Update from Jamaica

[malaise]

Kingston and parts of St Andrew are still under gunfire but the Security forces seem to have things under control.
Sadly dozens of people are dead - mostly men but a few women and the lunatics have killed children in St Catherine (in the Kingston Metro Area).
The 'operation' in Tivoli Gardens continues. The official death toll says 27 - some say 31 but the (hopefully soon to be ex)Prime Minister says the numbers will rise. Our medical friends have told us that at least 100 people were killed by the security forces yesterday. Many of the young men with weapons dropped them and surrendered and they were arrested and sent to jail.

The Red Cross, the Ombudsman and the Public Defender were given protected access to Tivoli Gardens today - thankfully they understand the Geneva Conventions.
The Police are still under attack - they attacked Harman Barracks (police) and Up-Park Camp (army) today and we're waiting to hear the number of persons killed or injured since there was a massive security response.

Gunmen are still roaming some areas in the city and making life hell for others, but those who had the idea of spreading trouble have seen what has happened in TG and are lying low.

All now we haven't heard if Dudus has been arrested but a few folks believe that the attack on the army headquarters was because they think he is being held there.

We went to the supermarket today and it was like the day before a Cat4 hurricane - unbelievably crowded. Thankfully we went before lunch because they were running out of bread. Even strangers were talking and everyone was more pleasant and chatty than usual (funny only crises lighten up these folks).


Very few offices opened today and most folks are at home on the phone non-stop.
We plan to go to work tomorrow - we'll see. This too will pass and hopefully we'll have elections and kick these incompetent bastards out of office.

add

[tekisui]

1. NPR was reporting the afternoon that Dudus may have escaped.

Thanks for the first hand account, malaise. It sure is a lot of trouble and death for one man.

[malaise]

8. If you're been following my threads on the

Government and the Manatt, Phelps and Phillips lobbying saga, you'll see that this is not really about one man unless that one man is the Prime Minister who was protecting his Don. The PM refused to respond to a question about Showers Posse, narco-state and Dudus in parliament a few hours ago, but he was clearly defensive. I'm betting the foreign press jump down his throat on that evasion.
This entire mess is his doing because all he had to do was follow the extradition process which has been used on numerous occasions. But no, he had to try and help his Don escape and it turns out that his own constituents are now dead and injured.

[tekisui]

15. That is helpful.

Thanks. I am going to look for your previous threads.

[malaise]

29. Read this too

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/jamaica-christopher-dudus-coke-escaped-security-forces-assault/story?id=10737428&page=1
<snip>
As official reports surface of accused drug lord Christopher Coke's escape from his barricaded Kingston, Jamaica neighborhood, where Jamaican authorities have been attempting to arrest him for extradition to the U.S., ABC News has learned that a U.S. government report refers to Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding as a "criminal affiliate" of Coke.

Six police were wounded in the incident on Sunday after police responded to a call for help from a female motorist, the Jamaican police force's Constabulary Communications Network said. It said the two police officers died after being taken to the University of the West Indies Hospital. Jamaica's prime minister vowed tough action against a frenzy of gang violence in Kingston, imposing a state of emergency to curb armed supporters of an alleged druglord sought by the United States.

Golding, who led resistance to Coke's extradition before public opinion forced him to reverse himself, is described in a document read to ABC News as a "known criminal affiliate" of Christopher "Dudus" Coke. According to official U.S. accounts , Golding's Jamaican Labour Party (JLP) was voted into power through "Coke's murderous and strong-arm tactics."
edit.

[Hannah Bell]

39. Phillips & Phelps? White? Black?

[malaise]

46. Manatt was a big deal in the Democratic Party

during the Clinton times. Why Golding would lie about that contract only he knows. The Jamaican Gleaner and AMlaw have some decent articles on the subject.

[Hannah Bell]

49. my misreading. i thought you were talking about jamaicans.

phelps & phillips are special names.

[Captain Hilts]

2. I lived in Moscow in 1993 and, at least, it was not my hometown I was seeing shot up.

I cannot imagine what it would be like to experience such chaos somewhere I truly cared for.

Thanks for this update.

[malaise]

11. 1979/80 was pretty bad

but I've never seen such attacks on the police and police stations - EVER!!

:fistbump:

[MiniMe]

3. Stay safe malaise

:hug:

[malaise]

Thanks

:hi:

[Warpy]

17. Jeez, yeah, keep your head down

If you've got a bathtub, that affords the best protection if gunfire gets to be a little too close for comfort.

Thanks for making me appreciate the relative boredom of drive bys a block away only a couple of times a year.

[malaise]

22. Seriously we heard a few gunshots on Sunday night

and last night but then we heard a helicopter followed by a truck load of police and soldiers and we haven't heard another sound. Guys in an area called Grants Pen (quite a few Peace Corps folks live there) were trying to block roads and the police were firing shots in the air until they had reinforcements.


By the way I was seriously amused when a large number of Peace Corp folks arrived last week.

[Solly Mack]

4. k/r

Thanks for the info!! Be well!!!!

[malaise]

27. Thanks

:fistbump:

[malaise]

79. A little bird told me that the lady in this photo

had a few things to say about the Dudus extradition during this meeting in January.
http://www.jis.gov.jm/officepm/html/20100117t170000-0500_22536_jis_us_secretary_of_state__hillary_clinton__stops_off_in_jamaica_for_talks_with_pm_golding_on_her_way_from_haiti.asp

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. As usual it takes a special person to join the Red Cross

American Red Cross Personnel would not, my opinion mostly from what I have been able to see, be able to operate in these conditions.

Keep safe, and thank a Red Cross worker for me...

I no longer believe in any deity, too just junk, but I will say a prayer for your safety, the return of peace and for those Red Cross workers.

[malaise]

13. hehehehhe

No bias here at all. It was local Red Cross and St John's Brigade folks were there as well. :evilgrin:

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Ah St John's brigade

my favorite was during disasters was making all involved play well with each other...

Good for them... stay safe friend.

[eleny]

6. Thanks much for your update, malaise

Been thinking about you today.

[malaise]

14. We're the lucky ones

in the scheme of things :hi:

[EFerrari]

7. Been looking for you all morning.

Thanks so much for the update. And be careful. :hug:

[malaise]

16. We had to get some money and some

food :hi:

[KingFlorez]

9. Been reading quite a bit about this

It was shameful that Bruce Golding was trying to help Coke, now look what's happening.

[malaise]

19. He is fugging history

I mean people who voted for this asshole are apologizing in public.

[dendrobium]

47. He gave the criminals one week

He made sure to give the criminals one week to stockpile and plan mayhem while the government twiddled their thumbs and sighed. Now we don't know when this will end. The chaos has spread to Spanish Town now.

[Mojeoux]

10. Bad Boy, Bad Boy, What'cha gonna do? What'ch gonna do when they come for you?

I think Dudas thought a lot about this song. Too bad he didn't figure a way to hide without people, even little kids getting killed.

That innocent people have died in this mess is horrible.

I lived Jamaica it can sometimes literally be Coke Dealers vs. Marijuana Dealers.

And mostly it's only Marijuana Dealers that care about the environment.

God Bless Jamaica!

[malaise]

23. He's a fucking coward

he exposed those people although they were stupid enough to stick around to defend him.

[Ikonoklast]

12. Keep your head down, malaise.

Hope this nasty business winds up soon.

[malaise]

24. Should settle down by weekend

although I don't see this winding down until they find Dudus.
The problem is that many people would prefer to see him dead - he has the goods on lots of people.

[joeybee12]

20. Stay safe!!! n/t

[malaise]

25. Thanks

:hi:

[KharmaTrain]

21. Glad You're Safe...

Thanks for the update "on the ground" and all you've been posting. May this crisis be resolved peacefully and soon.

:hug:

[malaise]

26. Any time

:hi:

[lame54]

28. Stay safe

[malaise]

30. Thanks

have you seen this bombshell?

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/jamaica-christopher-dudus-coke-escaped-security-forces-assault/story?id=10737428&page=1
<snip>
Golding, who led resistance to Coke's extradition before public opinion forced him to reverse himself, is described in a document read to ABC News as a "known criminal affiliate" of Christopher "Dudus" Coke. According to official U.S. accounts , Golding's Jamaican Labour Party (JLP) was voted into power through "Coke's murderous and strong-arm tactics."
-----------

[FLSurfer]

53. Noticed this in the article...

"By Monday night, Coke's gun-toting supporters had taken control of the Kingston Public Hospital, and the hospital's one surgeon has been treating at least 14 Coke loyalists."

Is that true?

Isn't Grants Pen quite a ways east of Kingston?
Did the violence spread out that direction, or was it an isolated event?
I worry about my friends in Bull Bay.

[malaise]

54. Gunmen have not taken over KPH

There are pockets of Dudus supporters in several constituencies.
There is a Grants Pen East of Kingston but the one I'm speaking about is North of Kingston between Barbican Road and Shortwood Road. You can find the area easily using Google Earth. If you use Google Earth and type in MegaMart (Waterloo Avenue), you have a very good idea of the distance - as GrantsPen is relatively close to Mega.

I have heard no reports of problems in Bull Bay and I just called a good friend from the area.

By the way there are more than a few errors in that article.

add

[FLSurfer]

64. Thanks Malaise

You are a wealth of information.
The ABC article seemed a bit sensational.
My friends hadn't heard of the KPH takeover and were suprised by the article.

Hopefully things will cool down after Dudus is arrested.

I'm heading down to see my friends in a few weeks.
I'll just trust the JTA to get me to Bull Bay and I'll likely not even go into Kingston.

[Uncle Joe]

31. Thanks for the updates, malaise.

Take care.:hug:

[malaise]

33. Thanks Uncle Joe

Where can I find that US Government report that ABC mentioned tonight. It's now being mentioned on CNN as well.

[Uncle Joe]

35. I'm not sure, but somebody here will have the answer.

Peace to you.

[malaise]

36. I just heard from a US lawyer on a radio program here

that DOJ indictments may be coming for the Prime Minister of Jamaica and two other Senior Ministers. I smelled serious shite re this matter from day one.

[Scurrilous]

32. Thanks for the update.

:thumbsup:

[malaise]

34. Cool

:hi:

[political_Dem]

37. Thanks for the update and for the video from your previous thread on Jamaica.

The "American Gangster" link that you gave was rather eye opening--when it came to the history of the Shower posse and its connections to America. The episode was rather shocking in its revelation of how deeply entrenched within the system the posses are in Jamaica--especially when politics, hunger and influence get into the way.

I also didn't realize that Bob Marley was trying to keep a neutral ground between the posses. It was rather unfortunate that his position not to support any one group was turned into political manipulation. He was almost killed for his fight to not be tied to one posse or form of politics. Even after that, the cancer took him. :(

I am especially worried about those who are caught in the crossfire. It is especially sad that they have endure the struggle of power between the posses even when it spills into the streets. :(

Again, I am very appreciative of your reports because it keeps all of us abreast of what is happening there.

I hope you and your loved ones continue to be safe in the midst of all this conflict.:hug:

[malaise]

40. Thanks

Lovely rain is falling - our drought is about to end. :hi:

[Lochloosa]

38. I was thinking of you today. Stay safe my friend.

[malaise]

41. Doing just that

chilling with rain in the background and a glass of wine close by - thanks. :D

[donco6]

42. How awful. Stay safe. n/t

[Liberal_in_LA]

43. Stay safe. Went to Jamaica a few years ago, but didn't get to visit Kingston

[malaise]

60. Kingston is real Jamaica

:hi:

[Liberal_in_LA]

65. I'm sure it is. Hope to go there one day. Only had time for trip to Dunns Falls area and Ocho Rios

[Poiuyt]

44. Stay safe Malaise!

Jamaica is too beautiful for all this!

[malaise]

48. That's the truth

:D

[Tsiyu]

45. K & R

S'good to keep seeing you posting

Men and people will fight ya down
(tell my why?)
when ya see Jah light

Let me tell you, if you're not wrong
(tell me why?)
ev'rything is alright

So we gonna walk, alright, through the roads of creation

We're the generation
(Tell me why?)
trod through great tribulation...

:kick:

[Dappleganger]

50. Hunker down, malaise!

We need you to stick around here a LONG, LONG time.

:hi: :hug:

[malaise]

55. Thanks

I'm going to work in a while.

[Patsy Stone]

51. I've been thinking about you.

Please, stay safe. :hug:

[malaise]

56. Thanks

:hi:

[Tsiyu]

52. Morning kick

Peace to Jamaica

:kick:

[malaise]

57. I doubt it since Dudus clearly escaped

and there will be no peace until his arrest.

We didn't hear a single gunshot from the Grants Pen area last night or early this morning. Police and soldiers set up an outpost and all bad men are lying very low. Arrests are over 300 in Kingston proper. I'll get reliable information when I reach my office.

[Tsiyu]

62. dayum

keep your head down, malaise

i'm sure most all of your area's people are just wanting this whole nightmare over

i hope for all of your sakes it does end soon, with no more bloodshed

keep posting cuz we worry about you

:D

[bdamomma]

58. stay safe and keep out of those areas having trouble.

stay uptown if you have to.

[malaise]

59. You're damn right

We're staying uptown for now. :fistbump:

sp.

[suffragette]

61. Stay safe, malaise

:hug:

[kestrel91316]

63. I was getting worried about you there. Stay safe.

[malaise]

71. Thanks

Reports say that there was no shooting in Tivoli since 6.00pm last night. Not sure who to believe since persons claiming to be in TIvoli have been calling radio stations saying otherwise.

More than 500 persons have been detained including several women and a juveniles.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Lawyers-concerned-about-juvenile-detainees
This report is about the 261 detained up to yesterday.

Dudus has not been arrested. He's a fucking coward to escape and leave his supporters fighting security forces on his behalf. Of course they are suicidal idiots.

[Blue_Tires]

66. ugh...i think this will get worse before it gets better

[GreenPartyVoter]

67. Killing kids too?! I am so sorry this is going on and I hope it ends soon, with

the best results possible.

Stay safe! :hug:

[malaise]

72. There will be serious repercussions re these deaths

particularly since Dudus has not been arrested.

[slackmaster]

68. Keep your head down!

:argh:

[Dank Nugs]

69. Attempting to regulate Cannabis, which can grow in just about any climate,

and as abundant as it is -- is akin to trying to regulate oxygen. Well, the air that everyone breathes. It's a mixture of gases. The point is that humanity has evolved over time to use Cannabis for a specific reason. There is a biological, not to mention evolutionary reason why we have cannobinoid receptors in our brain. But you know, in a materialistic society like ours, where are values are completely misplaced, it's not surprising to realize that money trumps everything.

You come into this world with nothing, you'll leave it with nothing. You see, a portion of mankind takes pride in their vices and pursue their purpose, while many more waver between doing what is right and complying with what is wrong.

[malaise]

73. This is about cocaine and guns

not ganja.

[Greyhound]

70. Another issue slipping under the radar while the gulf dies.

There is a global revolution going on, but we don't hear about it, nor are we interested.
:kick: & R

[malaise]

74. This one isn't going anywhere

If anything this will get worse.

[Greyhound]

75. Do you mean the revolt in Jamaica specifically? n/t

[malaise]

76. There is no revolt in Jamaica

What's going on in Jamaica is plain insurrection by Dudus' supporters who just happen to be the constituents of the country's Prime Minister or members of his party in other JLP constituencies. They put up barricades to prevent the police from serving a warrant on Dudus and climbed on top of buildings in the area with assault weapons to fire on the security forces.

When they ambushed and killed two cops, attacked four police stations and burned one to the ground, the government called a State of Emergency which meant in plain terms that the police could now respond with force to any attack on them and more importantly that soldiers were now authorized to shoot to kill, remove the barricades and facilitate the police serving the warrant.

Well clearly someone let Dudus escape and given his links to the government, many have their own view on that. In the mean time we know that over 100 people have been killed, hundreds are injured and 500 plus have been detained.

Why I say this won't end soon is because the Americans want Dudus and if they have already killed him (don't rule it out - his father was killed in prison awaiting extradition because he knew too much about big men) DOJ will go after three big men in the government.

Regardless, this government is history - they have no credibility here or abroad and they are beyond incompetent. Who makes a public announcement about a warrant and then attempts to execute it six days later while the Don's supporters are allowed to barricade an entire community and literally prepare for war.
Remember this was a routine extradition request and the PM decided to dance around it because this man is so closely linked to the party and his constituency.

[Greyhound]

77. Call it what you will, it is symptomatic of the rising unrest all over the world.

I have no position on the legitimacy of this insurrection, but was merely pointing out that this and Greece and Spain and Iceland and Iran and Thailand and...

are revolts against the de facto servitude that is forced onto the world.

[malaise]

78. That is simmering here

but this is not that. I agree that the anger towards the government by the entire population is the result of the convergence of a number of issues that have affect people's lives.

[Greyhound]

80. I see, thank you.

I'm not getting much information beyond the knock-offs from AP/Reuters here.

It's kind of like Venezuela, there's no neutral source so we all have to guess at the degree of slant.

ETA; Is the support for Dudu coming because of a perceived opposition to the government?

[Tsiyu]

81. Another kick before work

Heard 50+ dead now, Dudus maybe slipped out of the country, things still critical.

You okay, malaise?