Saturday, January 27, 2007

CHAGUANAS, Trinidad: The arrest of broadcaster, Inshan Ishmael was politically motivated and in fact, directly related to the wishes of the Government, Congress of the People political leader, Winston Dookeran has said.

Speaking after a special meeting of the Congress national executive, Dookeran told the media: "The Congress of the People wishes to make it absolutely clear that we view the arrest of Inshan Ishmael as an abuse and deliberate manipulation of State power."

"The Congress of the People condemns the arrest of Inshan Ishmael. The Congress of the People condemns the Government's well established and deliberate move to stifle freedom of the media. The Congress of the People condemns the Government's clear position of taking away our fundamental rights and freedoms."

"The Government has in effect discarded the constitution and is now operating on the orders of the executive of a political party that is determined to maintain a stranglehold of State power."

The former Deputy Prime Minister said: "The Congress of the People now calls on all citizens to rally against the Manning Administration's attempt to muzzle our citizens and take away fundamental rights and freedoms."

Dookeran, who had earlier met with President George Maxwell Richards, told the media: "We discussed three major issues with the President. We told him that we firmly believed the Government has lost control of law and order. We told him that we firmly believe there is an emerging agenda of political repression and a stifling of press freedom. We told him that we firmly believe that citizens are losing their right to express outrage at the failures of the State."

Asked whether his party had given support to the national shutdown, Dookeran confirmed that the Congress leadership had taken the decision to shut down its Operations Centre for both days. He added that the party will also be supporting the anti-crime rally arranged by Ishmael for Saturday.

Pressed further on why he felt the arrest of Ishmael was political, Dookeran said reliable sources had informed the party of a discussion which implicated the Manning Administration.

St Joseph MP, Gerald Yetming said: "Our information is that a Minister of Government told a group of south businessmen at around 7pm on the night of Inshan's arrest that 'we going to arrest him'."

Dookeran added: "Mr Ishmael is a member of the Congress and we will stand up for our members. I have remained in contact with him and have offered our moral support and any assistance we can provide."

Adding that the party was not going to allow the issue to rest, Dookeran indicated that the Congress will be calling together citizens in a public meeting on Sunday themed, 'Defend our Rights and Freedoms.'

"At this meeting," he said, "we will tell this country exactly how we plan to take back the rights and freedoms of our citizens from the Manning Administration."

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