284 / 494
283
particularly helpful. We gratefully and respectfully adopt their general approach,
omitting, however, a repetition of the evidence reviewed in Chapter 9.
Violations of the Right to Life – Evidence re Dead Bodies
10.26.
In contextualising the violation of rights, it is convenient to proceed
sector by sector and analyse the evidence on a daily basis. Thus, in sector 1,
Maj. Cheverria twice assured us that by 3.25 p.m. on 24 May, he had secured
that sector for which he and DSP Tabannah had command responsibility. His
soldiers in Charlie Company were in control of the roofs of high-rise buildings
and had begun the house clearing exercise. During the process of entering and
securing the sector, Maj. Cheverria saw only two bodies “somewhere on Chang
Avenue” and these bodies had lacerations to the throat and abdomen.
Lt. Col. Andrew Sewell
10.27.
Lt. Col. Sewell, the Commander of 2JR, gave important evidence of
his movements after entering Tivoli Gardens. He said that about 1.30 p.m. “we
would have been able to manoeuvre our way around the community”. And by
2.30 p.m. he was “moving around the community”.
10.28.
He said that by 4.00 p.m., his troops had completed the following
tasks:
●
physically secured the perimeter of Tivoli Gardens;
●
dismantled all major barricades;
●
dominated the sectors by occupying the roofs of high-
rise buildings;
●
established observation posts;
●
searched buildings and open areas;
●
established vehicular and personnel check points;
●
established an operational headquarters for 2JR first at
the Community Centre and, later, at a playing field.