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Guyana's Ethnic Relations Commission is conducting an inquiry into a book that has generated one of the fiercest racial debates the country has ever experienced.
The Cycle Of Racial Violence In Guyana asserts there is a Hindu conspiracy against Afro-Guyanese which springs from a Hindu belief in the domination of others.
Dr Kean Gibson, the author of the 72-page book argues that this domination is reinforced by the caste system.
Indians make up 50 percent of the population in Guyana, and in the past, tension between Indians and Africans has often deteriorated into very violent clashes.
The inquiry was demanded by the Indian rights group the Indian Arrival Committee which feels that the book should be censored since it is spreading racial hatred between Guyana’s two main ethnic groups.
Dr Gibson has been praised in some quarters for casting light on the race problem in Guyana.
It has been argued that her work has extended the debate on the race issue in the country and will lead to a much better understanding of this problem.
Hindu monk Swami Askarnadaan told BBC Caribbean Service he feels the study is a clear incitement to anti-Indian activism.
"I think the book is a dangerous political tract, its main objective - it would appear to me - is to set up Indians for slaughter in Guyana," he said. "The book is suggesting that Indians are the ones who are stereotyping, oppressing and exploiting Africans."
Others have pointed out that whatever might be the purpose of the book it is undeniably an African perspective of what some say is Indian oppression and Indians should take careful note of its message.
The book has also been described as a warning of future events and an indication that all is not well in Guyana.
Dr Gibson told BBC Caribbean Service she wrote the book after being offended by the pejorative references to Africans during the 1997 General Elections.
"Africans were being called criminals, murderers and rapists and it disturbed me and I wanted to know why would you call a group of people by those labels and I came to the conclusion that the fundamental problem in Guyana was Hinduism because Hinduism is a religion where racism is sanctified."
In response to charges that she might be inciting hatred, Dr Gibson said that she was simply pointing out the reality of the Guyanese situation, and her book was an attempt to enlighten black Guyanese.
"I wrote it for blacks to be aware of the ideology that in my view is ruinous to them. Africans are aware that something is wrong but they don't know how to articulate it.
"I am not causing hate. What I am saying in essence is hate is there. It has started a debate and my book is saying is that if we don't want a conflagration, we have to have some kind some kind of inclusive government."
If the Commission of Inquiry finds the book does intend to instigate racial intolerance then it can then be sent to the police who could charge Dr Gibson for inciting racial hatred, a crime which carries stiff penalties.
Some of her critics are calling for her to be put in jail, but she says she is prepared to go to prison if it comes to this.
yasuh
The Cycle Of Racial Violence In Guyana asserts there is a Hindu conspiracy against Afro-Guyanese which springs from a Hindu belief in the domination of others.
Dr Kean Gibson, the author of the 72-page book argues that this domination is reinforced by the caste system.
Indians make up 50 percent of the population in Guyana, and in the past, tension between Indians and Africans has often deteriorated into very violent clashes.
The inquiry was demanded by the Indian rights group the Indian Arrival Committee which feels that the book should be censored since it is spreading racial hatred between Guyana’s two main ethnic groups.
Dr Gibson has been praised in some quarters for casting light on the race problem in Guyana.
It has been argued that her work has extended the debate on the race issue in the country and will lead to a much better understanding of this problem.
Hindu monk Swami Askarnadaan told BBC Caribbean Service he feels the study is a clear incitement to anti-Indian activism.
"I think the book is a dangerous political tract, its main objective - it would appear to me - is to set up Indians for slaughter in Guyana," he said. "The book is suggesting that Indians are the ones who are stereotyping, oppressing and exploiting Africans."
Others have pointed out that whatever might be the purpose of the book it is undeniably an African perspective of what some say is Indian oppression and Indians should take careful note of its message.
The book has also been described as a warning of future events and an indication that all is not well in Guyana.
Dr Gibson told BBC Caribbean Service she wrote the book after being offended by the pejorative references to Africans during the 1997 General Elections.
"Africans were being called criminals, murderers and rapists and it disturbed me and I wanted to know why would you call a group of people by those labels and I came to the conclusion that the fundamental problem in Guyana was Hinduism because Hinduism is a religion where racism is sanctified."
In response to charges that she might be inciting hatred, Dr Gibson said that she was simply pointing out the reality of the Guyanese situation, and her book was an attempt to enlighten black Guyanese.
"I wrote it for blacks to be aware of the ideology that in my view is ruinous to them. Africans are aware that something is wrong but they don't know how to articulate it.
"I am not causing hate. What I am saying in essence is hate is there. It has started a debate and my book is saying is that if we don't want a conflagration, we have to have some kind some kind of inclusive government."
If the Commission of Inquiry finds the book does intend to instigate racial intolerance then it can then be sent to the police who could charge Dr Gibson for inciting racial hatred, a crime which carries stiff penalties.
Some of her critics are calling for her to be put in jail, but she says she is prepared to go to prison if it comes to this.
yasuh
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