Guyana: Reports of violence between Indo-Guyanese and Afro-Guyanese or between the People' Progressive Party (PPP) and the People's National Congress (PNC) (June 2000 - April 2001)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 27 April 2001 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GUY36918.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Guyana: Reports of violence between Indo-Guyanese and Afro-Guyanese or between the People' Progressive Party (PPP) and the People's National Congress (PNC) (June 2000 - April 2001), 27 April 2001, GUY36918.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be3930.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A 16 February 2000 IPS article states:
A stand-off with police that ended in the surrender and subsequent killing of the suspect has prompted charges that the suspect was killed "execution-style" by the state. ... And it has confirmed fears that the East Indian-dominated governing People's Progressive Party (PPP) has been using a special unit in the police force to target and execute Afro Guyanese – a charge the authorities deny. Such sentiments are widespread, despite the fact that some of those killed were convicted felons.
A 15 April 2001 Weekly News Update on the Americas states:
On Apr. 9 in Georgetown, Guyana, riot police fired pellets and live rounds at anti-government demonstrators and beat a number of them; dozens of protesters were injured and at least 27 were arrested. After police broke up the demonstrations, angry mobs spread out through the city, setting up roadblocks, throwing rocks and setting buildings on fire. Street vendor Donna McKinnon was shot dead and another person was hospitalized after being hit by gunfire; the two were reportedly shot while running for cover after police fired shots in the air to disperse a crowd which had gathered to watch a commercial building burn down. There are reports that apart from the police, someone was seen firing a handgun from Freedom House, headquarters of the ruling People's Progressive Party (PPP). ... Thousands of people marched through the streets of Georgetown again on Apr. 10 in protests called by former president Desmond Hoyte, leader of the People's National Congress (PNC).
No additional information on violence between Indo-Guyanese and Afro-Guyanese or between the PPP and the PNC in Guyana could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Inter Press Service (IPS). 16 February 2001. Bert Wilkinson. "Rights-Guyana: Police Killing Called 'Cold-Blooded Murder'." (NEXIS)
Weekly News Update on the Americas [New York]. 15 April 2001. Nicaragua Solidarity Network of Greater New York. "Guyana: Protests Turn Violent."
Additional Sources Consulted
Caribbean and Central American Report
IRB databases
Latinamerica Press
Latin America Weekly Report
NACLA Report on the Americas
NEXIS/LEXIS
Internet sites including:
Amnesty International
Association for the Study of Ethnicity and Nationalism
BBC News Online
DERECHOS Human Rights
The Guyana and Caribbean Popular and Cultural Center for Popular Education
Guyana News and Information
INCORE Internet Services on Conflict Resolution and Ethnicity
Minorities at Risk Project
Minority Rights group
OneWorld.net
World News Connection