The tunnel darkens

Extremists in control
Back in the days of the Vietnam War, as the U.S. descended deeper and deeper into the morass of what started as an “advisory mission” to the South Vietnamese army, the question on everyone’s lips became, “Is there any light at the end of the tunnel?” Meaning whether there was any progress towards an endgame.
Eventually, there was a light. But as one wag pointed out, it was not the sun shining at the other end but a train coming in the opposite direction – smashing the U.S. army into an ignominious retreat.
We’re seeing signs of this end game in Linden. What started as a supposed ‘disagreement’ on electricity rates has now grown into a full-fledged insurgency that has pinned down our joint forces going into its fourth week of operations.
The theatre of engagement has not only intensified within the main theatre of Linden but has spread across to Region Seven where the Potaro alternate road to the interior has been dug up.
The latest report is that the extremists – led by Benschop’s radio, using the classic insurgency tactic of spreading false, inflammatory rumours (a child is hurt; the army is launching an operation etc.) had protestors rushing to ‘defend’ the Mackenzie Bridge – even if it meant burning it down. The joint forces were forced to use teargas to clear the bridge but now the same extremists could turn truth on its head and report that the Joint Services’ ‘operation’ forced the ‘defence’ of the bridge.
As was clear from the wailing tones of Roopnarine who blamed ‘extremists’ for trying to sabotage the talks between the Region 10 team and the government, the extremist tail is now wagging the opposition dog. This was always in the cards – and Granger as an old military strategist knew this. During any protest, it is inevitable that if extremists who want to make Granger look bad, is included inside the circle, betrayal and sabotage will certainly shake down businesses.
The list of demands by the protestors have now grown longer than the boom on the old bauxite draglines. Like Granger, the government had a tiger by the tail the moment they agreed to bargain with local warlords. If the latter succeed, they will have a demonstrator effect on every community in Guyana – ironically experiencing the same problems of Linden, but keeping quiet up to now.

What politics?
The AFC complains that the government is not dealing with Lindeners directly – and APNU has gone along. It would therefore appear that the days of national politics are now over. The government has now accepted a no-win situation by negotiating with a local entity that will inevitably be concerned with its narrow parochial agenda. And this would be true even if troublemakers like Norton were not aboard slashing right (Granger); left (the government); and centre (Corbin).
This is the politics of the ‘warlord’ – and such politics mean ‘extremist politics’. Norton has made common interest with the AFC – albeit for different reasons.
But that is the nature of the politics playing out in Guyana today. It’s every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost (Guyana). The AFC wants to shift attention away from its role in stirring up the witches’ brew from the beginning – and be ready to harvest votes at the next elections.