Monday 13 April 2015

Anti-Terrorism Gone Astray: Secret Resolution, Commitment, Denial and Proof(Maybe)

Secret Resolution (Sept. 24, 2014)


Almost three weeks had passed last year after the Jamaica had co-sponsored a United Nations resolution at the 69th session at the assembly in September to condemn the Islamic State(IS) militants and lead to the blocking of IS recruits from travelling to the battlefields and returning home to radicalize others. 
The Resolution 
was approved September 24, disclosure by Government October 10, 2014 - 12 days..
"So, why not at least a brief information-oriented statement for the benefit of the Jamaican people and their Caricom cousins as well?" (Jamaica Observer 05/10/14)

UN
Was the question posed by bajan Rickey Singh in his analysis of the Jamaicans government's "public silence" on the resolution.

The Jamaica Observer article on 09/10/14 headline read: 

Jamaica co-sponsors ISIS resolution

Opposition blasts Government on non-disclosure of UN participation

In the article the opposition Jamaica Labour Party is quoted saying

"the Government must recognize that the nation’s foreign relations  is a public matter which must, at all times, reflect the views, hopes and aspirations of its people, and the decisions taken on behalf of the people must always be fully transparent."

Commitment (October, 10 2015)

Minister of Foreign Affairs Sen.AJ Nicholson
The Government via foreign affairs Minister Senator AJ Nicholson made the claim in the Senate after some probing by the opposition that

 Jamaica supports efforts to continue to give priority attention to combating the spread of terrorism, including focusing on finding a multidimensional and comprehensive approach to the problem.  (Jamaica Gleaner 10/10/14)

and also 
 considering its position, Jamaica had to take into account the geopolitical context in which the resolution was being tabled. The minister said terrorism in all forms constitutes a grave threat to international peace and security.(Jamaica Gleaner 13/10/14)
During that same Senate sitting the minister was asked by Opposition Senator Robert Montague on what would be done if Jamaican was taken hostage by terrorist - the Minister replied "What you want us to do, send the JDF (Jamaica Defence Force)?"


Denial(March 15, 2014)

  
Min. National Security MP Peter Bunting
Thus far this year that support seems to be dodgy at the least, taking into consideration the posture of the administration after reports surfaced from US Military intelligence that Jamaicans maybe apart of IS recruits from the region -  the National Security Ministry was quick to dismiss and chastised the Commander of the US Southern Command General John Kelly for not following his script; 

National Security Minister Peter Bunting said the prepared text of the speech delivered by General Kelly did not name Jamaica and, as a result, the reported comment may be the result of a misunderstanding. (Jamaica Gleaner 15/04/15)

the US has however said no mistake was made  and  double downed on the statements  made by General Kelly

a spokesman for the US Southern Command in Florida, Jose Ruiz, tells Nationwide News that General Kelly did not make a mistake. (Nationwide News 17/04/15)

Proof(Maybe) (April 6,2015) - (April 12,2015)


ISIS
It will be interesting to see how the Jamaican authorities treat this incident but also if this indeed a case of terrorist recruitment: how did this young man slipped through the mechanism that are/supposed to be in place according to resolution that

also urged members to intensify and accelerate the exchange of operational information regarding actions or movements of terrorists or terrorist networks through bilateral or multilateral mechanism


  • Wasn't the same "Intelligence Agency" garnered by Suriname available to Jamaica?
  • What does Jamaica have in place get, utilize and share the intelligence?
  • Why isn't there a single database of a "no fly" designation by the region?

and many other questions must be answered... as another Jamaicans ISIS was made some days  before 

  In any case we've seen the failure/weaknesses of nations in the Caribbean region to fully cooperate and integrate sharing of intelligence that is crucial in stopping terrorism and transnational crime.

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