108 / 494
107
(B) Evidence of the JDF
5.52.
The JDF was actively engaged in the search for and recovery of
illegal weapons and ammunition in May 2010. Lt. Col. David Cummings testified
about the role of the Engineers who supported 1JR and 2JR. On 24 May,
371 soldiers of the Engineers were deployed for the internal security operation.
Lt. Col. Cummings said that his strategy was to deploy Engineers in Police Area 5
in large numbers early, and before the main operation, to show force and to
deter criminal acts before they commenced.
5.53.
It is worth reporting that as early as 9.20 a.m. on 24 May Area 5
was contained. Lt. Col. Cummings received information from a vehicle check
point that “there were several JUTC buses with lots of men wearing jeans and
white Tee shirts”. He said –
“We removed these men and handed them over to the JCF.
They were searched before the handover but no guns were
recovered.”
(i)
25 May
5.54.
In oral evidence, Lt. Col. Cummings testified that the Engineers’
work of searching for weapons began on 25 May. About midday, he received
information about a large cache of arms in May Pen Cemetery. He said –
“We searched but came across an over-powering stench
from a pile of dead bodies. We photographed them…Shortly
after discovering the bodies, we came under fire and had to
take cover. The gunfire came from Spanish Town Road but
we could not identify a target.”
5.55.
Maj. Luis Cheverria’s witness statement records the recovery of
guns by Charlie Co. as follows:
“Over the next several days we recovered several guns: on
Wednesday,
26 May
:
(i)
a .45 calibre pistol was discovered
on Chang Avenue;
(ii)
a M16 A1 rifle was found on Sangster
Crescent;
(iii)
on
27 May
, a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver