LETTER OF THE DAY - Kill and ask questions after?
Published:Wednesday | September 22, 2010 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, SIR:
IT IS with a sense of shock and outrage that I feel duty bound to share a recent experience, with the hope that there will be a change before more innocent lives are lost.
Recently, I was in the company of an attorney-at-law and a member of the Jamaica Defence Force. A conversation started about the crime monster that is affecting Jamaica and what can be done to control it. The soldier said, quite defiantly, that the prime minister (PM) commanded them during the recent Tivoli uprising, to kill and ask questions after, and when he was posted in Tivoli he followed the instructions. Therefore, his solution was to kill all those who he thought were criminals. The attorney told him with disgust, "no, the PM did not mean that you should wantonly kill people. What he meant was that you should be vigilant. There is a rule of law and procedure and it must be followed." To my surprise, the soldier confidently retorted, "so what vigilant mean? It nuh mean seh yuh mus kill and ask questions later?"
The attorney, in downright disgust, told the soldier, "that is the reason you will get in trouble for killing innocent people." He asked the attorney if he did not know that soldiers do not give identification and that only police officers are called upon to give identification when they kill someone. The attorney, who was as shocked as I was, could only say, "that is what happens when you put ignorant people in uniform!"
The soldier's response gave me, as a proud Jamaican, an uncomfortable feeling. It seems as if there is a sense of impunity here. This soldier felt at liberty to wantonly kill people under the guise that he is following the instructions of the 'Chief' and he will not have to account for the lost lives. It is really sad to know that an officer, trained to protect the citizens of Jamaica, does not understand or have any regard for human life and the rule of law.
Fundamental rights
The right to life is one of the fundamental rights that are guaranteed to every Jamaican under our Constitution. No one has the right to wantonly kill other human beings. The situation is even more frightening when I recall the recent pronouncement of former Superintendent of Police Reneto Adams, that the criminals should be shot and killed, and that is their day in Court!
In order to correct this huge misunderstanding, I ask the prime minister to clarify for the members of the military what is meant by being vigilant. In addition, there must be a change in the recruitment and training procedures, to ensure that all the soldiers understand their duties and obligations. It cannot be business as usual when innocent persons are killed with impunity. Justice demands that there must be a change.
I am, etc.,
Claudine Blake
Mandeville