It is disappointing to know that as an academic Freddie Kissoon does not know the difference between insurgency and terrorism. In his column dated February 19, 2008, Kissoon points out that the Government will deny the existence of insurgency. He adds that with the two massacres in Lusignan and Bartica, Guyana is under attack by an insurgency.

I would like to share my thoughts with you on the difference between insurgency and terrorism, drawn from my letter carried in the Guyana Chronicle of February 19, 2008.

Here it is: “…Terrorism and insurgency are two different paradigms. According to studies done by Homeland Security Counter Terrorism Military Manuals, there are distinct differences between insurgency and terrorism. Terrorism uses intimidation, fear, and violence to achieve political ends. Terrorists try to destabilise a country and bring down its government. Terrorists’ overall political goal is more overarching than that of the insurgents.

Terrorists do not have the support of the population; they feed on the media and public impressions. They launch their attacks on vulnerable individuals and groups. The Lusignan Massacre is evidence of this fact. Terrorists do not discriminate against combatants or non- combatants and that is evident in Bartica by the terrorists attacking both the Police station and civilians. Terrorists have no regard or respect for the laws and have no limits to their levels of violence. The fact was clearly demonstrated by the innocent killings of 5 children in the Lusignan Massacre. Terrorists avoid direct clash with government forces. However, terrorists are more concerned with neutralizing conventional forces, like the police and army through bombs and heavy fire power, etc.

Insurgency is a movement with a particular aim. The overall goal of an insurgency is to challenge the Government to gain some sort of control like sharing power, or having some influence in government. The insurgents try to mobilise more people to strengthen their movement. What we have in Guyana today is terrorism, not insurgency.

Guyana is under attack by terrorists not insurgents. Kissoon needs to get it right.
KIMBERLY JAMES