Emeute à la Jamaique avril 2009
Policía jamaicana controla disturbios por nuevo impuesto
http://www.prensa-latina.cu
29 de abril de 2009
Kingston, (PL) Destacamentos de la policía jamaicana despejaron varias calles de esta capital y otras ciudades, bloqueadas con neumáticos incendiados por manifestantes que protestaban contra un nuevo impuesto al gas. La imposición fiscal es de 8,75 dólares jamaicanos (unos nueve centavos de dólar) por bombona y fue decretada después de 10 años de precio inalterable.
El opositor Partido Nacional Popular llamó a la población a manifestarse de forma pacífica contra la medida, pero las manifestaciones adquirieron un matiz violento.
Las protestas se iniciaron la mañana del martes y alcanzaron su apogeo al mediodía, cuando los manifestantes se dispersaron a la llegada de los destacamentos policiales.
Los disturbios más significativos ocurrieron en el distrito popular de Saint Catherine, donde los manifestantes incendiaron varios neumáticos y bloquearon la carretera.
En la barriada de Saint Andrew desconocidos incendiaron un viejo vehículo que estaba estacionado en una calle en el céntrico Bulevar Washington y en la de Saint Elizabeth bloquearon la calle Lethis, la más importante del distrito, acorde con un recuento aparecido hoy en la prensa.
Las fuentes no dan cuenta de heridos ni detenidos
Security forces contain protests in Corporate Area
April 29, 2009
Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter
Attempts at fiery street protests fizzled yesterday as quick action by members of the security forces, the fire brigade and the National Solid Waste Management Authority kept roads clear and forced demonstrators into hiding.
The Gleaner received the first reports of protests shortly after six yesterday morning when burning debris was seen on Mandela Highway in the vicinity of Central Village, affecting motorists heading towards the Corporate Area.
No protesters were seen and the security forces were quick to extinguish the blaze and clear the roadway.
Hours later, another blockade was established on the other side of the Mandela Highway, affecting motorists heading towards Spanish Town, St Catherine.
Roadblocks quickly cleared
As police and military teams attempted to clear that blockade, other members of the security forces rushed to Washington Boulevard where roadblocks had been established.
These were quickly cleared and the security forces turned their attention to the nearby Molynes Road where an old car had been set on fire and several blockades erected.
It did not take the security teams long to clear that road, even though they had to wait for firefighters to put out a blaze metres from a derelict building which had been looted and destroyed during the 1999 gas riots.
The adjoining West Main Drive was also blocked in several areas, while the police reported that roads were also temporarily blocked in sections of South East St Andrew, Portmore and St Johns Road, St Catherine, and Three Miles in St Andrew.
On West Main Drive in Maverley, residents stood quietly as police cleared the roadblocks with no one claiming responsibility.
Placing blame
However, councillor for the area, Audley Gordon, was adamant about who were behind the protest.
« A handful of criminals from a PNP (People’s National Party) stronghold are to blame, » claimed Gordon, who represents the Jamaica Labour Party in the Hughenden division in North West St Andrew. Later, however, PNP President Portia Simpson Miller stressed, while speaking with The Gleaner, that the party had nothing to do with the street protests.
« We were not surprised by it. We heard from Sunday that something was being organised. To be honest, we were expecting it yesterday morning but as you can see the police are out, the soldiers are out and the leadership of the constituency is out and there is not much, or no support from the residents, » Gordon added.
The councillor’s claim that criminals were behind the protests was given credence when an obviously frightened motorist showed The Gleaner her broken windshield which had been hit by thugs who stole her jewellery and cellular phone.
The police later reported that seven persons had been taken into custody in connection with the roadblocks. At least six of those persons were charged for breaches of the Anti-Litter Act.
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