PUBLIC Defender Earl Witter yesterday issued a public appeal for Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke to turn himself in to the authorities, saying both he and the Political Ombudsman, Bishop Herro Blair, stood ready to facilitate the process.

“In his own interest and the people of Jamaica, I advise Mr Coke to surrender himself so that he does not have to be taken forcible by the security forces in their custody,” Witter said.

“In offering him this opportunity,” Witter explained, “our intention is to ensure that we should be in a position to monitor the conditions under which he [Coke] would be incarcerated.”

Coke has reportedly been on the run since police and soldiers stormed his West Kingston community of Tivoli Gardens in order to serve an arrest warrant last week. Coke is wanted in the United States to answer gun-and drugrelated charges.

He is believed to have escaped before the security forces could reach him. But Police Commissioner Owen Ellington said that despite media reports that Coke had left the country, the police believe he is still in Jamaica.

The police have also issued an appeal to Coke to turn himself in.

Meanwhile, Witter, who was speaking at a press conference at his office on Harbour Street in downtown Kingston, said he had also recommended to Prime Minister Bruce Golding that a commission of enquiry be established in order to conduct a judicial enquiry into the conduct of the security forces since the proclamation of the State of Emergency.

Last week 76 people were killed, including three members of the security forces, and 58, (30 soldiers and 28 cops), injured. The joint police/military team also seized 28 illegal weapons, 8,885 rounds of assorted ammunition, explosive devices, police and military uniforms and paraphernalia during the last days of gunbattles between gunmen and police.

A temporary office has been set up inside Tivoli Gardens for residents there to make formal complaints about the conduct of members of the security forces. Residents from Denham Town and surrounding communities are, however, being encouraged to call the office at 922-4159 with their complaints.