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BARBARA GLOUDON
Friday, July 23, 2010
TODAY'S QUESTION: Shut down or maintain the State of Emergency? Some persons would like to see it continue forever, convinced that this is the only way to keep the wicked away from our doors. Opponents of the idea see danger in the suspension of certain civil rights while the emergency is in place. Not too many "average folk" seem concerned, however, about the possibility of abuse of state power. This is particularly interesting considering that up until now, there have been deep reservations about the way the security forces do business.
Determined public relations can change most things. Notice the about-face towards security between the start of the Tivoli operations and now. The campaign to win hearts and minds has been paying dividends. It must have annoyed the government to hear the human rights brigade going on and on about abuse of power and all that stuff.
Army personnel and residents of Tivoli in June. (Photo: Marlon Reid)
Army personnel and residents of Tivoli in June. (Photo: Marlon Reid) 
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But here is another take... Who could imagine a day when you'd hear a JLP administration vigorous in defence of a State of Emergency while the PNP, long held as the villain for using that highly unpopular route in the past to deal with issues of national safety, is now the one calling for shutdown?
The Twitter generation may not know that the "mother of all States of Emergency" was introduced by the PNP under Michael Manley in 1976. It remains one of the most controversial issues in Jamaica's political history. Some pundits still debate it as if it took place last night. It has been hashed and re-hashed for near 25 years. The old-time talk-show callers can still manage to wring something out of it.
The very words "State of Emergency", have become synonymous with government tyranny and oppression. In the present scenario, the JLP administration sees their State of Emergency as a more benign mechanism, a balm to the people in a time of need. Since it has been limited to specific areas, with minimal dislocation for the wider community, adverse reaction was not anticipated. While in the view of many the measure is welcome, some persons still have their own difficulties with it. You can't please everybody.
REWIND to August '07 when, with Hurricane Dean making landfall, the PNP administration thought a State of Emergency would be necessary to deal with the challenge. We were in the height of general election campaigning and the JLP, no doubt recalling 1976, stormed harder than the winds, in protest against any such thing. The media took up the cudgels, declaring that the storm posed no threat to public safety and questioned the government's motives. A State of Emergency was not necessary, it was argued. The government eventually succumbed to the criticism.
Almost three years later, the tables are reversed. Now it is the JLP which called a State of Emergency. The PNP, pliant at first, gave assent. However, with the request for a 30-day extension, the party declared, enough is enough, claiming that the security forces must get back to basics.
THE FURIES have been unleashed. Both sides have taken to the public relations trail to win hearts and minds. The JLP is appealing to the public to keep in mind the onslaught criminals have unleashed on the community. The downtrend in murder statistics since the security forces extended the Tivoli Gardens "swoop-down" into the wider community is regarded as proof positive of what the new measures have achieved.
From the public, though, we hear allegations that the security forces only target certain neighbourhoods, where it is the poor and the vulnerable who are usually pulled into the dragnet. Human rights groups have been resolute in their views too. They point to abuses like the conditions in which detainees are held, but it is well-known that the public is not concerned about human rights when it comes to locking up suspected criminals.
People want an end to the criminal outrages which have been committed against them. Even "good people" respond with vehemence. The cries go up... "Stomp on them! Show no mercy! They don't show any mercy to us! Lock them up and throw away the key!" The JLP's trump card is that it can now promote itself as tough, non-negotiable when it comes to crime. What card does the PNP hold? Human rights? Principle? Stand by for the stone-throwing.
The human rights advocates have not been reticent about stating, in no uncertain manner, why they feel that there is danger in a continued State of Emergency. The street belief has been that Jamaicans for Justice and others of like mind have been avid supporters of the JLP but they have now turned against them and "defected" to the PNP. The JFJ and others are not taking it on.
There are many questions to stoke the fire of different views on this State of Emergency business. For instance: (1) How long is long enough for the security forces to rely on special powers to take back the streets from the criminals? (2) How much will the society gain or lose through the suspension of civil rights? (3) Should the security forces search Uptown as thoroughly as Downtown, taking in youths Up There, considering that sinners live alongside saints? Questions abound. Answers are fewer.
JOKE DONE: How unprintable were the thoughts of Elephant Man as he watched his fire-engine red convertible Bimmer take a ride on the tow truck, courtesy of the Taxman? Solution: Customise multi-million vehicles to look like old taxis. Keep the Italian leather seats and the Formula One engines. When the Taxman calls, plead "Pop-dung".
SAD STORY: Last Saturday night in Port of Spain, the Mighty Sparrow looked anything but mighty as he gave a concert performance from a wheelchair onstage, inhibited by diabetes. My source says fans were most depressed. Some left early. Reports are Sparrow is determined to continue doing shows, wheelchair and all. Why not leave while you're ahead? This is the fan's message to their icon.
CONCERN: How long will Buju languish in a Florida jail without the case against him going to trial, much less granting of bail? Have you checked on some of the new "long-wait" for bail measures we are passing into law here?
gloudonb@yahoo.com
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/colum...e-war-_7820958
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