FOREIGN Minister K D Knight has urged human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, to adopt “a more even-handed approach” in reporting on Jamaica.

The minister was responding to Amnesty International’s report for 2001 on Jamaica, in a letter to Irene Khan, secretary-general of Amnesty International.

Knight referred in particular to the section of the report which dealt with the violent incident in West Kingston last year in which 27 people, including two members of the security forces were killed; and the commission of inquiry which investigated the matter.

Amnesty’s report said local residents maintained that many of those killed were shot indiscriminately and that others were deliberately targeted by the security forces.

However, Knight, in his letter told Amnesty that:

* Unfortunately, your report is not an impartial account of those tragic events, nor of the work of the commission of inquiry which was established to investigate them.

* With regard to the actual events of that day, while I do not want to anticipate the findings of the commission of inquiry, your account of the shooting which took place is entirely one-sided. Whilst it referred to pictures of police personnel shooting at gunmen, it made no mention of other film, taken from a helicopter over the scene, which showed persons with high-powered weapons moving about on the streets, firing at the security forces’ positions. These video images were also televised nationally.

* You have also been unfairly critical of the work of the commission of inquiry. Your comments are a distorted interpretation of the procedures which govern the inquiry, and appear to be based upon the allegations of those who are opposed to the commission and its objective of uncovering the truth. I must therefore bring to your attention the following:

* The commission of inquiry was established in full conformity with the provisions of the Inquiry Acts.

* The commission adhered to standard Canadian practice for such independent inquiries;

* Independent counsel were provided, through the office of the Public Defender, who has the ability to investigate matters on behalf of citizens and his office was available to anyone who needed it.

* Witnesses had access to the Independent Police Public Complaints Authority which has an investigative capacity.

* Witnesses were able to provide statements through their attorneys.

* Counsel for the Jamaica Labour Party were able to address the commission;

* The only real limitation to the right of any attorney to cross-examine witnesses related to the requirement for the attorney to establish that his/her client had been implicated in the testimony. Any other limitation was solely to curb prolix cross-examination.

* The commission of inquiry has concluded its investigations and it is expected that it will present its final report shortly. This report will, of course, be published in its entirety. It is my sincere hope that, should Amnesty International take an interest in any issues in Jamaica in the future, it will adopt a more even-handed approach to its reportage.