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Georgetown, Guyana – In a shocking turn of events, democracy advocate Bryan Max who was viciously attacked yesterday by unidentified assailants wielding baseball bats was subsequently arrested allegedly for cyber crimes. The incident, which occurred in broad daylight, has left the community reeling and raised questions about the safety of political activists in the region.
Mr. Max, who sustained significant injuries during the assault, was known for his outspoken stance on alleged corruption by the PPP government and had recently commented on low and discriminatory wages of Public Service workers who are overwhelmingly of African descent. Despite impaired vision and overwhelming pain, Bryan Max demonstrated remarkable resilience by driving himself to the police station to report the attack. After giving what he described as a ‘small report,’ emergency services took him to the hospital, where he underwent treatment for three hours.
However, the ordeal for Mr. Max did not end with medical attention. Upon discharge, he was instructed to visit the Brickdam police station, where, to the astonishment of his supporters, he was arrested. The charge? Inciting racial tensions amongst African Guyanese through cyber activities. Max had previously highlighted what he termed “economic genocide,” referring to the meager wages paid to the average Public Service worker – a mere 80,000 a month.
In a telephone statement recorded by his attorney, Mr Roysdale Forde, Mr. Max said, “I was in massive pain, my eye running water constantly after the attack. Yet, they’re using my presentation on Public Service wages to charge me with cybercrime.” He speculates that his critical analysis, which was presented to a visiting U.S. team, is the basis for the charges laid against him.
The arrest has sparked outrage amongst advocacy groups and citizens alike, who see it as a stark indicator of a resurgence of authoritarianism within the state since the return of the PPP regime whose past brutality included firing, imprisonment, arrest, and even alleged murder of political critics. Critics argue that the PPP government is utilizing its power to silence and intimidate those who dare to challenge or present dissenting views on its policies.
As Mr. Max awaits his fate, the international community including investors watch closely, concerned about the implications for democracy, freedom of speech, and the increasing risk to their investments in Guyana. The incident has also placed a spotlight on the precarious balance between state authority and individual rights, with many calling for a thorough and transparent investigation into both the assault and the subsequent arrest of Bryan Max. In response to a question about why the loud voices of the “Guardians of Democracy” are not now standing up for Mr Max as he is targeted by the PPP government, an anonymous source stated that, “the “Guardians of Democracy” have proven themselves to be nothing but greedy, convenient activists, who were motivated by racism and lust for power and are now too comfortable, after receiving crumbs from the PPP government, to speak.”
