Security clamp on Jamaica

Press, 21 July 1980, Page 6

Security clamp on Jamaica

NZPA-Reuter Kingston ’ The Jamaican National Security Council has announced the imposition of curfews, roadblocks ' and other measures to deal with what it called “organised terrorism in Jamaica.” The Prime Minister (Mr Michael Manly) summoned heads of security forces to a special meeting of the National Security. Council at the week-end 'to develop plans for dealing with the current wave of political violence in Jamaica. The joint military-police command headquarters clamped a curfew on certain areas of Kingston, effective from 7.30 p.m. to 6 a.m. As the curfew was announced, terrorists set fire to houses in Jonestown.

The National Security Council also ’ announced it would provide .“adequate firepower” to the police, call out the national reserves, re-< establish the joint policemilitary command headquarters and set up more police command posts. =. The police reported that five people were killed early on Saturday when 10 to 12 gunmen armed with Ml 6 rifles invaded a slum area in south-western St Andrew, a section of Kingston. They kicked down the doors of several houses and opened fire, forcing some of the residents to flee to a police station for refuge; The gunmen also fired shots at the police station with high-powered rifles from aearby buildings.