The Editor, Sir:

The death of a citizen is to be regretted by all. For too long many in our society have turned a blind eye to the needless killings of our countrymen without considering the effects of each death.

Perhaps it started in slavery, perhaps further back in our African ancestors' open-arms response to rampage-bent Europeans - the sociologists will no doubt advise us, but it seems to me that we have long lost the sense of the equality of man regardless of colour, race or station in life. In today's Jamaica some men are more equal than others. And so it is that young men can be summarily accused and cold-bloodedly executed by agents of the state without due process.

The incidents are numerous - usually followed by some laughably repetitive statement to the effect that the deceased attacked the police with a ... 'paperclip' the 'fire' was returned and the deceased hit. He was later pronounced dead at hospital.

Civilized societies do not permit this. There is massive (and sustained) outrage for each of these incidents of police excess eg. Rodney King in Los Angeles and Amadou Diallo and Sean Bell in New York. Change is the result - or heads roll (figuratively of course). That is democracy - rule by the people.

'We want justice'

In this country we (only those directly affected) block roads and chant 'we want justice' in a prime time sound-bite - that's it! Nothing changes and we stockpile our placards until the next incident comes around.

Sadly, we have perpetuated the devaluation of human life by paying greater regard to some more than others. The latest killing of a policeman brings the issue before us for another 15 minutes of shame. Why should medical personnel respond more speedily to a wounded policeman than to any other citizen? Shouldn't the treatment be equally urgent and thorough in all cases?

Numerous expressions

Most among us will acknowledge that there are numerous expressions of callousness towards our fellowman in public life. The police themselves are no angels in this regard. The record of the JCF is littered with the excesses of the few, staining the efforts of many. How many young men have been executed in police "shoot-outs"?

The family and friends of our slain policemen must be supported in their grief, but the point must be made that the loss of a loved one is no less painful on the part of the victims of police shootings.

Some argue that attacks on the police are more abhorrent because it speaks to the boldness of gunmen. No argument there. But where a citizen is executed by a policeman who is sworn to serve and protect that very citizen, I see a greater evil. We must remind ourselves that policemen have no greater power to kill than any of us private citizens. Policemen may only use deadly force in self-defence. Shootings in any other circumstance are still seen by our law as murder.

Until the police begin to treat citizens with the regard they deserve as fellow humans with rights, our society will be hopelessly lost in a cycle of killing and reprisals. Until citizens demand respect for life by maintaining pressure on our leaders we will not see greater accountability either in the security forces, the medical services or anywhere else in public life.

I am, etc.,

O. K. FERGUSON

Kingston 20

Via Go-Jamaica.