THE EDITOR, Sir:I AM in total disagreement with the action of community members to engage in peace treaties with warring factions in some of our communities. Radio Jamaica in its 5:00 p.m. newscast of June 8, announced the shooting incident of warring factions in the Prime Minister's constituency who were trying to make peace.
There have been numerous peace treaties between factions in East Kingston, between factions in August Town, Burgher Gully, McGregor Gully and many other areas of the country. However, when the peace is broken, then the "machine rise" and more persons are murdered.
PEACE TREATIES
How can you have a peace treaty with murderers? How can you have peace treaties and the guns are still in the hands of the criminals? Do peace treaties absolve the murderers of their crimes? What is the message that we are sending to the criminals - kill and then call for a treaty and it is all well and dandy? Who are the persons taking part in these peace treaties? Is it the killers or their representatives? And how can there be a peace treaty if the persons involved in the war are not involved? So if the shottas are taking part in the treaty, then how comes the people say that they don't know the shottas?
The most baffling thing about the peace treaties is the active participation of the peace management initiative and the police.
In my estimation, peace treaties are akin to giving 'immunity' to the criminals. How many guns are handed over to the PMI when there is a peace treaty between factions on Mountain View Avenue or Burgher Gully? How many persons are arrested and prosecuted when the treaty is signed? I think this peace treaty thing is absolute rubbish, and if persons have information on criminals, then it is their duty to pass this information to the relevant authorities for the murderers to be prosecuted.
I am, etc.,
CARVEL WILLIAMSON
cheetah75a@yahoo.com
May Pen,
Clarendon
