JAMAICA: MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES RETRACTION,

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000439 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT PASS EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE FOR INFO STATE FOR WHA/CAR (ACADIEUX) (VDEPIRRO) (WSMITH) WHA/EPSC (MROONEY) (FCORNEILLE) EEB/ESC/IEC/EPC (MCMANUS) SANTO DOMINGO FOR FCS AND FAS TREASURY FOR ERIN NEPHEW INR/RES (RWARNER) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM ECON EFIN EAID SNAR ASEC SOCI ELAB PGOV JM XL SUBJECT: JAMAICA: MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES RETRACTION, APOLOGIZES FOR REMARKS SUGGESTING TOLERANCE FOR POLICE MISCONDUCT REF: A. KINGSTON 437 Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) National Security Minister Dwight Nelson has withdrawn his May 27 statement before the annual conference of the Jamaican Police Federation (JPF) that seemed to reflect government tolerance of police misconduct. The retraction followed two days of criticism from human rights groups, the opposition People's National Party, and the diplomatic community. "I unreservedly apologise..." -------------- ¶2. (U) In his address to the convention, Nelson had referred to police shootings as "collateral damage," expressed sympathy for police facing legal action for official misconduct, and promised that the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) would provide legal assistance to officers in such instances. (Reftel A) ¶3. (U) In his May 30 retraction, however, Nelson was contrite, noting that his remarks had "...understandably resulted in general public rebuke. On reflection, my use of the term collateral damage (sic) was unfortunate and I unreservedly apologise to the Jamaican people." The minister reaffirmed the GOJ's support for "...the police in the lawful execution of their duty" and recognized that those duties placed officers "...at great risk when they are confronted by vicious criminals and are the target of deadly fire." However, Nelson reiterated that police officers are trained in and expected to follow "...clearly established rules governing the use of force" and that "[b]reaches of those rules are subject to investigation and the judicial process, including criminal proceedings." Comment -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Nelson, a former trade unionist with no law enforcement experience, acquired his position in a Cabinet reshuffle just over a month ago. Post believes that his statements reflected his desire to ingratiate himself before a hostile audience unhappy with GOJ backtracking on a promised wage increase. Nelson had likely found that such populist rhetoric had served him well in the past when speaking to labor groups, but was unprepared for the public reaction such comments would make in this venue. His public apology likely reflects the efforts of Prime Minister (PM) Bruce Golding and his administration to quell the controversy and to reassert the GOJ's commitment to the rule of law. ¶4. (SBU) Furthermore, the rapid resolution of the controversy and the GOJ's quick response reflects favorably on the role of the media and human rights groups such as Jamaicans for Justice in drawing attention to the statements and holding GOJ accountable. End Comment.