At least three leading political figures of the era surrounding the 1990 attempted coup attempt (not to mention the leader of same) are still alive and, to the best of everyone's knowledge, of sound mind.
Whilst Mr. Panday may have slept undisturbed through the entire sordid episode and Mr. Manning, leader of the then Opposition, blithely continued to work on the project he claims he was working on as his excuse for being absent from Parliament on that fateful day, and neither have anything salient to report to a commission, there are many who are still of sound mind who were involved who can recall in detail the traumatic events.
One, a key figure in the drama, the PM of the time, and now a past President, has at this late stage added his voice, as a private citizen, in a call for an Enquiry into that awful, and shameful, episode in our history.
One might well ask "why today and not when it was within his power to do so?" but at least he has endorsed the citizens call for the same. Both Mr. Panday and Mr. Manning want to know what useful purpose will be served by an enquiry at this late stage.
Shame on you gentlemen, one of you is a lawyer and the other a university degree holder and both key figures and leaders of our nation.
That event, sordid though it may be, was a part of our history and we owe it to future generations to try to get things into their right perspective.
Let us write history accurately, not with nancy stories as though it were local folklore. It happened and at least twenty nine people lost their lives, many in the line of duty.
Come on gentlemen, what are you afraid of? The truth?
Rumour upon rumour abounds about that era - let's clear the dust please. Let us honour those whom we should in a fitting manner and deal with recalcitrants accordingly. It is not yet too late, but it soon will be.
If one does not investigate a crime it cannot be solved. No wonder our police detection rate is so low, with leaders like that! If for no other reason, a full scale enquiry is necessary to avoid a recurrence.
The nation was caught with its pants down, so to speak. That must never happen again. Nor must terrorism (because that is what it was) be countenanced.
I defy anyone to name one other place in the world where such an event would have been glossed over in such a disgraceful manner. Heaven and earth would have been moved, so to speak, to make them pay.
What form of punishment has been meted out to the perpetrators of that dastardly period in our history? Small wonder that our criminals have scant regard for THE LAW today.
Virginia Verity - via e/mail
1 comment:
I've read the stories about the Manning assassination attempt as well as the pieces on the coup inquiry and am astounded. Of course an inquiry must be held, and it is ridiculous that up to this point it has not been held. I understand that in the interest of saving lives amnesty was likely granted (I don't know enough of the specifics - I was 6 at the time)but as a young person I and everyone else in my generation has a right to understand as much about that coup attempt as possible. How did it come to be, who was involved, what have they been doing since being granted amnesty, etc etc. Madness
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