Wismar massacre remembrance on May 26 in Queens

Dear Editor,

Reference is made to Ms Rhyaan Shah’s commentary (May 21 edition of Guyana Times) on the Wismar Massacre of Indians and letter (GT May 13) on groups in Brooklyn, NY in conflict over the celebration of Guyana’s Independence anniversary, the date of May 26. Guyanese Americans will commemorate this day in Richmond Hill, Queens as a day of “reflection and remembrance” as it was the date of ethnic cleansing of Wismar. The date is used to pay tribute to the victims of the “Wismar Massacre” and to those who fought for Guyana’s independence.

The 100th Anniversary Foundation, NY, a non-governmental organization (NGO), has issued a release promoting its commemoration of the 1964 Wismar massacre at a special “Remembrance & Reflection ceremony in Richmond Hill slated for Friday evening (May 26)”.

The NGO said that “May 26th should not be a day for celebrations”. It notes that during May 1964, “some 3000 Indo-Guyanese were victims of a massacre in Wismar” and neighbouring communities. There are countless reports of the massacre in the international media and on the Internet. It was reported and came to be known and referred to as the “Wismar massacre of Indians”. Some media reports stated that “May 26 was deliberately chosen as Independence Day to celebrate the expulsion of Indians from Wismar”.

Some describe it as among the first acts of ethnic cleansing in the West. Some of the media reported that “it was a pre-planned annihilation of Indians – many Indians were murdered, many Indian men were beaten and brutalised, hundreds of Indian women were raped, many females were stripped naked, children were terrorised and traumatised, countless Indian homes and business were burned down, and with all fleeing Wismar for safety elsewhere”.

The media (local and international) reporting on the incident described the 1964 Wismar Massacre as “an orchestrated orgy of violence against peaceful Indians”. Some reports quoted officials and the then British Guiana Police as saying the act was one of a “terrorist group X13 Plan”.

Right after the massacre of Indians on May 26, 1964, the People’s National Congress (PNC) held its party congress in Mackenzie that adjoins Wismar. The PNC eventually came to power in coalition with the United Force in 1964. Burnham urged that May 26 be the date for Guyana’s independence; Dr Jagan and the PPP opposed the date.  But the PNC insisted on May 26 and the British acquiesced.

The May 26 attack at Wismar left an indelible scar on Guyanese who witnessed or experienced it; it remains a trauma to those who are still alive. It affected all Guyanese and several of them will describe their experience at the remembrance ceremony. The 100th Anniversary Foundation and other Guyanese groups in New York feel “May 26 cannot and should not be a day for celebration” alone and is inviting the public to its memorial programme in Richmond Hill, New York.

The groups say Guyanese must embrace history and be willing to learn from its varied lessons so as to avoid a repeat. The 100th Anniversary Foundation, NY, says “Guyanese must not separate themselves from their history”. And as such, it is commemorating the sacrifices and contributions made by and paying tribute to the victims of the Wismar Massacre. It will also reflect on the independence struggle.

Yours truly,

Vishnu Bisram