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States of emergency have been imposed in five parishes as well as most divisions in the Corporate Area.
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Opposition Spokesman on National Security Peter Bunting
By Prince Moore
The Parliamentary Opposition has expressed concern about reports of abuse by soldiers since the declaration of the states of emergency (SOEs) last week.
It follows Monday's fatal shooting of 24-year old Terron Hewitt on Laws Street in downtown Kingston, during an alleged confrontation with members of the Jamaica Defence Force.
Opposition Spokesman on National Security Peter Bunting has said videos of the incident are disturbing.
He noted that the videos "show soldiers fatally shooting a young man walking away from them and, on the face of it, offering no threat to the soldiers or others".
The community, he said, is outraged by the incident, and they set fire to a police crime scene investigation vehicle on Monday night.
Mr. Bunting said the opposition wants the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to "conduct a swift and thorough investigation" of the incident.
According to Mr. Bunting, Opposition Leader Mark Golding has reported "at least three credible and documented allegations of abuse of citizens by soldiers" to the relevant authorities.
He said incidents of abuse highlight the risk and consequences of using states of emergency as a routine policing tool.
The opposition spokesman maintained that this use of SOEs is unconstitutional and "will only undermine professional policing and destroy the trust between citizens and the security forces".
In a response Tuesday afternoon, the Jamaica Defence Force said the soldiers involved in Monday's incident where a man was killed on Laws Street, Central Kingston, have been removed from the area and are fully cooperating with INDECOM.
The JDF said soldiers deployed in SOEs and Zones of Special Operation (ZOSOs) are exposed to human rights training prior to their deployment.
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