Anand Ramlogan – Firebombed!

It is of deep concern that Mr Ramlogan’s offices have been firebombed.

The media reported that his offices were ignited wilfully in the small hours of the morning. Mr Ramlogan left the premises around 1:00 AM and was called at his home around 3:00 AM to be told that the offices were on fire.

It was clear from reports that this was a malicious act. The video clip below is hyperlinked from CTNT World

See further reports here in Guardian 2010-04-16 and Newsday 2010-04-16. Mr Ramlogan is quoted as saying.

“This has totally destroyed me completely. All of my life’s work has gone…In my 15 years practising law, I have made no enemies... When people leave my office, I make sure they leave with a smile…I am so confused, I don’t want to speculate... But if it is, I am shaken and stirred, but I am not fried…This has only served to strengthen my political resolve ….I had a lot of confidential documents in there. All of my life’s work in the 15 years that I have been an attorney is inside the office…“I don’t know who would have done this or why. I have no enemies and I am accustomed working here late. I felt safe because the office is close to the police station. This is a sad indictment as to the state the country has reached in terms of crime and lawlessness.”

It is pretty confusing some of the above. How come Ramlogan seemed ill-prepared for the possibility of fire how ever it was caused – by him moaning about losing his life’s work. In addition he claims that he made no enemies. Really? Ramlogan would have infuriated criminals, politicians and police officers along the way by his comments in his Sunday column in the Guardian.

Whilst I condemn the criminal acts on Ramlogan’s property and livelihood, his responses are puzzling for a man of such intelligence. The response about strengthening political resolve is seemingly to present a brave face. However, Ramlogan must know that he and his family are or have been at serious risk. I hope that he takes this as a wake up call and will put in place protective measures. This incident should not be assumed to be simply politically motivated. It could well have been an attack on his life. If he was in the building at the time – we would most probably have been reading a different headline.