Slum standoff in Jamaica over drug lord's extradition to US

[FarCenter]

4:00 AM Monday May 24, 2010

KINGSTON - Jamaicans in a gritty slum say they are preparing for war as they wait for police to come for Christopher "Dudus" Coke, a 1.63m neighbourhood boss that the United States Justice Department calls one of the world's most dangerous drug lords.

His supporters are building barricades of junked cars and sandbags, making Molotov cocktails and pitching barbed wire over powerlines.

Kingston has been jittery since Prime Minister Bruce Golding last week reversed his long-standing refusal to extradite Coke to the US on drugs and arms-trafficking charges.

The US, Canada and Britain have issued travel alerts, warning of possible violence and unrest, and most Jamaicans are steering clear of downtown Kingston entirely.

<SNIP>

Coke allegedly leads one of Jamaica's gangs, which control politicised slums known as "garrisons". Political parties created the gangs in the 1970s to mobilise votes. Coke's gang is tied to Labour.

Coke was born into Jamaica's gangland. His father was the leader of the notorious Shower Posse gang, a cocaine-trafficking band with agents in Jamaica and the US that began operating in the 1980s and was named for its members' tendency to spray victims with bullets.

The son took over from the father, and expanded the gang into selling marijuana and crack cocaine in the New York area and elsewhere, US authorities allege.

[malaise]

1. They have just declared a limited State of Emergency

waiting for details.
Three police stations have been attacked and one is on fire - all in the city.
Two cops and a civilian have been shot and injured - not life threatening.

This government is history. The police have begged for state protection since lunchtime and they wait it out.

Never in my life have I seen anything like this.

[malaise]

2. Limited State of Emergency

around the city from 6.00pm. There will be lots bloodshed before this is over.

[virgogal]

5. I wish you well.

[malaise]

6. They're discussing this on BBC now

Nick Davis is chatting crap. He's not talking about the cocaine or the guns that were brought here in the 80s.

The State of Emergency is for Kingston and St Andrew which means we're all on lock-down from 6.00pm. WTF!!!!!!

[virgogal]

7. Stay safe,malaise,stay safe. Scary stuff !

[rocktivity]

3. I thought about you when I read about this yesterday

Sounds like John Gotti and Al Capone all over again--the locals tolerated him because they provided what the government woudln't.

Stay safe, and report here when you can. We need your unbiased "media coverage"!

:headbang:
rocktivity

[malaise]

4. We had a thread here yesterday.

By the way Tivoli is no slum although there are several slums close by.

We are reaping what was sowed here in the 1980s...our own Iran-Contra madness.
Thanks Reagan, Bush and Seaga. The chickens have come home to roost.

Read today's Gleaner and Observer - some good background info.
The irony of this mess is that Dudus lives in the Prime Minister's constituency and the PM is also the Minister of Defence.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100523/news/news1.html

http://www.caribbeannews.com/

[flamingdem]

8. Is "Coke" really his last name?? !! nt