Battle royal (Observer Letter)

So JFLAG has received some information finally on that awful incident in Montego Bay on February 20th where several cops descended on a entertainment spot while a session was in progress, check out the report as compiled on sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica on Wordpress where I took a more advocacy approach as many homeless and displaced persons were separated from the unofficial out of pocket program of crisis intervention shelter and food supplied to them from the management.

Big Blow For Homeless/Displaced MSMs In Western Jamaica …..

here is the letter from atty-at-law and activist Maurice Tomlinson on the issue:

Battle royal

Dear Editor,

Reports reaching J-FLAG are that just after midnight on February 20, four police pick-up trucks and a van normally used to transport prisoners swooped down on the only gay club along Montego Bay's tourist Hip-Strip. About 20 heavily armed officers jumped from the vehicles, kicked in doors, aggressively accosted patrons, indiscriminately beat and pistol-whipped them, and chased everyone from the venue.

During the operation, homophobic slurs were hurled and this seemed to have encouraged patrons of nearby clubs to join in the melee by throwing bottles, stones and other missiles as individuals fled for their lives. One patron described it as a mob scene, and another who asked an officer, "If this is how you as a law enforcement officer treat us, how do you expect other people to behave?" was rewarded with several kicks for his effrontery. He later took refuge for several hours in an abandoned building.

At least ten people are reported to have been treated at hospital for injuries received during the raid while others decided to nurse their wounds at home.

This latest attack follows a similar one in Kingston in early February when police without badges were reported to have raided a gay club in Half-Way-Tree, pointing guns at patrons and shining powerful flashlights in their faces. On neither occasion did officers disclose the purpose of the raids, but they clearly have one intent, namely to intimidate and remind lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) Jamaicans that their kind are not welcome here and they certainly don't have the right to assemble and socialize peacefully.

Maurice Tomlinson

Montego Bay, St James

maurice_tomlinson@yahoo.com

Letter ENDS

Meanwhile here is an excerpt from the Wordpress edition:

"Several persons had to seek medical attention following the attack and up to the preparation of this post the owner/manager who was not present at the time of the assault was held from Sunday morning at the police station where he went to inquire what had happened, he is to go to court today to apply for bail on charges yet to be made public, apparently there are outstanding charges of other infractions before that were used to justify holding him overnight.

The club which opened it’s doors only in the latter part of 2010 was to serve western Jamaica as persons there felt they had to journey too far westwards to central Jamaica and Kingston to get to parties was home to very good events so far and female impersonation shows. According to my sources many of the displaced persons who were beaten and gun butted in some instances were forced into the path of members of the public who were nearby at an event on a parallel road, men reportedly joined in the assault alongside the cops, several of them sustained blows and one popular party person’s face was severely bashed. Fortunately there were some amongst the public who did not support the assault in this latest homophobic incident which has come as a shock to everyone even to the area police as they were aware of the spot they made frequent patrols and had an agreement of sorts with the owner/manager to operate within the confines of the law specifically closing time of 2am or 4am where an extension was sought as the club is not near any residences to breach the Noise Abatement Act, it is surmised the cops came from elsewhere."

By now many persons are aware that it is internal rivalry in the lgbt entertainment fraternity that has caused this particular problem sadly the letter didn't reflect that, recent checks via phone with some persons who were injured suggest they are recovering and some repairs have been effected to the property as the management still occupy the premises, investigations are proceeding with evidence being put together to include photos taken of the damage and injuries.

Please have the guys in your thoughts and prayers.

Peace and tolerance

H