October 7, 2000
JAMAICANS UNITED AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY Press Release by Caribbean Justice PRIVY COUNCIL RULING BEING USED TO ERODE DEATH ROW PRISONERS' RIGHTS Caribbean Justice believes the recent Privy Council judgment in the case of 6 Jamaicans is being used as an excuse to erode the rights of Death Row prisoners still further. It is shocking that regional governments want to ignore their highest court, and should contemplate changing the law, just because they dislike its rulings. It is a matter which goes well beyond the death penalty because if they can do it on this issue, they can do it on any other issue they choose. That has serious implications for every citizen in the region and does not bode well for a Caribbean Court of Justice. The judgment does not represent the end of the death penalty in the Caribbean, as reportedly claimed by Trinidad and Tobago's Attorney General, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, at the conclusion of last week's meeting of regional Attorneys-General. As an organisation that campaigns against judicial killing, we only wish it did. Those subscribing to Mr Maharaj's view have, for their own reasons, over-stated the case. What the judgment does do, however, is try and ensure that minimum standards of justice are observed. It is of great concern that regional governments should deliberately seek to avoid such standards in cases where people are facing the ultimate, irreversible punishment of death. The Attorneys-General propose to remove the right to petition the Privy Council on a number of issues - inhumane prison conditions; the way cases are dealt with by "Mercy Committees"; appeals pending before international human rights bodies and delay in carrying out death sentences. The result of these draconian measures would be that prisoners could be held and treated in any way the authorities saw fit, beyond the reach of the law and without any form of redress whatsoever. In plain terms, it would effectively sanction torture. Given the appalling conditions on Caribbean Death Rows, which already fall well below United Nations Minimum Standards for the Treatment of Prisoners, it would remove any incentive to make improvements and would adversely affect not only Death Row, but the whole prison population. That is of particular concern in Jamaica, where there are frequent reports of violence by warders who clearly believe they can brutalise inmates with impunity. Indeed, just a few months ago at least 300 prisoners were severely beaten by prison staff in an outbreak of violence which lasted several days. In addition there would be no requirement for the Mercy Committee to act fairly and openly, as natural justice demands, because its actions would not be open to challenge. With regard to international human rights bodies, the proposals are unnecessary because the Privy Council has made provision within the stipulated time limits to allow for delays that might occur. And since there is already a well-established regional human rights system within the Organisation of American States - namely, the Inter-American Commissioon and Inter-American Court - there is clearly no need for a separate Caribbean Commission on Human Rights which we fear will simply be another way to avoid international standards and scrutiny. SHELAGH SIMMONS CO-ORDINATOR Working For The Abolition Of The Death Penalty Patrons: Tony Benn MP Sir Ludovic Kennedy Benjamin Zephaniah PO BOX 216 SOUTHSEA HAMPSHIRE PO4 9YW ENGLAND Tel/Fax: +44 (0)23 9275 6730 e-mail: [email protected] RESIDENTS PROTEST MAN's ARREST
FIGHTING "CRIME" THE OLD WAY The following report from Jamaica's daily newspaper, The Gleaner, shows that despite a public relations campaign by Senior Superintendent Reneto Adams, the newly appointed head of the prime minister's Crime Management Unit, the same old abusive police practices are still continuing. The practice is to simply swoop down on inner-city communities and detain as many men as can be found. These men are carted off to police lockups where they are sometimes held for months without ever being charged. This recent action by the Reneto Adams-led team in Montego Bay (Adams is based a hundred miles away in Kingston) is clearly sanctioned by the prime minister's new directive to the police. As for Adams, there is a cloud of suspicion hanging over his head for the murder of man known as Punkie in Mountain View Avenue (Kingston) a few months ago. As an example of the impunity attached to police killings Adams was promoted instead of being swiftly brought before a court to explain his actions in the killing of Punkie. Jamaicans United Against Police Brutality will on Saturday October 14 hold a Rally at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn New York to protest such police practices. At this rally a petition to the prime minister will be circulated for signatures. This petition calls for reforms which we believe will help to hold the police accountable for their actions. The petition also informs the prime minister that if within a reasonable period of time there is no indication that these reforms will be entertained we reserve the right to call for a boycott of Jamaica's tourist industry. Too many lives innocent lives have been stolen by the Jamaican police. Enough is enough! Lloyd D'Aguilar
Residents of Flankers in Montego Bay yesterday converged on the Barnett Street Police Station, calling for the release of Anthony Dawkins, who has been detained by police since last Friday. Dawkins, also known as Chucky, was taken into custody during a raid in Flankers by a joint police and military team led by Acting Senior Supt. of Police Reneto Adams. The team detained just under 100 people between Thursday and Friday and confiscated an illegal firearm and nine rounds of ammunition. They targeted Glendevon, Bottom Pen, Sunvalley Road, Canterbury, North Gully, Kings Street, Long Acre, Barracks Road, Hart Street, Creek Street and Flankers. Relatives and friends of Dawkins demanded his release, claiming that he was innocent and was being jailed for the first time in his life. The Barnett Street police said Dawkins was detained in connection with unlawful possession and robbery with aggravation. Formal charges have not been brought against him. Click here to return to Jamaicans United Against Police Brutality homepage. |