…in Suriname
The case was brought since 2007; but, at long last, Desi Bouterse was convicted of murder for the execution of 15 Surinamese citizens who’d been rounded up and murdered in 1982. In 1980, he’d been the leader in the “Coup of Sergeants” that had violently ousted the democratically elected President Henk Aaron from office. Suriname had enjoyed only 5 years of peaceful independence from the Netherlands.
Bouterse had appointed himself head of the Military Council, and had proceeded to hand-select pliant presidents for Suriname while he ruled behind the scenes. It was the same year Burnham had created his “special” constitution, making him a “constitutional” dictator for life. It was the same year also, of course, that he’d organised for his main opposition leader, Walter Rodney, to be assassinated, along with two other members of the latter’s party.
Both leaders of the two Guianas had seized power and had subverted democracy – and by not such different routes. Bouterse was just cruder in his seizure and execution of power, but Burnham ruled with no less an iron hand. There was a failed coup attempt against Bouterse early in 1982, and a few months later, he organised the execution of the 15, whom he insisted were behind it.
It is quite possible that if Burnham hadn’t decapitated the head of the WPA in 1980, a similar coup or a popular uprising might have been organised here. In 1979, a band of WPA activists from West Demerara, led by Ivan Sookram, had been arrested and tortured for collecting weapons and planning such a coup.
It wasn’t until Dec 2007 – 25 years after the murders – that the trial for the “December Murders” was started. Time longer than twine, especially for murder, which has no statute of limitations. By early 2012, one of the accused persons decided to tell the truth: that Bouterse had actually participated in the killings, but by then Bouterse had entered electoral politics and become President in 2010. His party promptly passed an Amnesty Law before his erstwhile confederate could testify!!
Back in 1999, Bouterse had been convicted in absentia for drug trafficking in the Netherlands, but couldn’t be extradited because of Surinamese law. The threat of a murder conviction didn’t faze Bouterse, who revelled in his outlaw reputation.
The point about all of this for us in Guyana is that David Granger and the PNC were nurtured in the same dictatorial mindset of Bouterse, and really don’t give a damn about their reputation in the international community. They know that once the direct interests of the big powers aren’t affected, they’ll turn a blind eye to all sorts of excesses.
Rigging elections is the least of their fears!!
…in Guyana
The PPP launched their mini-manifesto on Friday. Your Eyewitness wasn’t surprised it was given short shrift by the dailies – other than this newspaper. Problem is, the PNC and AFC ruined the whole point about manifestos after 2015. The PPP is driven by a programme that’s honed for months by the party, in consultations with all sections of society. Everybody helps to draft the manifesto, including the candidate who’ll be executing it in office.
There are no surprises about what the PPP will do in power; it’s all there in black and white in the manifesto. In the PNC’s first iteration, Burnham crafted grandiloquent “Five Year Plans” with fancy themes like “Feed, House and Clothe the Nation!!” Since all of then invariably failed, no one took them seriously. During the PPP’s 23 years, however, that party faithfully kept to its plans – and rescued Guyana from the PNC’s destruction.
But while the PNC/AFC imitated this in 2015, they deep-sixed all meaningful promises – like constitutional change.
So now the PPP has to overcome this jadedness.
…with PNC’s ineptness
Former Jamaican PM Portia Miller advised the PNC Government that they should give local companies priorities over foreigners in the new oil economy.
Doesn’t she realize the PNC sees this as “strengthening their enemies”?