THE EDITOR, Sir:

While I do not sanction any form of extrajudicial killings, or any form of human rights abuse by any member of the security forces, I find the reaction and comments by Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) to the number of recent fatal shootings by police to be very disconcerting.

This human-rights group went on to berate the police while lamenting the lives of the Jamaican citizens that are being snuffed out by the police without giving an ounce of evidence to validate the innocence of these alleged victims.

I must admit that many of the times I find the police version of the event to be very ridiculous. it does not, however, prove that there was no confrontation in which the police had to use deadly force. Even when people who claim to be eyewitnesses challenge the police report, we cannot say for sure that they are being truthful without first doing thorough investigation to ascertain the facts.

Baseless blanket statements

And this is where JFJ is weighed in the balance and is found wanting. In none of the 20-odd killings by police since the start of the year has JFJ shown to the general public that it has done some sort of background check on any of the victims to verify whether or not they were model citizens - or of questionable character. If this was done, it would certainly have helped to put things in perspective. Instead, what we have heard is a blanket statement from them decrying the police.

JFJ must back up its public pronouncements with forensic findings to substantiate its claim. If this is not done, the only conclusion that I can arrive at is that JFJ is anti-police and pro-criminal, or they are just another 'bag of mouth' spewing hot air.

JFJ needs to understand that with the many Jamaican lives that are being snuffed out almost every day by cold-hearted killers, people are hurting. Families and friends are grieving and want justice.

I, therefore, implore JFJ to garner fair and impartial evidence to substantiate its claims. This will increase public confidence in the human-rights group.

DEVON SEWELL

sewell_devon@yahoo.com

Ensom City, Spanish Town