Photographs: Shallow graves, torture chamber found in Tivoli

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com

Friday, June 04, 2010

THE security forces have found shallow graves and an alleged torture chamber in an area of Tivoli Gardens they believed was used by thugs to hold informal court sessions and inflict cruel punishment on dissidents.

During an informal tour of an area this morning Jamaica Defense Force soldiers showed the area located in a section of the community called Java.

They also showed another location behind McKenzie Drive where persons were buried in shallow graves.

“Civilians who did not fall in line with reputed don Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke would be tried and if found guilty would be severely punished some to the death,” said a policeman.

During the informal tour of the area several mass graves and an empty wooden coffin was found.

Soldiers also showed a shallow grave where maggot-infested human remains were found this morning. A human skull was also seen in the grave. It appeared the person was buried in a standing position.

"This is just one of the many areas where we believe shallow graves are located," one soldier said.

Residents however denied knowledge of the torture chamber or burial sites.

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COMMENTS (34)

JaYes WeCan
6/4/2010

I think Mega boy desires a state of anarchy. We cannot afford that in Jamaica. police and soldiers must be able to go anywhere in any community at any time.no special treatment. security for all communities in this country is the responsibility of the police and when nessisary troops from the JDF. not dons, police!!!

Radikal Discipleship
6/4/2010

I keep saying it God is on the march, on an expose mission. Indeed let's pursue these to whoever and wherever they lead. The tangled web of deceit that has been woven and continues to be weaved by those who despite the writing being on the wall choose to continue to carry on with desipience will be unravelled. Where are the ones who always quick to say that TG is being demonised now. The soldiers planted those graves and ropes?

naudia campbell mattocks
6/4/2010

omg, i never post comments, but this was too much for me not say anything, wat di ratid a gwaan inna tivoli! wow this is so unreal that i cant even form proper sentence structure. But this comment by barby jones basically summed up my entire brain thought.
barby jones
6/4/2010
Is this article referring to Kingston Jamaica in 2010, or are we talking about Nazi Germany (Auschwitz for example)? Have we gone stark raving mad?

JaYes WeCan
6/4/2010

If these aligation are proven to be factual as to what has been happening in Tivoli Gardens, then It is clear to me that the state of emergency will have to be extended for at least another year in order for tha law enforcers to continue to have the emergency powers they need to conduct further and more intence searches in and outside TG, without barriers to them doing their job at this time. Lets take it wherever it leads, to who ever it leads in this clean up campaign.

barby jones
6/4/2010

Is this article referring to Kingston Jamaica in 2010, or are we talking about Nazi Germany (Auschwitz for example)? Have we gone stark raving mad?

Maude Cooper
6/4/2010

It is quite likely that ordinary TG people may not have known about that torture chamber. Certain privileged information I believe, could very well be shared only with the president and his closest deputies. No wonder they felt powerful enough to torch police station and kill members of the forces.

Magar Boy
6/4/2010

This is a trick by the JCF/JDF dont fall for it Jacans as its only God bless ppl live in Tivoli and the fact that no crime has ever been commited in Tivoli makes this report a farce. I am sure those were being for skills training and the empowing of the citizens of Tivoli Gardens the Model community of Jamaica. I sometimes wish no Law Officer would go there as the ppl are disrupted from their law abiding life. Please security forces stop digging and finding things which paint the area negatively

Jay Brown
6/4/2010

@ Tony Walker, obviously you have not been reading very much so let me point your nose in the right direction.
Check UK Daily mail or simply checkout my blog

Dragging two young men from their house yesterday, thugs loyal to Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke doused the building with petrol and set it ablaze.
As terrified neighbours and relatives cowered behind locked doors, the petrified victims were told to kneel beside the road in Kingston, the Jamaican capital, and prepare to die.

Danavan smith
6/4/2010

If the police realy want information they have to promise some resident a way out of TG , even some foreign country and see how much they hear.

Danavan smith
6/4/2010

continue, yes the guy say he went to court and they brake his two hand and he was walking on a cane, i stop selling down there when this person was trying to pick on me ,he?????? the money and when he make this remarks about killing any body who dont come from TG a light bulp on in my head and say leave this place, man it was t tuch of hell

Good Counsellor
6/4/2010

So these residents dont know what is going on. They need to talk the whole truth and nothing but the truth. More people will have compassion on them. But if they are going to continue to lie people will not pity them. @ topramax amillion You are a blasted idiot. Mogott engulf that body and a human skull remains. These bodies were burried long ago. You are too stupid. Open up your eye. From we are young we hear seh evil down there for dissident. A so EVERYBODY DOWN THERE LOVE DUDUS SO GOD FORBID!

Danavan smith
6/4/2010

Ask the higgler them how sell out in the west how thing run out there, i once sell out there and man it it's nothing short of hell , and surch them stall and van that they sell in as when the shoters have there guns and see the police coming they hide it in your stall or van and you cant say a thing, as for there court it is not thing new, i heard storey where higgler have driffence and they have to go to the court they deside who get what, i saw this guy one day walking with his two hand brake

jodi rowe
6/4/2010

Good going Mr.Seaga!

mark jones
6/4/2010

I think we at the end of this investigation we can arrive at a factor which we can apply to previous murder rates.. it has been a long held view that official figures fall short of the ACTUAL mark

Esmore Gillings
6/4/2010

Man I feel like screaming, every bone in my body is crying out for the (can't write them) set of you know what to be punished the same way they punished these people. Is this the way he curtails crime in the community. The women living there, what kind of heart you have to stand by and let other women children die like dogs by the hands of these scavengers, I am really pissed.

A. Croft
6/4/2010

Have mercy! This is Iraq in Jamaica. It makes me sick.

Anna Banana
6/4/2010

If I hear ONE person say that this is security force propaganda and set up, I am going to flip. Jamaica is just too darn small for anyone in Kgn NOT to know they have an "execution yard", area, place, whateva you wah name it. You don't have to LIVE down at Tivoli or see it on news to ALREADY know it exists. All uptown pickney know seh dis is there. Ask anybody who know dem ends dere & they will tell you. But alas, somebody or the other is going to come with, "Woe is me! It's a lie!"

Karissa Chin
6/4/2010

They knew about it off course. Couple years ago I was dating a decent hard working guy from there and he told me that they have their own judicial system there and if tried and found guilty, one would be severely punished, tortured or even put to death. Some of these residents they are lying and they would say or do anything to protect their saint 'DUDUS'

Miz Dee
6/4/2010

I agree with Pauline White. The presence of the human skull is making me more inclined to believe the security forces to an extent, but I support any decision leading to an examination and conclusion about the TOD and COD.

Marie Grant
6/4/2010

@James Bond: I agree wholeheartedly. They should be tried for treason.

Nicky Doo
6/4/2010

I heard about these chambers from Sega days. I didn't beleive. Now my worst fear has come to pass. OMG, I can just imagine how many lives have been taken. I can imagine the scream and the cry for help. Dudus is the next Sadam. And so he will be defeated. The government needs to freeze all accounts and cease all property, because he cannot prove the ligitimacy of how he obtain the money and the assets.

narda james
6/4/2010

What the hell is going on in my island home? these fools watch too much damn Cable TV.

James Bond
6/4/2010

I have said this many times before Tivoli Gardens need to be DEMOLISHED. Edward Seaga built this place and trained these people for his own selfish ideas and deeds.
Seaga should be investigated and prosecuted for crimes against the people of Jamaica, building a terrorist training camp, sponsoring and supporting state terrorism
What a wicked group of people, but according to Seaga, Mutty Perkings, Desmond Mckenzie and Mark Wignall these people are nice peaceful law abiding citizens. Dem wicked

Pauline White
6/4/2010

I hope the proper checks are made on the bodies to verify how and when persons died. Other forensic tests can be done on samples in the alleged torture chamber. Although no matter what some people are still believing of the innocence of TG residents.

oliver brown
6/4/2010

another day in the neighbourhood !! are u surprised ?

bless williams
6/4/2010

this is why i say"if a resident of tivoli cries blood in my presence i would never feel anything for them" 73 too likkle bit they play 2 be so innocent especially the women and never see or hear anything shame on you people.the radio talk shows bash the security forces every day and night i wonder what they are going 2 say now.

anthony dunn
6/4/2010

the security force should carry Bruce Desmond and Eddie on this tour, so they can see what their angels have been up to.
we know residence and political leaders from west kgn.
will deny all of these goings on!!
i hope Ja will wake up and never go back down this road again.

renaldo whyte
6/4/2010

its a pity we do not have some really serious reporters in this land... i wish someone would take the opportunity to go speak to the councillor for the area(mr. mayor) and ask him if after so many years in the community what can he tell jamaica about such findings. the media needs to stop cherry picking with the people who help to build these areas and ask them some real questions... and stop letting them escape with lines like "who is without sin cast the first stone" (words of mr. mckenzie)

Tony Walker
6/4/2010

Jay Brown
Can I ask you a question Mr Smart Person.
How long does a body takes to decomposed?
Many times I wonder about some of these bloggers who claim that they are smart and making sense.
How long did the police and military invade Tivoli?
When would this punishment suppose to take place while there was a curfew?
Think about this Mr Blogger.

Duane Parkin
6/4/2010

I am confident that if the police keep digging, they'll find more. Just hope they can find (and have proof) of the politicians' connection.

Impartial Jamaican
6/4/2010

The plot thickens. Tivoli Gardens will lose it supporters very quickly...at least they should. The reason being is that none of the so called "innocent" see it fit to co-operate with the police, even in private. Why not speak to the comissioner while he is on a tour of the area? Or find some other safe and private way of passing on the info. Work wid wi nuh people. Ah so unu heart col'?

G Kendall
6/4/2010

Wow, residents can say everything the security forces have done but dear them to say "kangaroo courts" exist in Tivoli. SAD!! .... I think as long as Dudus, Livity and other second in commands are alive, the people of Tivoli will fear them and never reveal the true nature of the Republic of Tivoli ... I guess this is the template Al Miller wants us to adopt across Jamaica.

topramax amillion
6/4/2010

I think that is where the police buried all those civilians that magically disappeared. This is now their attempt to create a false scenario of how the bodies and graves appeared.

Jay Brown
6/4/2010

"Residents however denied knowledge of the torture chamber or burial sites".
What do you expect from this lying bunch of people living in this area, they NEVER see NOTHING that goes on their while Dudus is their.
When gunshots were being fired, they were under their beds but yet they could see dead women and children in the streets and soldiers burying and burning bodies.
These folks make my churn my stomach when they speak making me want to puke.
Tear down those walls Bruce !!

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Photographs: Shallow graves, torture chamber found in Tivoli