THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE RECENT statement from the Permanent Secretary on behalf of the Attorney-General of Jamaica being essentially, "There have been a number of unfortunate incidents in which citizens have been injured or killed through the conduct of state agents. And in this regard, the most regrettable incidents involving Agana Barrett, Ian Forbes and Vassell Brown, the Braeton seven, and Michael Gayle come to mind" is shockingly too little too late.
The Government's acknowledgement of the killings and injuries of innocent citizens by agents of the state as regrettable incidents highlights yet again the callous disregard by this Government for the fundamental rights to life and due process of each and every citizen of this island.
Is sorry good enough to the Jamaican people for the killings and injuries of their fellow citizens? It certainly is not good enough! What steps are being taken to hold responsible those state agents for these murders and unlawful injuries for whom the Government is entirely responsible?
The people of Jamaica have a right to see that those state agents are held to the same law as you and I if we had taken the life of another citizen. The Amnesty report on the West Kingston Commission of Inquiry titled, "Until their voices are heard", has stated, inter alia, that the Jamaican authorities have failed to ensure independent and impartial investigations and prosecutions into killings involving the security forces where credible evidence exists to suggest prima facie unlawful killings.
Now that the Government has admitted to unlawful killings by the security forces, let us have some justice finally!
I have heard prominent citizens in this country express approval of the actions of the police with regard to the Braeton seven incident. As a reflection of how desperate we are to see an end to crime, we are happy with the elimination of young men and boys gathered together in 'questionable circumstances' and by virtue of that fact alone guilt is concluded. Such prominent citizens have totally disregarded the autopsy reports by the Danish pathologist engaged by Amnesty International that these young men and boys were killed in a manner inconsistent with that stated by the police force.
Based on the model of collective responsibility, which we are supposed to have in theory operating in our system of government, it means that this Government is responsible for the extra-judicial killings of our fellow citizens in all cases. For being in a position to know and nevertheless shunning knowledge creates direct responsibility for the consequences from the very beginning.
I am, etc.,
KENT GAMMON
kgammon1@hotmail.com
Attorney-at-law
Eastwood, NSW
Australia
Via Go-Jamaica
