THE EDITOR, Sir:
WHY ARE we seeing these open calls of support for extra-judicial killings in Jamaica? One reason is that Jamaica has a history of slavery and colonialism in which the human rights of the majority of its citizens were not fully respected.
Even our Constitution makes the fundamental human rights of citizens conditional on the permission of the government. It is not surprising that many Jamaicans do not fully recognise the concept of universal human rights, including first and foremost the right to life.
Jamaica is struggling with a chronic problem of violent crime, and the police have been given a basket to carry water. They are starved of resources, given dilapidated police stations, inadequate transportation and training. The justice system is handicapped by overcrowded courts and prisons, and inadequate witness protection programmes. Some citizens are so desperate that they are willing to condone even the most extreme and illegal police actions under the excuse of crime-fighting.
There are several reasons however why we must never tolerate this. Extra-judicial killings by the police violate the right to life and the right to due process which all citizens of this country are supposed to enjoy, including persons suspected of or charged with crimes. But the gunmen kill without regard for the rights of their victims, we are told. Should our police therefore behave like gunmen?
Policemen acting outside of the law create disrespect for the law, and only contribute to an environment which breeds further crime and lawlessness. Deadly force should be used by police only as a last resort in response to imminent threat of death or serious injury, and only when all other measures have been exhausted, as required by international standards.
"But we are in a war against crime", we hear. But even in war there is no excuse for barbarism. We see, for example, commanders in the Balkan wars being prosecuted for crimes against humanity, rape, torture and extra-judicial killings committed against their peoples during wartime.
There is a right way and a wrong way to do things. Some people say that persons arrested on criminal charges are able to evade justice by intimidation of witnesses, escaping from custody or by exploiting other loopholes in the system. But surely the answer to this is to strengthen the justice system, not to cast it aside.
I am, etc.,
RICHARD LUMSDEN
5 1/2 Mona Road
Kingston 6
