Guyana’s government has been accused of violating the constitutional rights of its citizens by denying them permission to hold a peaceful march against racism, democracy and racial justice. The march was planned by opposition supporters on the East Coast Demerara on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, but was rejected by the police without any valid reason.
Several commentators claim that the government is acting like an apartheid regime that only cares about, “projecting dominance over the African Guyanese population and opposition supporters.” They say that the government’s repressive tactics are intended to engender confrontation, chaos and entrenched racial polarization and will result in political instability in Guyana.
The government and police force have not explained why they are denying citizens their constitutional right to freedom of assembly and expression. Since the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) came to power in August 2020, it has outlawed protests and cracked down on dissenters.
The march organizers have called on civil society groups and international observers to condemn the government’s actions and demand respect for human rights in Guyana. Several supporters on social media have also urged march organizers to file a lawsuit in the Guyana Supreme Court challenging the unlawful decision of the police to deny people their right to march.
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