MARTYRS FOUNDATION 2007
MAGNITUDE OF THE CRIMES COMMITTED
WE steadfastly maintain that even if Maurice Bishop had to be removed from power by one means or another because of the hard line Leninist and Stalinist pattern of ideology that the PRG embraced, there was absolutely no reason to kill such a vast number of innocent people during the shooting on the Fort.
We maintain that our families and friends should not have been brutally murdered because Maurice Bishop became trapped in a web of complex circumstances, pregnant with ulterior and dangerous motives and which in the view of the criminals necessitated his removal.
The entire incident in October 1983 could be considered in no other light than wanton savagery and gross disregard and disdain for the sanctity of the human life.
Since those barbaric acts were committed in the state of Grenada where the law relating to the crime of murder has not changed and because of the magnitude of the acts committed, it is, in our opinion, just and right that justice should have its way.
As such the criminals must be kept in prison in accordance with the sentences handed down by the learned judges.
19 CRIMES OF THE COARD CLIQUE
Looking back at the internal crisis within the New Jewel Movement one year ago, one sees a case story in how infantile thoughts and actions could destroy any process. Every single move of the Coard Clique only served to deepen the crisis and push the party further and further away from the people. From the moment joint leadership was put forward up to the invasion and final collapse of the revolution, the Coard Clique carried out the worst revolutionary crimes imaginable.
No revolutionary progressive or democrat could ever defend Coard and his counters after examining these crimes. Phrase mongering became the order of the day of this group and as Fidel Castro described it: "They were drunk on ideology". No doubt, they were suffering from the itch phrase m mongering disease which distorts the mind, thoughts and the ability to see and feel reality of many half-baked ideologies. Let us look at the crimes. We take them as they happened in time (Chronologically) so that our leaders could follow how the build-up of Coard's leadership plot unfolded.
Crime No. 1
September 16, 1983
The introduction of the joint leadership. This concept denied the principle of life itself. How was it intended for two final poles of authority to work in the same party? Those who had put forward the joint leadership idea, said it was to strengthen Bishop, but the truth is that their real intention was to phase him out. In trying to find a way to sell their real intention, they came up with the crazy idea. It was a Hurry-hurry approach by the power-hungry group which they did not sit down and think out. How will it work? How will they explain to the people? Could it been kept a secret inside the party and away from the people? Wasn't joint leadership tantamount to a removal or at best, a demotion of Bishop as Leader? Wasn't it a violation of the principle of single authority within collective leadership? As the masses said" You ever see two captain on the same cricket team? "Strong how the team strong, good how any individual is, there is only one captain at any one time".
Crime No. 2
Manipulation of the Party: (September 16-25)
Knowing that they have already lobbied a majority in the Central Committee to support the joint leadership, the Coard Clique pushed through a vote on this critical issue in one day. How could such a fundamental matter like changing the entire leadership structure of the Party and the state be changed in one day? Maurice Bishop asked for one week to consider the issue but he was never given that week. Bernard Coard returned to the Central Committee on Saturday 17th September, 1983, as joint leader. Immediately after the vote on September 16, Coard and his supporters shifted the issue to one of democratic centralism instead of joint leadership.
The party was led to believe that a long exhaustive debate had taken place, things were properly debated and Maurice Bishop and George Louison were giving trouble. This manipulation continued with the unfolding of a whole new plan to bring greater benefits to party members and a general façade of greater involvement to cover the actions of the group.
During the two weeks of September 26 to October 8th, while brother Bishop was out of the country, they spread all kinds of false accusations in the party against him. Coard and his supporters used this opportunity to really smear Bishop.
Crime No. 3
September 26, 1983
Enter Trevor Munroe
Coard called Trevor Munroe, without first telling Bishop, to discuss the problems in the party. Munroe never discussed with Bishop, heard only Coard and obviously sided with Coard and his Clique.
Coard and his Clique did not seek the advice of seasoned parties which have held power for years and deeply rated among people. Instead, they went to a fringe party for advice and guidance.
Crime No. 4
October 8
Coard Goes Underground
One incident which really escalated the situation was when Coard refused to come to the airport to welcome Brother Bishop on his return to the island on October 8th. He went underground on the fairytale plot that Cletus St.Paul would have jumped off the plane and assassinated him. This big lie was used to whip up great confusion and later arrest St.Paul.
Crime No. 5
October 9, 1983
The attack on Cuba
Coard personally begun to tell party members one day Bishop returned that Fidel has a special reception for Bishop on October 7. He said that at this high level reception, and during that day, Fidel had promised support for Bishop in the Leadership issue.
This big lie started off and anti-Cuban campaign among the Coardites. On October 15, when Cuba replied to the party's position as sent to them on the house arrest of bishop, Coard and company responded by accusing Fidel of cultism. They said "Fidel make himself ah little God in Cuba. If he think Bishop could do that in Grenada, he lie". On October 19th, they even surrounded the Cubans. Only the wildest ultra-lefts could behave this way.
Crime No. 6
Meeting of a section of security Unit around Bishop's House
This meeting called by Keith Roberts was made up of only of those who Coardites felt were loyal then. These soldiers were told that they should no longer take any orders from Bishop. This meeting was called without Brother Bishop's knowledge. Can you believe that those who are supposed to be guarding the life of the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief being told by a lesser officer that they no longer have to take orders from the chief? The mutiny was in full swing by then. A military solution was being lined up by Coard.
Crime No. 7
7:00am October 12th
Meeting of Party Branch in Armed Forces
A meeting in which a most vicious resolution was passed. This without Brother Bishop's knowledge intended to swing armed forces, particularly the officers, completely to the Coard group. The meeting further depended on the fact that the Coard Clique was prepared to take military solution.
Crime No. 8
Trying to pin rumor on Bishop
The Coardites tried to use rumour as the ultimate crime against Bishop. They thought that they could have gone to the people and poison their minds against Bishop with this vicious rumour. But they themselves laid the materials base for any rumours.
Crime No. 9
October 13th
House arrest of Bishop
This major crime was the collapse of the revolution. It showed that Coard and company were prepared to take any action against Bishop.
Crime No. 10
October 13-19
Stubborn refusal to listen to the masses
Even after the house arrest it was possible to find a compromise and save the revolution.
The people throughout the country had a loud voice of resistance to the Coard Clique. But the Coardites became so anti-people that they refused to listen to anything, they became even more intoxicated with their phase mongering! They refused to listen to Whiteman and Louison in the days between October 14-18. There was a lunatic idea in fashion that if necessary, they would repress the masses in the worst way in other to bring them in line.
Crime No. 11
October 19th
Turning the Guns on the Masses
The first of two most colossal crimes of October 19th was the turning of the guns on the people! There was no warning, no use of any other method as a first option but bullets blasting at the people- the makers of the revolution! Power at all cost was the message of the Coardites!!!
Crime No. 12
The slaughter of the Revolutionary Leadership
The most monumental crime that could ever happen was the lining up and shooting down, by the order of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Leadership of the Governments Party and Citizens: Maurice Bishop, Unison Whiteman, Norris Bain, Fitzroy Bain, Jacqueline Creft, Vincent Noel, Evelyn Bullen, Evelyn Maitland, Keith Hayling, Nelson Steele, Avis Ferguson, Gemma Belmar, Eric Dufont, Simon Alexander, Alleyne Romain, Andy Sebastian, Andy Alexander.
No principle, no ideology, can hide such a terrible deed. Anyone who commits such a crime should be brought to justice.
Crime No. 13
The Four-day House Arrest of the Nation
The shoot-to-kill 24 hour "curfew" against the people was something only mad minds could conceive. In a country with only a 37% of houses with pipe borne water, 27% with internal toilets, where people do not stock food; it is sheer anti-people madness to take such action.
Crime No. 14
Placing the Revolution on a platter for US imperialism
The actions of the RMC Completely divided the people and destroyed the regional and international support of the masses for the Revolution that the U.S Imperialism could have carried out their long term wish and turn back the Revolution. At that time, the people saw the Coardites as a bigger enemy than imperialism. Of all the crimes the turning of the guns on the masses, the slaughter of the revolutionary leadership and the sacrificing of the revolution to the invaders are the biggest crimes.
Crime No. 15
The Big lie of how Bishop and others were killed
The RMC tried to cover up their brutal executions, telling the world that Bishop was killed in crossfire. Is there any bigger lie ever told in Grenadian than this one? They lied to the nation and the world in the most vulgar and bold-faced way.
Crime No. 16
The Mutilation and Burning of the Bodies
Like savages, the RMC shot down Bishop and others with hails of bullets, not by a single shot. They then mutilated the bodies, collecting rings, watches, etc as spoils and went to burn the bodies. Savagery gone wild!
Crime No. 17
Promotion of the killers
All those who pulled the trigger on the leadership and masses were promoted. Some were made members of the RMC, the new so- called government of the country. Others were given higher ranks in the army. Emulation Ceremony was held for the killers.
Crime No. 18
Failure to defend the Nation
When the Yankees invaded not one Central Committee member went out to fight. They all hid and were captured with loads of money on them. Those who took the power into their hands could not defend this country. They did you fight and die for the people. This another major act of cowardice and betrayal of the Coard Clique.
Crime No. 19
The Sell-out of the Regional Struggle
By their action, the RMC set back the struggle of the Caribbean by many years. The Full extent of the set back is now being felt throughout the region.
WHO ARE THE VICTIMS AND WHO ARE THE CRIMINALS?
What gives the Coard Clique the right to decide who lives, dies or goes free? Why should they be sitting in the prison using up tax payers' money, and on top of that, getting VIP treatment while doing so? Have they done something they should be proud of, murdering innocent people?
If so, what about the other prisoners who have been incarcerated for much lesser crimes-like robbery etc? What about the mothers who lost their sons and daughters and sisters who lost their brothers or sisters or wives who lost their husbands, children who lost one or both parents? What about the survivors who were maimed as a result of being shot on the Fort? What about our Grief and Frustration, plus victimization in several ways what's of the illnesses brought about by the trauma suffered by us?
We were made to feel that we were less than the dirt- because of a crime we did not, could not , commit- because of a guilt that is not ours. Some of us were forced to leave our homes and run for refuge in another man's land. What about all the sleepless nights and all the sheer terror experienced during the "curfew" period thinking that anyone of us might become the next statistics?
How long must we go on pretending that we're happy, when we're blue- hiding behind our smiles and dark glasses? Don't we have feelings too? Don't we matter? Are we second-class or even third-class citizens? Was the blood of all those killed spilled in vain? What about their remains, what has become of these?
"It seems that there are more questions to be answered."
The above document was originally posted by the Martyrs Foundation 14 June 2007 on the Talkshop Discussion Group.
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