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Market and Tivoli Gardens. It was important that the security forces secured
control of Foxy’s Plaza but they came under fire from gunmen on the third floor
of the Plaza.
(b)
PassaPassa Plaza
4.81.
PassaPassa Plaza was located to the west of Foxy’s and directly in
front of Tivoli Court and Tivoli Gardens. It was also a high-rise building and,
from its third floor, it offered a wide view of Tivoli Court.
4.82.
The casualties suffered by No.4 platoon greatly retarded its
progress and prevented the soldiers from securing the high ground of Foxy’s
Plaza which was critical to domination of the area. Maj. Henry told us that
“securing the high ground of Foxy’s Plaza would give the security forces watch
over surrounding areas and various avenues of approach”. It was imperative
that this objective be achieved because the gunmen had forced the security
forces along certain corridors and were manoeuvring in an orchestrated and pre-
planned manner “so as to create effective lanes and draw the security forces into
kill zones”.
4.83.
Maj. Henry and Lt. Col. Ogilvie changed their tactics after the
setback to No.4 platoon. They deployed a reserve platoon to make its way to
Foxy’s Plaza via Coronation Market.
Fire in Coronation Market
4.84.
About 1.00 p.m. Bravo’s advance through the market was “bogged
down” by exchanges of sustained gunfire “from all directions including from
within the MPM complex which was occupied by gunmen”. The gunmen threw
Molotov cocktails into the market and caused a fire in the north-eastern section
of the market and the MPM complex. However, by 2.30 p.m. Bravo had secured
the MPM complex.