The government is abusing its powers to control the independent media

http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article?id=56528893

The government is abusing its powers to control the independent media
Stabroek News,
Saturday, September 15th 2007

Dear Editor,

Recently, we have seen a disturbing and massive shift in the direction
of the once independent daily, Kaieteur News (KN), in Guyana.
Previously, I have made my concerns (these being, eg, the growing
political influence and falling journalistic standards of KN) public
with a letter in Stabroek News (SN, printed edition only, Sunday,
August 5, 2007). However, much to our surprise, the situation at KN has
deteriorated even further with some shockingly banal/or bizarre
displays of improprieties. The ongoing situation at KN certainly raises
questions about the future of KN, should it continue in these
regressive journalistic directions.

Evidently, the tone of the attacks has increased several-fold and is
turning both vicious and personal. One of the notable recent targets
(in the KN letter section) is Ms Janette Bulkan (who was and is
expertly addressing the serious forestry issues). Most of these writers
are the same fictitious persons (also known as ghost (ie 'jumbie')
writers) whose 'pen' names appear in the Guyana Chronicle and the
Mirror newspapers.

These writers are now allowed to attack with impunity - having no fear
that their venomous letters would ever be rejected by the letter editor
of KN. The frequency of the well-coordinated attacks of these 'jumbie'
writers makes one think that this orchestrated campaign is being done
with the approval of someone higher up. The credibility,
professionalism, and integrity of the management at KN are now
questionable, since there has been a failure to recognise and weed out
these 'jumbie' letters.

The owner, Mr Glenn Lall, is on record as stating (several times) that
he wanted KN to be a forum for the voices of the people. In view of the
journalistic and ethical changes of directions at KN, the question, we
now have to ask: Is Mr G Lall still the real owner of KN? If not, then
who is the real owner of KN? If yes, then why is Mr Lall allowing KN to
be used to wage personal attacks on those who have the courage to speak
out on serious issues? Is KN so naïve that it cannot recognize the
difference between genuine critiques and attempts at character
assassination from fictitious persons?

It is obvious that these orchestrated attempts to intimidate different
voices are designed to make those who dare to disagree, frustrated and
then shut up and/or go away. SN shows great class in not allowing its
pages to be used by those who are trying to: (1) stifle opposing
viewpoints, and (2) prevent serious discussion of the issues facing
Guyana.

Guyana and all Guyanese are very fortunate to have someone as
courageous as Ms Janette Bulkan to shed light on the forestry issues in
such a detailed, thorough, determined, and scientific manner. Despite
all the personal attacks and denigrating remarks, Ms J Bulkan with
quiet dignity, soldiers on. I wish that the men of Guyana (myself
included) could show 1.0% of the courage that Ms Bulkan has shown. Ms J
Bulkan is a great tribute to the honourable tradition of the bravery of
Guyanese women who were always the ones in the vanguard of the
struggles of our people, and who unselfishly carried our burdens at
great personal cost. We the men usually follow - if and when we can
muster the courage, and often only when reinforced with rum.

The fact that she is so viciously attacked (by fictitious persons)
suggests that there are several powerful people who do not want their
business and personal financial dealings (in the forestry industry) to
come under scrutiny by the Guyanese people. As Guyanese with a
traditional sense of decency, we must not stand idly by and let Ms
Bulkan's character be dragged in the mud like this - simply because she
sought to educate us (about the gross mismanagement of the forestry
industry) for our own benefit. Ms J Bulkan speaks for all of us, and
all of us must stand with her. We cannot allow her and ourselves to be
intimidated and bullied into submission and silence.

In another even more bizarre event we see one of the columnists
('Peeping Tom' - a nameless person hiding behind a most perverse and
voyeuristic choice of pseudonym) of KN attacking Mr Freddie Kissoon,
another columnist of KN. I have never heard of one columnist attacking
another columnist of the same paper. It seems that one of the
personalities of the 'Peeping Tom' has now taken it upon
himself/herself to attack Mr F Kissoon, because he comments on the
actions of the Jagdeo Presidency. If someone criticises others then
he/she should have the guts to attach his/her name to his/her writings.
How can a columnist be expected to be taken seriously, if he/she does
not have the courage to state his/her name on his/her writings? The
tone of this columnist suggests that this nameless person is from the
government's 'ghost writers' pool. This sounds like a very familiar
government strategy - ignore the message, go after the messenger and
the attacker hiding his/her true identity.

What is worse is that the owner/publisher of KN would allow one of 'his
columnists' to publicly attack his most respected columnist, Mr F
Kissoon! That would imply that the government's PR machine has a
stranglehold on KN.

This shameless peddling by the dedicated President Jagdeo loyalist(s)
has no place in any non-partisan national newspaper, unless of course
the KN is now also 'owned' and or controlled by President Jagdeo and
his ruling elite. The 'owner' of KN, Mr Glenn Lall, should do the
honourable thing and let us know what is going on.

Persons like Ms Janette Bulkan and Mr Freddie Kissoon who sign their
work with their names and stand by what they write should not be
disparaged by some nameless and faceless person(s). In the history of
the country, I do not think any government. has sunk this low. The
government is using state resources to spread its propaganda and is now
abusing its powers to control the independent media. KN has received
the government ads, but it came with a price - it has lost its
conscience.

Today, the government is intensifying its campaign against Mr Freddie
Kissoon, Ms Janette Bulkan, and others. We should express outrage, or
else we too would have been complicit in our own demise. Where are the
PPP stalwarts of yesteryear who vehemently oppose such ills? We are
seeing history repeating itself; we must stop it before it is too late.

Yours faithfully,

Seelochan Beharry