The shooting of four JLP supporters in South East St. Andrew Thursday night is an ugly omen as the current general election campaign intensifies.

The shooting is the latest in incidents which give the lie to the mutual declaration of peaceful conduct by the leaders of the two major political parties. That declaration, along with an embrace on a political platform, is par for the course - a public show of non-involvement with strong-arm tactics by street activists, be they registered supporters or favour-seeking hangers-on of either party.

A comment by PNP General Secretary Donald Buchanan on Thursday night's incident is revealing. The customary denial of involvement is followed by a claim that with opinion polls showing a growing lead over the JLP, "why would we want to engage in any form of political violence?"

One inference from that rhetorical question is that if there were no lead in the polls, political violence would be necessary, indeed imperative!Which brings us to the untenable role of the Political Ombudsman, Bishop Herro Blair, in these matters. Indeed, the goodly bishop has become the convenient reference point at the slightest inkling of verbal or other conflict between the contenders, as though he were a shepherd of sheep without the capacity for civilised discourse that citizens of a modern society should cultivate.

Bishop Blair has no other weapon than the force of moral suasion to maintain political peace. All the codes of political conduct are useless in facing the fact of gun violence on the hustings. Gunmen, allied or not to the parties, are criminals. They must be dealt with by the police.We say this aware of the reality facing law-enforcement officers that they may have to deal with the highest levels of the political administration, both current and potential. But regardless of how the political winds are blowing, the police must continue to distinguish between genuine political action and criminal acts which, by definition, is breaking the law.

Over time, some acts of citizen concern over facilities - such as the ubiquitous roadblock - have taken root. It is still illegal, challenging the police at times to distinguish between a democratic right of protest, and action that impinges negatively on the rights of others to free passage on public roadways.

There should be no such dilemma in investigating shooting at a loaded bus. That is criminality bordering on terrorism. The police must pursue the perpetrators relentlessly, even as the political leaders renew their declaration of peaceful conduct for the rest of the campaign. The leaders must exert leadership on the ground and discretion on the platform to prevent an escalation of tension in the campaign.

It might be useful for both leaders and their top lieutenants to meet privately to arrive at some understanding in order to distance themselves from criminal elements. The dreadful history of the campaign of the 1980s must not be repeated.