Dear Editor,
Jonestown is a stark reminder of the atrocities that were
perpetrated during the PNC's dictatorial rule and the so called
'anti-imperialist process,' which had received the support of
the PPP and its fraternal socialist allies, including the former
Soviet Union and its satellite states, Cuba and China.
Jonestown, like the House of Israel, was part of Burnham's
grand experiment and design in promoting the PNC's undemocratic
rule to the detriment of most Guyanese. Jim Jones and the
activities of the People's Temple were accommodated and
conducted outside the scrutiny and parameters of most Guyanese
and their 'rule of law instructions'. This experiment ended in
the tragic loss of hundreds of lives through the macabre
circumstance of mass murder and suicides.
Like so many other creatures of Burnham's undemocratic
regime, the House of Israel was used in the oppression of
Guyanese; opposition political meetings, particularly those of
the late Dr. Walter Rodney, were broken up, and supporters of
opposition political parties were bludgeoned by members of the
House of Israel, who were also instrumental in beating and
intimidating peaceful protesters against the PNC's undemocratic
and unpopular policies.
It is in this dark context of political and criminal
negligence and lack of accountability, that the Jonestown
tragedy should be examined and lessons should be learned. It is
no mystery why the majority of Guyanese are unwilling to vote
for the PNC at national elections, particularly Indo- Guyanese,
who have been psychologically scarred and faced the brunt of the
PNC's policies of political and racial discrimination. Jonestown
is indeed embedded in history as one of the infamous tragedies
of the last century synonymous with Burnham and the PNC's
undemocratic rule.
