Tivoli assault Security forces come under heavy fire

Vaz, Nelson say Dudus not captured

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS & COREY ROBINSON Observer staff reporters editorial@jamaicaobserver.com

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

GOVERNMENT spokesmen last night insisted that Christopher 'Dudus' Coke was not caught in yesterday's police/military operation in Tivoli Gardens in which a soldier was shot dead and six members of the security forces were injured.

National Security Minister Dwight Nelson and Information Minister Daryl Vaz both denied widespread reports that Coke, who is wanted by US authorities, was captured by the security forces who fought pitch battles with gunmen in Tivoli for most of yesterday.

At nightfall, the police reported that the operation -- launched to execute an arrest warrant on Coke and restore stability to the West Kingston community which was barricaded by residents intent on preventing Coke's arrest -- was still ongoing.

"The security forces are resolute in bringing the area to stability so that law-abiding citizens of Western Kingston and its environs can get on with their lives in peace," the police said in a news release.

The security forces entered the community after gunmen ignored their appeals to remove the barricades and launched co-ordinated attacks on police patrols and on police stations on Sunday. During those attacks, the Hannah Town Police Station was torched by gunmen.

Later Sunday night, two policemen were shot dead on Mountain View Avenue as heavily armed gunmen continued their rein of terror in sections of the Corporate Area, forcing the Government to declare a limited State of Public Emergency in Kingston and St Andrew.

But even that measure did not stop gunmen yesterday from engaging police and soldiers on Red Hills Road, Mountain View Avenue, Arnett Gardens, Allman Town, Maxfield Avenue, Jones Town, Whitfield Town, Molynes Road, and in sections of Spanish Town, St Catherine.

Gunmen also reportedly opened fire on police in the vicinity of the Kingston Central Police Station on East Queen Street, and attacked the Rockfort Police Station on Windward Road.

At press time, the number of civilian casualties was unclear. However, one woman was shot in the abdomen at the intersection of Maxfield Avenue and Spanish Town Road when soldiers and gunmen exchanged fire.

She was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where her condition was listed as stable.

Throughout yesterday, loud explosions echoed across the Corporate Area as soldiers carried out co-ordinated attacks on Tivoli -- Coke's power base -- from a temporary military post set up in a section of downtown Kingston.

A military aircraft circled the city and JDF helicopters provided air support.

During the operation, persons who said they were living in Tivoli complained to Observer reporters about the heavy firing in the community.

The soldier who was killed was among four members of the JDF who were rushed to hospital after they were shot by gunmen in Tivoli.

One of the injured soldiers -- who was hit in his right arm and leg -- told the Observer that one of his colleagues was battling for life, while the other was in stable condition.

"I guess I am the luckiest of all of them," the soldier said as he watched a television newscast inside the hospital's waiting room.

"It is just a pity the media can't venture into the area so you can see what is going on; pure gunshots firing everywhere," he said.