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#Tivolimassacre I am marking this awful bit of our history today that took place 10 years ago tomorrow. Here are my opinions on this military led poorly planned and disastrously executed operation:
a. There was more force than was reasonably necessary employed during this mil op
a. There was more force than was reasonably necessary employed during this mil op
b. The employment of mortar/s in support of this operation was reckless & irresponsible, if not downright criminal. In addition, the mortar crews were not current/qualified. The damage to the Coronation Market (inspected by me) was caused by mortar bombs that missed their target
c. The operation was poorly planned (apparently based on faulty or incomplete intelligence) and equally poorly executed with a breakdown in ground command and control. The liaison between supporting elements was unprofessional & disastrous
d. JCF, who initially appeared to enter
d. JCF, who initially appeared to enter
initially to do house clearing, ran amok and went on a killing spree.
e. Intelligence provided was created/put together based on speculation and guesswork.
f. On initial entry into Tivoli the security forces did experience some gunfire from gunmen but not to the extent and
e. Intelligence provided was created/put together based on speculation and guesswork.
f. On initial entry into Tivoli the security forces did experience some gunfire from gunmen but not to the extent and
degree as the evidence would have us believe, and certainly not after the first day of the operation.
g. There was confusion among the JCF/JDF personnel on the ground, with many of the so-called exchanges of gunfire between themselves.
h. Several of d injuries soldiers sustained
g. There was confusion among the JCF/JDF personnel on the ground, with many of the so-called exchanges of gunfire between themselves.
h. Several of d injuries soldiers sustained
were the result of an attempted detonation of a barricade that went wrong.
j. No plane landed at Vernamfield to offload weapons to support Tivoli gunmen.
k. The majority of the 69-plus civilians who died were killed in cold blood by members of d security forces. There was abuse
j. No plane landed at Vernamfield to offload weapons to support Tivoli gunmen.
k. The majority of the 69-plus civilians who died were killed in cold blood by members of d security forces. There was abuse
beating, and ill treatment of civilians and destruction of their property
l. There was no escape through tunnels of approximately 300 gunmen. The claim of 300 gunmen from all parts of the island converging on Tivoli to defend it to the last man is exaggerated.
l. There was no escape through tunnels of approximately 300 gunmen. The claim of 300 gunmen from all parts of the island converging on Tivoli to defend it to the last man is exaggerated.
m. Military concealed the facts and or attempted a cover-up.
n.The military has many layers to an operation of this nature. Of the six or seven layers, only 3 have been probed to ferret out the facts.
o. The killing of Keith Clarke at his home at Kirkland Heights by members
n.The military has many layers to an operation of this nature. Of the six or seven layers, only 3 have been probed to ferret out the facts.
o. The killing of Keith Clarke at his home at Kirkland Heights by members
of the JDF was relevant to the probe, and evidence should have been included in the same manner that evidence was included in respect of SF coming under gunfire in the Mountain View area.
p. Ja was not "saved" by the security forces as a result of yhis op as the state
p. Ja was not "saved" by the security forces as a result of yhis op as the state
was not under attack or in any danger of falling into the hands of criminals. The scenario of Jamaica being under siege and gunmen occupying Jamaica House is a gross exaggeration.
