Letter of the Day - Negotiating with terrorists

THE EDITOR, Sir:

"WE DO not negotiate with terrorists," is a line often used by the President of the United States, both in reality and on the silver screen. While I recognise this is not always so, I daresay it is largely so. The recent attempts by the JCC to negotiate an end to the violence in West Kingston falls, as far as I am concerned, squarely on the side of negotiating with terrorists. It is no wonder they have had limited success, and have actually been lambasted by the Leader of the Opposition.

We have seen this all before: there is an outbreak of violence, an outbreak of concern, curfews, roadblocks etc., then some sort of 'peace treaty' between the factions. The murderers are free to roam the streets, their guns are still in their possession, carefully tucked away till the next time.

Frankly, I am tired of the whole thing. If the people of Jamaica (through their government) are not sovereign over Kingston, let's just admit that and get on with our miserable lives. I do not believe that we can accept a situation where criminals decide whether there is calm or mayhem in our capital city. Further, I do not think (if you don't mind me saying) that the proper role for the Church is to be the mediators between groups of thugs.

Everytime there is a gang war, these warlords murder those they have chosen to murder, then agree to keep the peace to encourage no further attention from the police.

Much like the late Peter Tosh, my view is that I don't want no 'peace'; what I need is equal rights and justice.

I want a political directorate that eschews in the most clear and unequivocal way any form of violence. Until that happens, what exactly is the point of negotiations and treaties?

I am etc.,

PAUL ELLIS

E-mail:

ellispaul@hotmail.com

St. Augustine, Trinidad

Via Go-Jamaica

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