Bloodshed in Jamaica

Wednesday 02 June 10

By José Alvarez Gómez

Last Monday, the Jamaican security forces stormed Tivoli gardens, Cristopher Coke’s stronghold in Kingston – the capital of Jamaica. U.S justice asked Jamaican government to get his extradition as they accuse him of drug dealing in New York and other cities in the U.S.A. and of several murders related to drugs traffic in the eighties.

Gunmen fighting for Coke’s clan, who is also known as Dudus, started to shoot in order to repel police’s search door by door of their leader. They vanished down side streets barricaded with barbed wire and dumped cars. Shootings left at least 31 dead victims, most of them civilians and three polices. Other media sources rise up to 60 deaths based on hospital information.

Disturbances started last Friday when the Jamaican Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, gave up to international pressure and accepted Dudus’ extradition, just as Washington asked for. Their followers assaulted several police stations, set up barricades and looted shops. Government declared the state of emergency in several quarters of the city. Access to Kingston airport was closed due to shooting among security forces and gunmen.

Wide sectors of the population living in his control zone consider Dudus as a benefactor – he has even been called “the Jamaican Robin Hood”. He offers help to poor people in terms of food and money to get access to health and education services.

The decision to execute Dudus’ extradition means a turning point in Jamaican inertia of engagement among politicians and controversial leaders of dark organizations. Dudus and different clans are supposed to have relationship with both main political parties, the Labour Party and the People’s National Party.

More information in BBC and Belfast Telegraph