– urges public to stay clear of operation space
Some four days after arresting Capitol News cameraman Rudy Morris, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has condemned the media worker for attempting to breach its operational space at the Kaieteur National Park (KNP), calling his actions “reckless” and “outright stupid.”
The cameraman was among a group of media workers who had on Saturday accompanied Amerindian Peoples Affairs (APA) executive member Michael Mc Garrell to Region 8 (Potaro- Siparuni) to investigate claims of illegal mining in the Kaieteur National Park, and observe unfolding events relating to a Presidential Order for the army, in joint operations with the Police, to enforce the law which prohibits mining within the boundaries of the KNP. Morris and Chenapau resident Anthony Melville were both taken into custody at Muri Muri Landing, Region Eight (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
Anthony Melville were in
Residents of the area had complained bitterly to media operatives about the heavy military presence. The Officer-in-Command had informed Mc Garrell that no one would be allowed to traverse the trail, traditionally used by the Chenapau villagers to hunt, fish, farm and access mining claims.
However, on Sunday, Morris and Melville used a boat to investigate the boundaries of the KNP, and as they were returning they were arrested. While the two men were released on Monday by the GDF ranks, Morris was brought down to Georgetown only on Wednesday.
Amidst public criticism of the actions of the army, a thorough investigation was carried out by the GDF, thus the army was able to express its astonishment that even after due caution about the nature of the operation and the various dangers that were present, Morris had taken it upon himself, whether for personal or financial gain or otherwise, to attempt to breach the GDF security ranks in order to access GDF’s operational space.
“It is the view of the Force that the actions of Mr Morris may have been on outright attempt to provoke a confrontation or some other adverse response from the GDF for the sake of sensational news. The GDF deems the conduct of the journalist as reckless, irresponsible, and outright stupid,” a statement from the military on Thursday outlines.
In this regard, the Defence Force called on the Guyana Press Association to condemn these actions and encourage journalists to adhere to the rule of law and respect the army’s operation space.
And in a statement earlier this week, the GPA pointed out that it would never condone its members violating specific security measures in any area of Guyana when good, sufficient and legal reasons exist for such orders. In the same breath however, the Association said it “will not stand idly by and have our freedoms violated.”
Meanwhile, the army’s missive on Thursday also outlined to the general public that an operational area duly falls within the jurisdiction of the operating force. It noted that illegal mining operations are not only a breach of the law, but can also attract violence among illegal miners who are bent on breaking the law.
As such, the GDF pointed out that access into an operational area must be scrutinised, not only to ensure the security of all citizens, but to enable operational forces to accurately discern between the illegal miners and law abiding citizens.
Only on Wednesday, the army disclosed, the joint services’ operation – OPERATION MIDAS – unearthed some 26 dredges among other pieces of mining equipment and environmental pollutants such as mercury, waste oil and silicone, which were being used indiscriminately by the illegal miners on and around the park. These illegal activities are the cause of the degradation plaguing the Park, the army said.
To this end, the GDF has announced its commitment to ridding the Park of this problem by lending its full support to the Protected Areas Commission and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.
Moreover, the army has since recommended that severe punishment be meted out to those caught practising any illegal activities on or around the park, such as the prosecution of all registered dredge owners, whose equipment were seized by GGMC.
GDF further recommended that billboards be erected to sensitise the public and visitors on the delineation of the Park and prohibited conduct. It is also calling for improved monitoring of all aircraft landing at the location, and the scrutiny of any accompanying cargo.
There are also calls made for rehabilitation of all waterways that were deliberately diverted by the illegal miners, and the temporary suspension of mining licences for those registered engine owners.
