Guyana (AP) _ Guyana’s national security minister is calling for an investigation into why police recently fired rubber bullets into a crowd of protesters who were demanding an election recount.
Minister Clement Rohee said he met with Police Chief Henry Greene and other authorities late Thursday to determine why such force was used, warning it could have serious political repercussions.
Rohee said Greene told him that a junior officer never sought permission from supervisors to fire into the backs of protesters on Tuesday. Eight people were injured, including a 79-year-old woman and a former army chief of staff.
Television footage showed officers pursuing fleeing protesters and firing at them despite pleas to cease.
The roughly 400 protesters were supporters of the opposition Partnership For National Unity, which narrowly lost to the People’s Progressive Party in the Nov. 28 election.
However, the PPP lost its majority in Parliament, forcing it to form a minority government. Donald Ramotar, a 61-year-old economist, was sworn in as president on Saturday.
