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JFJ accuses police of human rights abuses in St. Catherine
Human Rights group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), is concerned about possible abuses by the security forces in St. Catherine since the State of Emergency was extended to the parish.
The police have made scores of arrests in the parish since last week when the Government imposed a State of Emergency for 30 days.
Spokesperson for JFJ, Susan Goffe, says human rights are abused when persons are randomly arrested, fingerprinted and records kept even after they are released.
Mrs. Goffe says this is unconstitutional.
“It certainly cannot be the message that is being sent in these communities. You can have young men who have never run afoul of the law, who are attending school and there is no information to indicate that they are involved in anything but they are also being taken up in this wide scoop up,” Mrs. Goffe said.
Mrs. Goffe said a possible solution to this problem is for greater vigilance from the media and the wider society.
And Mrs. Goffe has pointed to the possibility of a legal challenge to the constitutionality of the State of Emergency.
She noted that this was one of the options being considered by JFJ to deal with alleged human rights abuse by the security forces.
She did not directly confirm whether the group will be initiating legal proceedings on any one's behalf, but did not throw out the possibility.
“No I wouldn't want to say anything further about that at this point in time. it is being considered, yes,” she said.
Human Rights group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), is concerned about possible abuses by the security forces in St. Catherine since the State of Emergency was extended to the parish.
The police have made scores of arrests in the parish since last week when the Government imposed a State of Emergency for 30 days.
Spokesperson for JFJ, Susan Goffe, says human rights are abused when persons are randomly arrested, fingerprinted and records kept even after they are released.
Mrs. Goffe says this is unconstitutional.
“It certainly cannot be the message that is being sent in these communities. You can have young men who have never run afoul of the law, who are attending school and there is no information to indicate that they are involved in anything but they are also being taken up in this wide scoop up,” Mrs. Goffe said.
Mrs. Goffe said a possible solution to this problem is for greater vigilance from the media and the wider society.
And Mrs. Goffe has pointed to the possibility of a legal challenge to the constitutionality of the State of Emergency.
She noted that this was one of the options being considered by JFJ to deal with alleged human rights abuse by the security forces.
She did not directly confirm whether the group will be initiating legal proceedings on any one's behalf, but did not throw out the possibility.
“No I wouldn't want to say anything further about that at this point in time. it is being considered, yes,” she said.
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