NEW YORK (CMC):
THE WIFE of jailed Guyanese television journalist Mark Benchop has reiterated her appeal to prison authorities to permit him to view his meals when she delivers them, fearing his safety.
In a letter published in the weekly Caribbean Impact newspaper, Maria Benchop said, since the death of journalist Ronald Waddell, she has repeated her request to prison authorities, who honoured the request for two days then, unceremoniously, discontinued it.
Her husband has been jailed on treason charges since July 15, 2002, for allegedly attempting to overthrow the Bharrat Jagdeo administration.
"It is patently obvious to me that there is some undisclosed reason for the denial of a simple appeal of a man with ample reason to be fearful for his life at this point in time," Mrs. Benchop wrote.
"The decision to take back this concession is rather suspicious when you take into consideration that the reason given is that other prisoners are making the same request," she added.
FORMED INTENTION
Treason charges against Benschop state that between June 1 and June 3, 2002, he "formed an intention to overthrow the lawfully elected government by force."
The charges also point out that, during that period, "in furtherance of that intention," Benschop "conspired together with other persons to forcibly and unlawfully enter the compound and premises of the Office of the President of Guyana in Georgetown."
The government charge that Benschop was "present and encouraging others, by words and conduct, to unlawfully overtake and storm the said OP (Office of the President) compound and premises."
But the New York-based Caribbean-Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) said it has video-taped evidence to prove that Benschop never entered the OP compound and only arrived at the scene of the demonstration, with a TV camera and microphone, after the police had allegedly shot and kill three demonstrators.
