Unrest grows in Jamaica after several days of Violence

[Shortline Bus]

Unrest Grows in Jamaica in 3rd Day of Standoff

 

 

By MARC LACEY, NY Times

May 25, 2010

 

 

 

MEXICO CITY — "Fierce fighting between Jamaican security forces and gunmen trying to protect a powerful gang leader extended into a third day on Tuesday in Kingston, the Jamaican capital, highlighting a convoluted political system in which Jamaican politicians and crime bosses have long teamed up to share power.

 

Soldiers battled groups opposed to the extradition of the crime boss Christopher Coke to the United States.

 

The police on Tuesday provided their first account of the toll of the fighting in the capital: 26 gang members and other civilians have been killed and 25 wounded. The government said three police officers and soldiers had also been killed. Two more people were killed Monday night in Spanish Town, outside Kingston, the authorities said.

 

The conflict, which prompted the government to declare a state of emergency over the weekend, pits supporters of Christopher Coke, wanted in the United States on gun and drug charges, against the government of Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who has relied on Mr. Coke’s influence to win votes in the west Kingston neighborhood that both men share.

 

Mr. Golding had initially fought an effort by the United States to extradite Mr. Coke. But when criticism grew both at home and abroad and his government hung in the balance, Mr. Golding backed down and agreed to send Mr. Coke, one of the island’s most notorious crime bosses, to face the charges against him in New York.

 

That is when Mr. Coke’s backers began barricading streets and wielding weapons in his Tivoli Gardens stronghold in west Kingston to keep the police and soldiers at bay.

 

The police reported Tuesday that a total of 211 people had been detained, and that guns, ammunition and bulletproof vests had been recovered. Local television images showed people scattering in all directions, with some breaking into boarded-up businesses.

 

The fighting at times blocked access to Kingston’s airport and prompted the State Department to urge American citizens not to travel to Kingston, a city that even in the best of times has dangerous pockets."

 

 

For More please read this link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/26/world/americas/26jamaica.html?sq=jamaica&st=cse&adxnnl=1&scp=2&adxnnlx=1274875655-zUWSHxD3nuXOgEPSV8FCDw

[St Louis Car 09]

Well so much for tourism.He maybe a criminal,but he looked ater his fellow countrymen.But a criminal is a criminal.

[Shortline Bus]

Well so much for tourism.He maybe a criminal,but he looked ater his fellow countrymen.But a criminal is a criminal.

 

Looks like Mr. Cooke is the new Pablo Escobar of this era, now one of the world' most infamous drug kingpen's.

 

Escobar donated millions to 'charity' and local churches in his native Columbia. However he was also arguably one of the most ruthless drug lord/gangstas of the last 40 years on the planet as well.

 

And IMO, that Jamaican PM should not only be impeached he should be in jail as well for protecting Cooke.

[theaveragejoe]

Here in Toronto about a few weeks back we had a police crack down with know street gangs that have ties to the Shower Posse for drugs and guns. Also these gangs have been know for unsolved murders in the city.

 

 

 

I think the US, UK and Canada should be sending down resources to help Jamaica since after all most of those drugs end up here and being our problem in the end

[St Louis Car 09]

Call Of Duty dont have anything on this in Jamaica.

 

[Shortline Bus]

Here in Toronto about a few weeks back we had a police crack down with know street gangs that have ties to the Shower Posse for drugs and guns. Also these gangs have been know for unsolved murders in the city.

 

 

 

I think the US, UK and Canada should be sending down resources to help Jamaica since after all most of those drugs end up here and being our problem in the end

 

Joe does not Toronto have one of the world largest Jamaican communities living outside of Jamaica? In US, NYC, Boston, Tampa, Fla. and Miami have huge Jamaican neighborhoods.

 

Again the illegal drug trade is no longer just Columbia and Latin America controlling most of it, it's now a worldwide biz that goes from the Carribean to the Middle East, Asia and even places like Pataskin as well.:eek:

[theaveragejoe]

Joe does not Toronto have one of the world largest Jamaican communities living outside of Jamaica? In US, NYC, Boston, Tampa, Fla. and Miami have huge Jamaican neighborhoods.

 

Again the illegal drug trade is no longer just Columbia and Latin America controlling most of it, it's now a worldwide biz that goes from the Carribean to the Middle East, Asia and even places like Pataskin as well.:eek:

 

We do have a large Jamaican community in the Greater Toronto Area. Im not sure of the numbers though. Also the Carribean is just a traffic point for the drug trade but the UK, USA and Canada should be helping these countries as its the people in our countries that use the drugs

[Shortline Bus]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/06/24/2010-06-24_alleged_jamaican_drug_kingpin_christohper_dudus_coke_on_way_to_new_york_city_for.html

[GojiMet86]

Unrest Grows in Jamaica in 3rd Day of Standoff

 

 

By MARC LACEY, NY Times

May 25, 2010

 

 

 

MEXICO CITY — "Fierce fighting between Jamaican security forces and gunmen trying to protect a powerful gang leader extended into a third day on Tuesday in Kingston, the Jamaican capital, highlighting a convoluted political system in which Jamaican politicians and crime bosses have long teamed up to share power.

 

Wasn't he captured like yesterday or something?

BTW, why does it say Mexico City?

[Shortline Bus]

Wasn't he captured like yesterday or something?

BTW, why does it say Mexico City?

 

 

Goji I could be wrong but this is my guess. It was dateline/written in Mexico City probably because there was martial law in the Captial City Kingston at that time when story. Thus that NY Times reporter went to Mexico City for their safety. That is very common in parts of the world in which that is war zones or their safety is at risk such for instance as the start of the Iraq War in 2003 and most US reporters and media had to report from nearby Cario, Egypt.:eek::confused: