against them and they are now making this out to be a race issue.

I believe Indian people have to band together now.

We have to seek security in our own way and

I see myself being singled out because I'm an Indian leader and nothing else."

-Manzoor Nadir, after his home is attacked on April 24 .

"They beat me on my head and about my body with a cutlass and asked where my husband was..."

-Ester Budram

"One of them choked me and beat me with a cutlass demanding money and jewellery. Another held my daughter and threatened to chop her leg  out with the cutlass."

-Rajwantee Budram

"I was pulled out of the bus by about five men, beaten and thrown to the ground..."

"The mob was chanting 'Kill' and 'More Fire' and they began throwing missiles at the bus forcing us to turn back ..."

-Kemdas Raghoo, one of four men chopped on April 18 in minibus hold up in Golden Grove.

"I run and locked up the back door and after then I came back and see him [Rajnauth] lying on the ground with blood."

-Vijay Lakram, Rajnauth's assistant, explaining that he was so fearful for his life that he ran home.

Calls for the right to be Armed:

" The robbers out there have guns. They do not have to apply to the police for them. We are at a disadvantage. If we are found with an illegal weapon we would be jailed"

--Chintaman, after his store was robbed by 5 armed men on 10/25

"As the slow fire is flaming in Georgetown, and the inferno is driving constant fear into the lives of all Guyanese, what is it that a legitimate government is doing to protect its citizens. Where is that mandate? The cry can be felt everywhere, especially among the business sector. Again, I wish to ask, "where are the guns." Businessmen are being terrorised and killed who are defenseless, and yet no protection is coming from the government. Mr. Ravi Dev is endlessly saying that people should stand up and protect themselves. Yet several appeals in writing to the Minister of Home Affairs and the Commissioner of Police to evaluate qualified individuals to issue them a licensed firearm are completely ignored..."

-Dr.Veerasammy Ramayya (Stabroek News,4/25)

"I have read that the police arrested the Rambarrans for the possession of unlicensed guns and ammunitions at their Bel Air home. I have no idea whether the Rambarrans had the gun to protect themselves from the growing problems of armed robbery in Guyana or had other reasons for weapon possession...I know that my parents tried to obtain a gun license for their protection, but were unsuccessful. I also read that bandits attacked a woman and her kids in South Ruimveldt last week...I am angry because decent citizens are being denied the right to bear arms for their protection, although the police force seems to be unable to protect them...The citizens of Guyana should be afforded the right to protect themselves."

-Ms. Prudence Baker, California (Stabroek News, 5/21)