EDITORIAL

By GODFREY WRAY

Dark days for Hinckson

The travesty of the unlawful detention of Oliver Hinckson, novelist and former Guyana Defence Force officer, has taken on new dimensions.

An e-mail from one of his lawyers in Guyana informs that the 64-year-old author of Enemy Within, who is pursuing a degree in international relations, has been moved from the barrack-like Remand Section at the Camp Street jail and put in solitary confinement.

The legal representative said he visited the Georgetown Prisons at the weekend only to learn that prison authorities, without probable cause, had placed his client in the most reprehensible area of the institution, referred to by wardens and inmates alike as the "dungeon." He is permitted to speak only with his attorneys-at-law.

This move is seen as another sinister development in a carefully calculated plan to silence an outspoken critic of the political administration.

First, he was arrested weeks after appearing at a press conference hosted by Mayor Hamilton Green at City Hall. At that event, Hinckson had called on the Bharrat Jagdeo government to engage in dialogue with a gang of young men accused of orchestrating a reign of terror in the country. He offered his services to help mediate in any type of talks, suggesting that to do otherwise would encourage the young men, who considered themselves freedom fighters, to harass the Joint Services using hit and run tactics.

A few weeks later, out of the blue, Hinckson was arrested and slapped with the nebulous charges of advocating to commit terrorism, and uttering a seditious speech to the public and news media, the purpose of which would bring hatred and contempt and promote public disorder.

Hinckson has since been refused bail, appearing in court sometimes once a week and other times every other week. He has also been refused permission to sit his final University of Guyana exams.

The tactics closely parallel those used against treason accused Mark Benschop who languished in prison for five years before Jagdeo magnanimously granted him a pardon.

Legal and civil luminaries have raised their voices in protest at what is seen as a restriction of freedom of speech. The local Human Rights Association made their concerns known and last week Opposition PNCR supporters picketed President Jagdeo when he was in New York. (See Page 2)

In keeping with the myriad fairy tales constantly churned out by the Police, the PPPC administration and the Prison authorities, we may never know the truth why Hinckson was thrown into the "dungeon." But what is known is that the 64-year-old man suffers from claustrophobia, has serious eye problems and has to maintain a strict salt-free diet.

To add to the drama, presiding magistrate Gordon Gilhuys is likely to be charged for shooting a policeman. If this happens, Gilhuys will have to step down from the bench and this will mean Hinckson’s case will have to start all over before another magistrate.

At this point all we see for Hinckson is darkness.

Will Guyanese just sit back and let the injustices continue?