GGMC investigating police beating incident at Marudi Mountain

TIMES INT'L

Guyanese law enforcement officers are in Marudi Mountain speaking to persons beaten by ranks on Saturday after protesters attempted to refuse the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and law enforcement officers access to the roadway leading to mining sites. This is according to acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell on Monday.
The police chief said he has not seen the video of the incident, which has now gone viral and he refused to confirm whether the police had the names of the offending officers who are visible in the video.

Acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell
Acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell

He noted that the investigation was aimed at finding a resolution. The GGMC for its part stated that it has begun its own investigation “to verify the validity of an alleged confrontation between members of the Guyana Police Force and illegal miners during an enforcement exercise to curb illegal mining activities within Marudi Mountain, Region Nine”.
The statement also said that the commission has “been engaging in a series of activities in the various mining districts to improve its monitoring, compliance and enforcement,” under operation ‘El Dorado’ to provide security.
The GGMC stated that, “Minister Persaud has since called for an emergency meeting of the board of directors for the GGMC, in addition to requesting the assistance of the commissioner of police in investigating this matter. GGDMA has also been re¬quested to provide support to the investigation.”
One of the protesters told Guyana Times International that the police came in shouting and were already exhibiting violent behaviour.
“People were on the roadway, mostly Guyanese miners and they were trying to block the police, but no one was violent: they just didn’t move from the road.”
After the video went viral on social networking sites, the general public expressed outrage over the police action. The video showed a mother hugging her son and shielding him from multiple blows from an officer wielding a stick.
Other offending officers were shown manhandling persons who were cowering on the ground.

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