PPP says activists attacked; writes Police Commissioner

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has called for an urgent investigation into the attack of its activists in Sophia on Thursday afternoon.

The complaint comes as a video began circulating on Facebook of a separate attack in the city in which a PPP vehicle was prevented from going through Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

In a letter to the Commissioner of Police on the Sophia incident, PPP Executive Member Anil Nandlall claimed that at about 16:00hrs on Thursday, the party activists were attacked in while making a public announcement about the party’s Campaign launch set for Sunday at the Kitty Market Square.

He named one activist of the PNC, the largest party in the incumbent administration, as leading the attack on the lorry transporting the PPP personnel.

According to the letter dated January 03, 2020, and posted on Nandlall’s Facebook page, the PNC/APNU activists “blocked the streets and started to hurl missiles at the lorry and its occupants and threatening them with violence were they to continue these announcements within the locality of Sophia.”

A report of the incident was made to the Prashad Nagar Police Outpost.

It is contrary to the criminal law for anyone to issue threats, hurl missiles or block public access on public roadways, the PPP executive noted.

The former Attorney General argued that each political party has a constitutional right to disseminate its message and to campaign for the upcoming elections. He said any attempt to interfere with a party and its supporters right to do so would be “unconstitutional, undemocratic and illegal.”

The party also reported to the Commissioner that known supporters of the Coalition have been removing PPP/C’s party flags and branded paraphernalia from utility poles in Region’s 2, 3, and 5.

He said there are specific provisions in the electoral statutes of our country which protect political parties’ right and freedom to campaign and disseminate messaging and they create criminal offences, if violated.

Nandlall called for urgent investigation to be completed and for criminal charges to be swiftly instituted where appropriate.

The letter was also copied to Commander of ‘A’ Division, Crime Chief, Minister of Public Securiy Khemraj Ramjattan who is also the Leader of the AFC, the Ethnic Relations Commission, Police Complaints Authority and the CEO and Chairman of GECOM.