VZCZCXRO5775
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHGE #0124 0342037
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 032037Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3091
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE

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