DONOR COMMUNITY TO ISSUE NON-VIOLENCE STATEMENT IN

UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 000124

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR ASEC KCRM GY
SUBJECT: DONOR COMMUNITY TO ISSUE NON-VIOLENCE STATEMENT IN
WAKE OF WADDELL MURDER

REF: GEORGETOWN 111


1. Ambassador and Chiefs of Mission of the UK, Canada and the
European Union (ABCEU) met with leaders of the ruling PPP/C
and several opposition parties, including the Guyana Third
Force, the Alliance for Change, and the Working People's
Alliance, to emphasize the need for non-violence following
the January 30 murder of journalist/politician Ronald Waddell
(reftel). The opposition PNC/R failed to send a
representative. The ABCEU's talking points avoided directly
linking Waddell's murder with pre-election violence, instead
identifying concern that the recent spate of violent killings
continue to erode political stability, the investment
climate, and public confidence.


2. Several political leaders identified this weekend's
funeral and planned procession through the volatile areas of
Albouystown and Buxton as a possible trigger for violence.
Guyana Third Force member Joey Jagan identified the Waddell
murder as a "watershed" in Guyana's political history for
which "somebody will pay". Jagan was critical of the funeral
procession as an incitement to violence. Keith Scott of the
National Front suggested that each of the political parties
should send representatives to this weekend's funeral for a
collective display of mourning and should also issue an
all-party statement urging peace.


3. Khemraj Ramjattan of the Alliance for Change and Ravi Dev
of ROAR said the Ambassador's offer to the GOG for the FBI to
lend support to the investigation should be made public.
Sheila Holder of the Alliance for Change pointed to a
percieved stall in the investigation of the recent murder of
Daniel Thompson that has undermined the public's confidence
in the Guyana Police Force. Donald Ramotar of the PPP said
his party has no problem with categorically condemning
violence, but that the ABCEU should consult with the police
force to see if it needs assistance before making such an
offer publicly. The ABCEU chiefs agreed after the meeting
that making the offer public would be premature.


4. The ABCEU has issued the following joint statement
condemning all forms of violence in Guyana. Begin text:

We, the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, the
Ambassador of the United States of America, The High
Commissioner for Canada and the Ambassador reprsenting the
European Union, join our voices with those who have expressed
concern with the crime situation in Guyana and we condemn all
forms of violence in the strongest terms.

We are concerned not only as members of the international
community representing countries who care for Guyana and its
future, but also as responsible residents of this country and
of this city.

Violence and the resulting culture of fear undermine the
stable functioning of society, eroding everything from
democratic development to the investment climate to civic
life.

As friends of Guyana, we invite all those who are in
leadership positions to take a strong stand against violent
crime and to demand that those responsible for violent crimes
be brought to justice. We urge all citizens who have
information to cooperate fully with police investigations.

We encourage the Guyana Police Force to persevere in its
efforts to investigate all crimes thoroughly so that those
responsible can be brought to justice

In this regard, we support the work of the Guyana Police
Force and all those involved in the fight against crime.
Moreover, the Governments of the United States of America and
of the United Kingdom will continue their efforts to support
and strengthen the Guyana Police Force. End Text.


5. COMMENT: With emotions running high following Waddell's
murder, the coming funeral procession will no doubt be a
political event. Each of the ABCEU representatives stressed
the need for appropriate policing to ensure that the funeral
procession does not incite violence. END COMMENT.

BULLEN

BULLEN