PATRIOTS IMPLORE OPPOSITION LEADER
NOT TO IMPEDE THE POLICE FORCE
IN THE EXECUTION OF ITS WORK

TO: ALL EDITORS:

The Patriots, a group of professionals allied to the ruling People's National Party, expresses dismay at the belligerent tone and manner of Mr. Edward Seaga's statement to the nation last evening.

We found his comments about a terrorist state to be unfounded, out-of-order, hypocritical and opportunistic.

True to form, Mr. Seaga has taken the tragedy of seven families and tried to turn it into a political issue. Like the rest of Jamaica, he should refrain from rushing to judgment on the Braeton Operation. The investigation is already underway and we are certain that in due course the findings will be revealed to the country. In the conduct of the investigation, the police should not feel pressured by this bellicose politician seeking his advance his own narrow political self-interest.

As for Mr. Seaga's allegation that the PNP is soft on police brutality, it only serves to highlight his abysmal record in this regard. The Security Forces killed over 300 persons each year during his tenure, a figure that has been reduced by over 50% during this administration.

Furthermore, it is outrageous and completely unfounded for Mr. Seaga to say that the PNP "has been linked to political executions by the police in the past." We challenge him to show one shred of evidence in support of this claim.

In any event, Mr. Seaga lacks credibility when speaking on issues of crime and violence as his constituency, by design rather than by accident, has proven to be the breeding ground for more such activity than anywhere else in the country. He should tidy-up his own backyard before pointing fingers.

We remind Jamaica that Mr. Seaga during his reign as Prime Minister was found drinking beer in the immediate aftermath of atrocities committed by ruthless elements in his constituency. His description of the criminality then was to say that it was an internal and "family" matter in West Kingston.

Mr. Seaga must not impede the police in their work.

Contact:  Donovan Nelson    818 -1112
                  Chris Brown                777-7126