Violence erupted overnight in certain sections of Jamaica’s capital for the second straight day as soldiers from the Jamaica Defense Force tried to restore some semblance of order in inner city communities in Kingston and St. Andrew. Residents of the Tivoli Gardens inner city community, loyal to Christopher “Dudus” Coke, wanted in the U.S. on drugs and weapons trafficking charges, put up barricades, opened gunfire on 2 police stations and burnt another to the ground.
Tensions have been building for a week, after Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced that an extraditions order for Coke to be returned to the U.S. would be signed. Golding and his JLP administration for months had stalled Coke’s extradition saying that illegal wire taps had been used to obtain evidence against Coke.
The Government declared and imposed a state of emergency on Sunday for one month, following unrest triggered when authorities attempted to arrest Coke.
In the disturbances four persons were killed, including two policeman.
Coke, 42, revered in Tivoli Gardens by supporters is seen as the “don” who keeps the peace in this garrison community, provides food for residents, as well as, school books and fees for school children.
Golding, the political representative for Tivoli Gardens, along with the Jamaican government had run afoul of the Obama administration because of its initial refusal for several months to extradite Coke to the U.S. There were charges that the government was not serious about addressing its drug and crime problem, leading to increased pressure and ultimately Golding’s reversal.
The government has called on Coke to surrender and has said that violence and mayhem will not be tolerated by criminals.
Listed among the “world’s most dangerous narcotics kingpins” by the U.S. Department of Justice, if convicted Coke would likely face several mandatory life terms and millions of dollars in penalties. Since the early 1990s Coke has been accused of leading an international gang known as the “Shower Posse.”
