Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas (centre) addresses journalists during a press conference at his Old Hope Road, St. Andrew, office yesterday while Mark Shields (right), Deputy commissioner of police and Linval Bailey acting deputy commissioner, look on. Mr. Thomas held the press briefing to address the controversial police operation in Tivoli Gardens, West Kingston, on Tuesday. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
STUNG BY criticism from the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and residents of West Kingston about Tuesday's joint police/military raid in Tivoli Gardens, Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas yesterday defended the controversial expedition, saying it was justified.
Over 70 persons were detained and four persons shot during the early morning siege which the police say was conducted to apprehend suspects in the murders of three policemen in early May. None of the men were captured.
West Kingston Member of Parliament, Bruce Golding and JLP spokesman on national security, Derrick Smith, accused the security forces of using terrorist tactics.
"The picture has been painted that the security forces launched a calculated assault on the citizens of the community of Tivoli Gardens ... This is unfortunate as it is completely false," said Commissioner Thomas.
According to Mr. Thomas, the raid was carefully planned by a police/military team and had the support of a 'silent majority' in West Kingston. Pointing to police statistics, he denied that Tuesday's curfew of Tivoli Gardens was another attempt by security forces to destroy that community.
"Since the start of the year we have conducted operations in all police divisions and in all communities across the island.
"A total of 10, 518 raids, 145 cordons and searches, and 20 curfews were executed," he explained. Commissioner Thomas added that 645 planned raids were conducted in the neighbouring constituency of South St. Andrew compared to one in West Kingston.
"We are not naive and while we are aware of the political leanings of some communities, our operational activities will never be influenced by those considerations," he said.
The police said 74 persons were detained in West Kingston during the raid, seven of them have been charged, one of them for shooting with intent. Some 30 cellular phones were also found at the home of one of the alleged suspects.
Christopher 'Dudus' Coke and Justin O'Gilvie, influential figures in West Kingston, were arrested at their upper St. Andrew homes. Mr. Coke and his girlfriend were arrested and charged for possession of a ganja spliff. Mr. O'Gilvie was released without being charged, while Mr. Coke and his girlfriend were released after posting $20,000 bail in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court.
PROBE LAUNCHED
Commissioner Thomas said the Bureau of Special Investigation has launched a probe into the shooting of the residents, three of whom are women. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gilbert Kameka, who was one of the operation's commanding officers, said the police are considering action against Mr. Golding and Councillor for the Tivoli Gardens division, Desmond McKenzie, for violating curfew orders. Both men were on the streets of West Kingston while the curfew was still on. The curfew was lifted at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday.
Said Golding in a statement yesterday: "I am not above the law and neither is Mr. Kameka or the men over whom he exercised command on Tuesday. I will make myself available to be arrested and charged at anytime convenient to Mr. Kameka."
Mr. Golding claimed that two of the injured women - Nicola Johnson and Carol Woodley - were shot just yards away from him, while he was speaking to constituents near the Denham Town Primary School at North Street.
