Political violence in Jamaica kills at least 44 people

KINGSTON, JAMAICA (BNO NEWS) – The number of civilian casualties in West Kingston has reached 44, and the Jamaican Government said the police has over 500 people, mostly males, in custody, after deadly clashes between security forces and gunmen since Sunday, local media reported Wednesday.

Speaking on RJR 94 FM, Jamaican Political Ombudsman Herro Blair said that he had counted 35 at the morgue with another nine bodies awaiting collection, as Jamaican Public Defender Earl Witter questions the disparity between numbers killed and the number of firearms seized. Security forces have so far accounted for four firearms seized.

Residents claimed that bodies were being burned during the assault on Tivoli Gardens and Denham Town, but Witter added that he saw no sign of these alleged actions.

In addition, security forces entered the West Kingston communities to execute a search warrant for alleged drug lord Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke. As a result, one soldier and seven members of the security forces were injured.

Tensions rose on Sunday between security forces and protesters of Coke, who is wanted for extradition to the United States on gun and drug trafficking charges. Coke supporters began setting police stations on fire, shooting at officers and putting up roadblocks. The violence has continued, spreading to Spanish Town – where a police station was set on fire.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding summoned an emergency meeting of the Cabinet on Sunday and declared a state of emergency for parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew. The declaration came into effect at 6 p.m. local time on Sunday (2300 GMT) and will remain in effect for at least one month unless extended by the House of Representatives or revoked earlier.

A number of flights into and out of Kingston were canceled on Tuesday as violence in the city continued to escalate.

The U.S. Embassy in Kingston is reportedly taking extra security precautions, including the cancellation of official travel by American personnel into Kingston.

Prime Minister Golding has promised to crack down on the violence, which he described as a “calculated assault on the authority of the State.”

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