News
Death toll reaches 44
JamaicaObserver.com
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
THE number of civilians confirmed killed in the security force operation in West Kingston has reached 44.
Political Ombudsman Herro Blair, speaking on RJR 94 FM, said that he had counted 35 at the morgue with another nine bodies awaiting collection.
Meantime Public Defender Earl Witter is questioning the disparity between numbers killed and the number of firearms seized. Security forces have so far accounted for four firearms seized.
Witter added that he saw no sign of bodies being burned as alleged by persons claiming to be residents who called media houses during the assault on Tivoli Gardens and Denham Town which began Sunday.
One soldier and seven members of the security forces were injured after security forces entered the West Kingston communities to execute a search warrant for reputed local area don Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.
Coke is wanted for extradition to the United States on gun and drug trafficking charges. He is still at large.
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5/26/2010
We have all seen on the news the gunfire, we've heard it in and around our own neighborhoods. Some of us have witnessed it. Is not 4 gun alone dem did ah use - wi can seh dat fi sure. So, three possible conclusions here:
1. when their colleagues were shot, gunmen grabbed the weapons and retreated (likely)
2. the poolice are keeping some of the weapons for corrupt tactics - i.e. planting weapons or even redistributing to other criminals? (hope not, but let's not forget what has been revealed int he past )
3. they're going in and shooting blindly at anything that moves (unlikely since no women or children have been cut down... yet).
5/26/2010
Come on people done even start making stupid comments, we all know that the live cruff dem took up the guns after them crony get dust out. What we should be wondering is how many more of them the security force will have to kill to get to the store where they have been selling the guns and bullets from. It is common knoledge that criminals buy bullets and hire gun from Dudus gang in Tivoli.The security MUST NOT LEAVE until they find them, REMEMBER THE TUNNELS, AND THE SEWER , EVERY MANHOLE, and if you dont find them , go over and look again th guns are there find them.
5/26/2010
It is good that some of us see the opportunity to do something, and feel a ‘call to action.. Let’s not lose the enthusiasm. Email me at SFL.AA@bccja.org. I would like to initiate a discussion as to what we can do to help in Jamaica. The goal is to create a group that can effect change by contributing resources to bettering the lives of fellow Jamaicans through identify and participating in targeted projects each year. It seems that many of you are serious in your mentioned commitment.
Let’s discuss – email me at SFL.AA@bccja.org . I’m very interested in discussing these opportunities, so I look forward to hearing from you.
5/26/2010
It will be much higher when the final tabulation is done !!
5/26/2010
This is a very delicate matter and should have been delt with time and better approach. Our Prime Minister knew the effect that this issue would have caused and was going about it intelligently, in whatever way Mr. Golding had misled us, yes we are all humans and so what. THE OPPOSITION had played a vital part in this catastrophe by pressuring the prime minister into a mess they knew would have occured now i think they should speak out, as the prime minister was handling this matter the appropriate way. now all this is due to jamaicans ignorance and illiteracy.
5/26/2010
Typical, our armed forces risk their life to make this country a stable democracy, they public opinion turn against them by allegating inhumane accusations. I say get the task accomplish by any means necessary
5/26/2010
The sad part about this entire operation is that non-gunmen/women (yes, some of the females are gun-toting also) will be killed. This is a case of the good suffering for the bad, however I'm of the belief that the END sometimes does justify the MEANS. If folks start cooperating and turning in the criminals then the loss of innocent life will be drastically mitigated. I will say however that if, after 2 weeks have elapsed and none of the "wanted" thugs are aprehended then the operation should cease, in its current form and continue on a more clandestine basis. By this I mean, the Jamaican government should solicit the assistance of intelligence experts from abroad (UK, Canada, US wherever) who can help with providing the training on how to effectively to sift out the location of the thugs and then carry out targeted raids (with an element of surprise) in order to apprehend those wanted. Its done very effectively here in the States with an almost ZERO civilian casualty rate.
5/26/2010
Is Dudus among the dead?
5/26/2010
Something is wrong this thing a colt bad. Now lets question 1) 44 THUGS DEAD and only 4 GUNS recover. The amount a guns shot being heard fired by THUGS and 44 a them wish was granted and only 4 ONLY one pop gun find ????? So when the THUGS dead where the gun them go????? Is there a secret underground place that guns go we need to find the guns? if we don't find those guns,when the thugs come out of hiding everyone of us is going to DIE. The game a colt bad !
5/26/2010
Mr Editor is this a typo? (“Security forces have so far accounted for four firearms seized.”) What does this mean?
5/26/2010
"Coke is wanted for extradition to the United States on gun and drug trafficking charges. He is still at large."
That is a critical point that is seeming to escape the government's cheerleaders.
The causalities that we see which are a direct result by this Govt's bungling on top of this colossal failure to execute the warrant will lead to a backlash against Bruce Golding that he (as usual) never anticipated.
Has Bruce Golding by his inept actions aided the escape of this wanted man? This country has been fooled AGAIN.
5/26/2010
People , of course there will be a limited amounts of guns. If you get shot your criminal friend will pick it up and continue
5/26/2010
Bishop Blair just said on Nation Wide News NNN that he saw at least 1 body dresses in a skirt.
So they dress like women as a disguise to fool the security forces!
5/26/2010
Mr. Witter until the Green Wall o f silence is broken you will not find more guns. Untill these people get's tired of living this wretched way then you wont find the guns. Its a known fact that Tivoli gardens have tunnels to lead in and out of the community. It is a known fact there is indeed an armoury in Tivoli where weapons are stored. Please Mr. Witter dont take that approach, we saw and heard the security forces being pined down by gun fire and sniper shot. I am disgusted by this boondoggle by the Prime Minister. He decalred he was signing the extradition papers, meaning he was now on the side of law and order. It was all a sham, he knew Dudus was safely out of Tivoli and innocent would using their lives to sheild a man who will not fight for his cause. Eddie Seaga can end all this by telling the forces where the Tunnels are and where they lead to. This would be a start in saying it is not business as usual. There would be no more need for 44 dead in trying to catch one man.
5/26/2010
At this point we cannot worry about the number of weapons seized. Please bear in mind that the wicked need their weapons so it is smart for them to retrieve weapons from their fallen terrorist compatriots.
Don't start criticising the operation at this point Mr Public Defender, I'm confident our troops are doing their job with high regards for the welfare of innocents.
Full support of the troops is required at this time to keep their confidence intact. No play by play criticism. Gather your report and relay to the relevant authority!
5/26/2010
@LLoyd Blair: It is also reported that some of the men were actually killed by gunmen. It is important to state this because it may leave the impression that the body count arrived is attributable ONLY to police and/or soldier shootings.
5/26/2010
"When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:" Psalm 92:7
It doesn't even take blatant acts of God for these words to be fulfilled. Such things follow from cause and effect and the inate wisdom of the sayings. I am not shedding a single tear for a dead gunman when 600 Jamaicans were killed in just he first 150 days of the year. While there are now women in Tivoli bereaved of sons some of their sons bereaved many mothers of sons. That their way should come back on their own heads is only just. Everyday as I read the news I was mourning for people I didn't know, gunned down in their homes. Tivoli had no crime because the criminal bosses were ensconced there and were directing their efforts outwards. Even pig nuh filt weh it lie down.
I HAVE ABSOLUTELY ZERO SYMPATHY FOR DEAD KILLERS!!!!
GOOD RIDDANCE!
5/26/2010
It's about time that Tivoli residents saw the light, and broke away from the brainwash they've been living with. Dem call Coke "Robin Hood", and talk about what him build in the community and clinics, school bags and such. They never talked about the lives he's destroyed in New York and other areas where he has supplied guns and cocaine for years and years.....and now he's killing more in TG, see the truth..
Bless,
5/26/2010
Yes the police burnt bodies in Tivoli yesterday!!!!!!
The Jamaican media is a disgrace. The death toll is much higher than 44. Why don't you just report the facts! That's what you're there for isn't it!
5/26/2010
This morning when I read the other article about KIwanis club sending supplies, I knew there would be at least one clown who would ask about what about food for the "sufferahs". They were the ones who blockaded themselves in, they should have made preparation. Didn't their MP give them a heads up in his sorry speech last MOnday when he exposed the warrant.
5/26/2010
Behind every dark cloud there's a silver lining. It's very sad that many have to die for us to realize the grave situation we were in. Never again should we allow the politics of fear coupled with criminality to control any sector of our country. We have allowed demagogues to frighten us from speaking up because of the fear of retaliation. As Ernie Smith sang, "if you talk too loud watch where you laid you head." Well, we have make the ultimate sacrifice by the loss of lives to restore civility to our beloved nation. After the smoke is settled we have to move quickly to restore order and show kindness to those who are in need. the civic organizations, churches all well thinking Jamaicans must open their heart to help in educating and feeding the poor. Ignorance is the main culprit that created this problem. I am pleased by the outpouring of support for our security forces. Let's contiue to forge this relationship so that we can stamp out this monster and heal our land.
5/26/2010
The loose term of the word civilian is giving false impression that soldiers are targeting the "innocents." WE already know that when these Passa Passa hoodlums, get shot their cronies will retrieve the guns and the women will cry innocent.
I pray at the end of this they will have a taste of what it is to have personal freedoms.
5/26/2010
If you don't want to be shot - stay inside and hide under your bed - simple.
5/26/2010
yes dem com pon tv saying dat dem seize large amount of weapon and ammunition yet is only 4 guns dem seize and according to them 44 man dead. 44 gunman did a fire 4 gun at dem ? weh dem do have 11 gunman to 1 gun and every body fire a round? pure foolishness
5/26/2010
They all said they would die for their god dudus well they got there wish we don't want any complaint from anyone. They went on the offensive first this is war people die. The only good thing about those dieing in this war is that they were all willing to give their life for a criminal. We all saw the demonstrations and heard the chants WE WILL DIE WE WILL DIE okay your wish is granted. Thank you JCF and JDF keep the fight going most of us support you guys. The PNP garrisons should be next then move to mobay we need you in the second city too.
5/26/2010
I support the police and the military to go into the communities and do what they were trained to do. Not to go in and take revenge and destroy everything that moves I cannot support that. So four guns and 44 dead seems like emotional and personal vendettas were taken out on this operation. I just hope that the aftermath of this intense operation is handled with sensitivity for the sake of the children.
5/26/2010
"The secrity forces entered the West Kingston communities to execute a seach warrant for reputed area don Christopher "Dudus" Coke".If that is the reason for its entry, then has it abandoned the original justification?
We are now being told that the mission is to search for guns, ammunition and men who could possibly be wanted on criminal charges.
Do we need a limited state of Emergency for a cordon & search operation?
At the end othe the day, the question remains; Where is Dudus?
The price we are paying is increasing every day and the death count continues to increase. There are consequential costs that we are yet reconcile.
JA Cynic
5/26/2010
What is this Lord Jesus? How long God almighty? Jamaica is this we come to? All because of One man. We need to pray and fast. Where is the body of the church? I dont hear are see no one from the Church, come on Jamaica. Lo and behold what my eyes and ears have seen and hear. God you are in control. Father God in heaven take over dear Lord, Father I ask for intervention, oh God your people need you right now, we need you Lord Jesus. Father God I pray for peace,strenght, guideance,protection and mercy . Watch over your people Lord your children in Jesus name Amen. Jamaica I pray for you every day and every minute. God bless.
5/26/2010
@Lloyd Blair..did you read the article. 44 dead, 4 guns .do the maths.did the 44 share the 4 guns?
5/26/2010
This is troubling only 4 firearms recovered and so many dead - where did all the guns that the gunmen were so brazenly firing go .... come on ppl - this operation is to quelch the criminal element and recover/reduce the amount of illegal firearms in their possession. Why are so many dead yet only 4 guns were recovered
5/26/2010
I have seen it reported that some of the civilians killed were gunmen. If yoy have a weapon in your hand you have forfiet your rights as a civilian and must now be considered a villain.
This is the problem with many of us, we want to have it both ways
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