Spine-chilling finds in Tivoli

• Shallow graves with bodies • Suspected torture chamber

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com

Saturday, June 05, 2010

THE gruesome discovery by the security forces of shallow graves — one with the body of a person who was buried standing — and a suspected torture chamber was yesterday shared with journalists covering the ongoing search of Tivoli Gardens more than a week after gunmen engaged the authorities in three days of clashes that resulted in the deaths of 73 persons, among them a soldier.

Jamaica Defence Force soldiers told the Observer that they stumbled upon the graves during a search of an area in the community called Rasta City, located off McKenzie Drive.

“The area is believed to be a location where thugs would dump and bury the bodies of persons killed in the community of Tivoli Gardens,” one soldier told the Observer yesterday.

At least six shallow graves were observed by this reporter in a clearing surrounded by thick, overgrown vegetation which made the trek to the spot difficult.

“Look at this,” one soldier said, pointing to a hole with the remains of the person who was buried standing.

The soldiers speculated that the person was buried alive.

The strong stench of dead flesh rose from the ground in the area where the soldiers also said they found the decomposed body of a man buried in another shallow grave in an old, abandoned train car.

Yesterday, police and soldiers also showed journalists what they believe was a torture chamber in a section of Tivoli called Java.

“The ‘chamber’ is an area where we believe people were dragged to and then tried in informal court sessions by thugs,” one member of the security forces said.

A soldier, who declined to give his name because he was not authorised to speak, showed reporters two small buildings from where the authorities suspected that death sentences were handed down.

“The man them [criminals] even had two gavels used in the informal court,” said one soldier.

A blood-stained metal baseball bat, two lengths of rope, each tied in a noose at the top of a door jam were seen in the suspected torture chamber. Sections of the floor were covered with thick lumps of partially dried blood. The stench of urine hung heavily in the air.

“The find has pushed us even closer to the conclusion that the area was a highly organised criminal den,” said one cop.

“The man them even have medical facility in the area,” added one soldier. “Our information is suggesting that this is where criminals who are injured in battle could go for treatment.”

Yesterday, Tivoli residents denied knowledge of the alleged ‘torture chamber’ or the shallow graves.

“Is lie them telling, nothing don’t go so,” said one woman who was among a large group gathered in front of the temporary office set up in the community by the public defender.

“Yu nuh see is mek them meking up the stories. Me live here how long and me nuh know of that,” said another woman.

The women declined to give their names.

Some of the residents charged that it was the police who had buried the bodies of young men who were killed in the stand-off between the security forces and gunmen loyal to Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke who is now on the run and who is wanted by the United States Government to face gun- and drug-trafficking charges.

However, the police countered the residents’ claim, saying that the decomposed state in which several of the bodies were found was clear evidence that they were killed by men in the area days before the security forces entered on May 24.

The security forces entered Tivoli to execute an arrest warrant on Coke and to restore stability to the community after gunmen barricaded all entrances and launched unprovoked and co-ordinated gun attacks on the police in West Kingston and other sections of the city. Two policemen were killed in one of those attacks on Mountain View Avenue the night before the security forces stormed Tivoli.

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COMMENTS (62)

Rob C
6/5/2010

Again, mi caan believe seh so many people pon de blog sound surprised about these findings. Ah soh 'garrisons' run. Even the residents' response is expected. If I lived there and depend on the Dons & the thugs for my survival, my ansa would be the same. I'd even go further by pointing out what gun/baseball bat was used used by members of the security force to kill the men. I'd then point out the soldiers/police by badge numbers that buried the bodies; cause dem disrupt mi perfect world !!

Xavi Singh
6/5/2010

The funny thing is, most of you writing now saying this and that, were signing a different tune 2001 when a certain man name Reneto Lecardova Adams ventured into the land of the saints(Tivoli), said he was pinned down and could not move. Half if not 3/4 of Jamaica jumped up saying is lie Adams telling, no guns were there, neither was anyone firing at him, he was just wicked. Adams said Ja would pay dearly, it came true. So you see the society on a whole is to be blamed for this mess too.

L M
6/5/2010

The people are poor and illiterate. ..illteracy breeds complacency. They have been kept poor so as suppress and control them---why else has the gov or the dons not provided them with education&vocational training. They need to be educated &provided training so that they can find jobs. As they are educated they will have to be counseled to change their mindset. With education comes empowerment and finally they will be able to see outside the box and question as opposed to following blindly.

mike daley
6/5/2010

@JSmall. You touched on something brotha! Stockholm's Syndrome with a TG twist: They cuddle and condone the captor and criminals within their midst so they may be granted further lease to exist. I am no apologist for TG or it's tyrants, but in the process of submitting to survive many residents, over time, have sold their proverbial soul to the devil, incarnated as Dudus and others. Until the specter of a replacement Don is removed, TG won't offer up the stinking truth about their world.

blog killer
6/5/2010

If this is in fact true now you see that not everybody in TG is a perpetuator of a crime but in fact many are victims under siege. Yes many may be complicit but now do you understand that FEAR makes people march, skin teeth with the Don or turn a blind eye just to survive.
Yes some can leave, many have and not everybody can migrate as many of you here obviously have. Others there work and send their children to school without taking a dime from the Don.
But why would we see all that when it is so much more fun to demonize an entire dutty ghetto community for the despicable acts of some.

Man A Yard
6/5/2010

This is horrendous.
I hope and pray that the security forces preserved the scene so that they can be investigated thoroughly and independently. We all need to know the truth so that people like Seaga and Mutty Perkins will know is not only "angels" living in TG.
We need to destroy all garrisons in Jamaica once and for all.

Nancy G
6/5/2010

This is hideous news. But I have a question-- how is it possible to bury someone standing, in a shallow grave?

PL BOGLE
6/5/2010

@ omar Kenyata i like that one killed and buried alive!

Jay Jay
6/5/2010

Community like this needs to be completely demolish. For a new Tivoli to be in place after all this is finish with it will take bulldozers to go there and destroy these secret dens used by criminals. This is the only way to free these women out of this cult- cultured community.

Harvath Scott
6/5/2010

After the eradicating of hood-lums in T G i hope the security force move to another area such as the jungle , spain town and do the same, just balancing the books.

tina chambers
6/5/2010

Tivoli needs to be leveled...and build a business district down there is prime real estate......yes, and the people knew about the going on down there ....the ladies whos men went missing when they ask about there men were beaten ....

Chicken Foote
6/5/2010

Are we sure this is not May Pen cemetery??

cynthia watson
6/5/2010

Growing up I have heard about bush justice and shallow graves in Tivoli, and I do not live even close to Tivoli; yet people who live there can deny this when the evidence is staring them right in the face! Why has it taken an extradition order for us to start trying to dismantle this horrible sub-culture? There are more mini Tivolis around Jamaica and I am hoping this government will do something.

gary lee
6/5/2010

It would seem ridiculous for the army to make up these stories, and it may be plausible that most residents are unaware of these horrific things.

zina brown
6/5/2010

Not surprise I know so many people whose love one went into that community never to be see or here from again. These criminals has been doing this for years, I thank God that we all can see the truth now, what are the residents explanation now? The only way to protect these resident is for the military to remain in TG for the next 2 years. Give a reward for any information given you will get the ins and outs once the $$$ is right, that never fails.

Sea Breeze
6/5/2010

A skull was unearthed. Decomposition was therefore basically complete since the skin and flesh had rotted away leaving only bone. All this could not have taken place in the week and a half since the security forces carried out their investigation unless acid (hydrochloric) had been used to advance the decomposition (chemistry fan). I'm not sure if I'm ready to believe that the security forces had acid filled decomposition barrels with them in Tivoli.

Keith Baker
6/5/2010

Come Seaga, come McKenzie,come Bruce say something

John Small
6/5/2010

This is gruesome!
But the reaction of the residents is the most shocking thing. Is it because they are still in fear? Because I have rarely heard people from these areas say things I can relate to.
They come off as antisocial and their outlook, beliefs and values just seem so bizarre and twisted, even alien to me, someone who was born in Jamaica and lived there most of my life. Simply put, I don't understand them. There must be some level of stockholm's syndrome at work here.

Paul Gentles
6/5/2010

All these "findings" are further indications of proof that Tivoli was indeed a "state" within the state.
The govt per se over the years have abdicated responsibility of this "state".
What of the KSAC?
What of the local councillor??
What of Kingston's mayor?
What of the MP?
The negligence resulting in the Armadale tragedy pales in significance to this one :
who is being reassigned?
who is being fired?
who is being held criminally responsible?
We wait....

L M
6/5/2010

This is more than disgusting. The residents had to know about the chamber and the deaths...I am certain that the fate of those deceased was used as an example of what could happen to those who did not comply. I am truly sickened by the thought that political parties were so desperate for power that they ALLOWED the garrisons to exist so that the people could be controlled thereby ensuring their votes.

6/5/2010

I suppose the residents of TG would also deny that the lawmen came under heavy enemy fire whilst attempting to execute the arrest warrant for the leader. These women are as heartless as the gunmen they protect. I suppose many of them have gleefully given their sons and daughters to these dons without regard for their safety. The biblical story of King Solomon deciding the fate of a baby between two alleged mothers comes to mind. Some women will never be mothers despite having children.

paul dennis
6/5/2010

lot of people talk too quick now with all these ongoing find i wonder what them going do now that the tivoli chickens are coming home to roost?the saga continues.

Everald G
6/5/2010

These spineless people are still in denial when the facts prove otherwise "Me live yah and never hear about this" this is sickening, then we hear people talking about being sorry for these people, we also know that many were killed before the security forces arrived, what a sad state. How can anyone talk about re-building this community, it should be completely torn down and the people relocated.

demus one
6/5/2010

I agree with the law abiding citizens of tivoli. The security forces built the chamber planted the vegetation held court and handed down death sentence in only one week. The more these people in tivoli speak the more convince I am they are the worst set of animals in the world. The women blaming the JCF and JDF should be excuted on the spot. Please observer don't ask these low life lying criminals anything they want to make me vomit. LETS HEAR ALL THE APOLOGIST FOR THESE ANGELS NOW. WI A IDIOTS.

everton walker
6/5/2010

really chilling and gruesome. yet they continue to deny the fact. i will never believe a word these residents say. they have been cultured to support criminality and tell lies.

Mihelle Brown
6/5/2010

Tivoli is a curse and need to be destroyed like Saddam and Gomorrah without a doubt. Look at these wickedness that use to go on there and is business as usual. These so called women who are denying the evidences are without consciences. They are so holy and innocent down there.

mike willy
6/5/2010

Yesterday, police and soldiers also showed journalists what they believe was a torture chamber in a section of Tivoli called Java......
......“Is lie them telling, nothing don’t go so,” said one woman who was among a large group gathered in front of the temporary office set up in the community by the public defender.
It is clear that the residents supports criminality, they should all got their wish and they would not say:“ Is lie them telling, nothing don’t go so,”

Good Counsellor
6/5/2010

The tivoli residents too lie and that why people not going sorry for them. They should all be made to see the discoveries and look at the finds themselves. They dont know about the torture chamber then let them see it.

jimmy jones
6/5/2010

Bwoy mi nuh andastan how the people dem a Tivoli neva si nor hear nuttn what a gwaan wen it come to criminal activity and the killin wha di criminal dem a gwaan wid, but as soon as the police kill a criminal they all see. Is there any hope for TG?

Norman Lee
6/5/2010

I wonder if AL MILLER is surprised that these things happened in Tivoli with Dudus as the Don.

LLOYD BLAIR
6/5/2010

Why was the crime rate so" low" in TG again? Let us not forget the many good done in TG
And as usual the women in TG remain true to their calling - embarrassment

6/5/2010

The Forensic Pathologist should be able to determine how long these bodies have been buried by the state of decomposition. Right now it is just speculation by people and the security forces. If the bodies were buried before the 24 May, then you know it is not the security forces put them there. Remember there were unconfirmed reports of the security forces burning and burying bodies and the media were not allowed in, only up to a certain point. View this with an open mind!

xavier carrington
6/5/2010

I just wonder if the Mayor the former MP and the current MP knew of the existence of these. If they did, these national leaders would be worse than the men who committed they crime especially since that they were/are entrusted to protect the lives and property of the citizens. All the howl about the massacre by the security forces ... what do people say now? I wonder how many the hoodlums in Tivoli massacred over the years! I am hoping that none of the leaders of Tivoli knew about this!!

Yard Vibz
6/5/2010

I have a problem with this story. Just days ago, journalists were locked out of the war zone, but now that cops have discarded the evidence of brutality & barbarism, they suddenly see it fit to spoon-feed the media with their selective versions of inhumane conducts. If the aforementioned graves are defined as being shallow, how is it a man is alleged to be buried upright? Furthermore, if this thing is so established, why all the discovered bodies appear to have been disposed of in recent days?

Aud Byfield
6/5/2010

Anyone who takes up arms against the State and its Security Forces is guilty of TREASON, and should be dealt with harshly.
Criminal gangs should be shown no mercy by the Government and the Security Forces.
Hats off to the brave soldiers and members of the Security Forces who put their lives on the line in their effort to enforce law and order.
Hopefully, once the mopping up is completed, the offenders will be tried, and if found guilty, imprisoned or executed.
Jamaica rules, not the gangsters.

A. Croft
6/5/2010

I find it difficult to get my mind around these depictions. I have nightmares.
How did Jamaica slip so far into this abyss of evil? For Jamaicans to feel so unsafe, so vulnerable and helpless is a crying shame.
The leaders have let us down. The standards of civility have dropped to savagery. The total lack of human rights, that has been exhibited in these reports, shows a society that has let the required standards of acceptbale behaviour and the respect for law and order disappear.
Sad, sad

onjeal stewart
6/5/2010

wow are we suprise no we are not .The only innocent down at TG is the young kids 99%of all the adult down there either involve are support serious criminal element. So i dont understand how they become innocent all of a sudden .Keep up the good work police and solider not only in west kingston but every corner of jamaica

Marcus James
6/5/2010

So this is how the “President” and his cronies’ suppressed murder and maintained order in West Kingston by torturing people jungle justice Taliban style. Rev Al Miller, maybe you can explain because you seem to know plenty about this MAN-STER. The women continues to denied knowledge of any wrong doing in TG but I understood and sympathized with them because I would scared too knowing one day I might have to face the guillotine for been a INFORMER. And yes, a guillotine in TG. The JDF will reveal

cliff J.
6/5/2010

Well this is nothing new,we all hear this over and over again that the don have their own kangaroo court, they decided ,who must dead ,who live, who get broken hand, or foot,while am with the security force 100%, am sure member of the force must hear of this, this is very common in the socall garrison ,and going on for years.some time they burn the body,some time they drop it in sink hole,if the security force continue they will find more.

Pat Lu
6/5/2010

YAWN!!!!!! These people are so out of this world it's unbelievable! Kangaroo court in T.G. older than me...
Don't they know that forensic science and soil samples can tell sey dem lying?
When Dudus get catch Jamaica should let the US know that they wish to do a temprary extradition. In this case they can try him and prescibe sentence, and have him returned to Jamaica to stand trial and impose a death sentence since the US charges may not lead to a death sentence.

Maude Cooper
6/5/2010

Let me see if I can remember how Dudus mouth-piece described him last week; Misunderstood by those who failed to see the many initiatives implemented by him in West Kingston. People eyes are now popping wide open peering through the window of this sick and mangled mind of this notorious man and his so called initiatives. And boy they are as repulsive as it gets.

Beverley Johnson
6/5/2010

Tear down all garrisons in Jamaica from JLp to PNP garrisons. We're moving forward with education for the youth and job creation. We have to learn to respect law and order. Imagine if education instead of bullets for ballots were sown in the 70s-- what a harvest we would reaping now instead of this shame and disgrace, not to meantion the talents and destruction to the family and community.

Pauline White
6/5/2010

"However, the police ... saying .. was clear evidence that they were killed by men in the area days before the security forces entered on May 24."
I hope the proper testing was done to gather evidence and that the police and media not tainting evidence. Comments like above saying persons killed by men. Why assume it was men. If what is reported is true, I can clearly see from their pronouncements that some of our officers come to conclusions way too soon.

pat green
6/5/2010

Were you expecting these women who would die for Dudus to speak the truth? They have to lie for varying reasons one is that Dudus is still free and alive. Get even one of them outside the area in a safe surrounding, earn her trust and see if yuh no get bill and receipt.
This is a wicked place that should be demolished- these people need a new beginning, a renewal of the mind, spirit and body,(This might just be my wishful thinking)

real southy
6/5/2010

he say she say.the people say one thing ,the soldier say another. the media who suppose to be the middleman cant help . the media going on tours with the solldiers so nothing they report is independent.

Impartial Jamaican
6/5/2010

These women will say anything. What set of people man. I don't even know what else to say but I get a feeling most of us are thinking along the same lines.

mike daley
6/5/2010

B4 ppl start to castigate my earlier comment, take a sec 2 let your emotions simmer down. I am NOT making any blanket condemnation of Tivolites or the security forces, just saying there are almost always some grain of truth in a he-say-she-say exchange. Some residents want 2 play dumb and some security wish 2 play saint. Both seek our sympathy & support and both need to be held accountable 4 less than principled actions & behavior. Fairness & justice can't exist only when it convenient.

george watson
6/5/2010

Nobody can convince me that atrocities taking place at Tivoli, long before the security forces invaded were not committed, if not under the orders of certain respected people, in our community, then at least with their knowledge.
Certain talk show hosts for example, hate the PNP to such an extent that even if they knew what was happening and the revelation of this knowledge would have meant that one extra PNP candidate would have been voted into office, then they would have been forever mum.
But God, and if we do not believe in God, then at least Karma, has a way of taking care of us all and I am convinced that the day will come (it might not be too far off) when we will all pay for our transgressions.
You might not publish this post, Mr. Editor, but I will keep it among my archives, and when the day does come I will send it to you again as a reminder.

Clara Brooks
6/5/2010

Why are we not surprised by these findings? Mr. Seaga said his constituents are good citizens of Jamaica, also any community in Jamaica have these places where our justice system has continued to fail us. Clearly the no confidence in the govt. ability to do justice, along with corruption of the police force/JDF lend cause for these Ghetto justice death chambers. Why do think people were able to walk freely in Coronation Market? The fear of TG clean up crew. This has been going on for a long time

6/5/2010

The truth lies somewhere between the dismissive, exaggerated charges of disgruntled Tivoli residents and the security forces' description of a dark, devilish den of a Don and his minions. The Columbian and Mexican drug cartels were quick to emulate the horrific acts of torture discovered in Iraq and publicize by the US Gov't & the int'l press, so why would a comparable JAcan cartel not do the same to inspire fear & obedience? Still JCF/JDF do have an ill-gotten reputation 4 shameful cover ups.

Brooklyn Jamaican
6/5/2010

Reneto Adams is indeed correct. These people need to be reoriented and redistributed.

Omar Kenyata
6/5/2010

Someone I know from the area told me about someone he KNEW that was killed and buried alive about two years ago. I told him he was lying now I know he was talking the truth and that it happened more than once. Up to two weeks before the security operation I heard about two men who were disciplined in a room . None of them can walk now. So all the residence saying these stories are made up are LYING

Michael Henry
6/5/2010

is the human rights a part of the social groups touring TG? i would like to know...

Michael Henry
6/5/2010

well!! well! well !! here we go TG people wake up you all living in denial when did the security forces get time to bury bodies while they where under heavy gun fire?and the hanging gallas the police put it there too?TG were hanging people while the government and oppossition can't come up with a decision to bring back hanging what a something.

John Brown
6/5/2010

And yet we have Al Miller running around trying to be Dudus' spin doctor! I guess this is the kind of justice and social arrangement that some would rather Jamaicans live under, going by the comments of many who support the dons.

Pavitra Wynthrop
6/5/2010

The women of Tivoli continues to bury themselves in the wickedness and evil that clearly exist in that community. In so doing they are losing the care and empathy of the rest of Jamaica. Over the years they have demonstrated their skills to stand up and manipulate the media in furtherance of their political objectives. Now is the time to be liberated, rise-up and stand on the side of truth, justice and human decency.

ESTEBAN AGOSTO REID
6/5/2010

Was Tivoli Dudus' THIRD REICH with its TORTURE CHAMBER and shallow graves with bodies ? Jamaicans need to know the true and real story behind our local Auschwitz or Buchenwald !!!

Leon Archer
6/5/2010

How else do they keep the peace in these areas except by having their own form of justice?. I hope the apologists and JFJ will now choose to highlight the injustices of the Tivoli Gardens legal system with the same vigour as they do the Govt. of Jamaica system.
I am tired of hearing and reading comments by locals who think that culture of certain areas of Jamaica should be viewed as those of more civilized society. They need to be realistic and stop playing to a foreign audience.

Hotta Bhingi
6/5/2010

How can we know about the people who were burnt to ash with tyres by thuggists? Are these the things Golding was hiding and protecting? Jamaica studying too much evil. Mankind studying too much evil. Evil leads to destruction.

Danavan smith
6/5/2010

This is the trade mark of sadam .dam this is what jamaica come to ?power in the hands of buto is very dangerous. and as for that lady who dispute the security force finding we can't expect better from her , that is the way they was program, they would deny there owen child when it come to dudus or seaga. this man is a tyrant .

Jay Brown
6/5/2010

Tivoli Gardens residents have been so brained washed that if you told them thugs in Tivoli were angels on their way to heaven 95% of them would believe you.
They could stay under bed and see soldiers bury the dead but not the thugs who were carrying out such acts.
This is a dreadful place to live and I do not believe the government should spend a cent to rebuild it.
Level the place and make it into a botanical Gardens. TG Cannot outlive its ghost if it remains a housing community.

Barry Brown
6/5/2010

Bulldoze the whole place and start fresh with medium to low income town houses and row houses

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