President sees street marches as 'scorched earth policy'
Stabroek News
July 19, 2002
President Bharrat Jagdeo believes that the violent events of July 3rd, including the invasion of the presidential complex, were orchestrated to keep people away from the public events related to the CARICOM Summit.
At a press conference yesterday, he charged too that the street protests with the attendant violence are part of a "scorched earth policy" aimed at driving his party's supporters out of the country or ensuring that they do not vote at the next elections. A scorched earth policy refers to the destruction of assets by one side to deny another side the use of them. Speaking with reporters at the Office of the President, President Jagdeo asserted that it wasn't only Phillip Bynoe and Mark Benschop who mobilised for the march but the others who are now disclaiming any responsibility for what took place after the march. The President did not identify any other individuals.
Both Bynoe and Benschop have been charged with treason, while Benschop along with 19 others face a number of charges related to the breaching of the security of the Office of the President compound.
PNC REFORM spokespersons do not accept responsibility for the events at the Office of President, but said they must accept some blame for the other incidents as they supported the causes for which the march was planned.
The President said that among the organisers are people who are still harbouring the hatred of the past, are stuck in a time warp, are past their prime and do not care for the young people of this country.
Conceding that some of those involved in the July 3 events were criminals, President Jagdeo accused the organisers of misleading the other young people who were mobilised. Insisting that he is President of all the people of Guyana, he said that he had to guard against the wild ones, some of whom he described as old and bitter, who would like to return Guyana to the days of the past. Commenting on what people could do to increase their personal security, the President said that they needed to avoid keeping large sums of money at home. He said that he had suggested to a group of residents in Berbice introducing a compulsory six-month stint in the Disciplined Services that would instill them with discipline and some training but that they did not welcome the idea.
President Jagdeo said that he has asked the Private Sector Commission to speak with its members about these issues as well as to coordinate the approach to the police for permission to upgrade their weaponry. He said that the latter move was to ensure that the right people were being issued with upgraded weaponry and that it would be used for the purpose intended.