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'We're being framed' - Clansman gang deny role in Spn Twn war

MEMBERS OF THE Clansman gang based in Spanish Town, St. Catherine say they are being framed by persons who want to see their sun set. They claim that they are not involved in the current outbreak of violence in the town and those who are pointing the finger at them are trying to create mischief.

"We are not a part of what is going on inside Spain (Spanish Town) right now and me wish dem people deh woulda stop call up wi name," a gang member said.

The Clansman gang has figured in crime in Spanish Town for almost a decade, and has its power base in the areas of Rivoli, Africa, Lime Tree Grove, De la vega City, Fish Ground, Manchester Lane and Lakes Pen.

Blamed unfairly

But the gang maintains they are now being blamed unfairly. "All a wha a gwaan we nuh know bout. We jus' a cut and go through and jus' a gwaan juggle. We nuh inna no power struggle wid One Order, after dem nuh have no power!" said another member.

A recent television news report which claimed that persons from Tawes Pen - the stronghold of rival gang One Order - said they lost 13 members of their community,

"If dem lose 13 people dem fi look to demself because we nuh know nutten bout dat. Dem fi stop call up we name," another member said. Other media houses have not escaped their ire. "Unnu nuh do unnu homework unnu jus' write whe dem seh and nuh come check it out. We nuh involved."

"All ah wha a gwaan right now, is One Order. A nuh we. We nuh business wid Bubba. We nuh know who kill Bubba. And we nuh business wid One Order problems. Dem have an internal issue and dem ah deal wid it publicly and fi mek it nuh look bad, dem seh Clansman," he claimed.

"Is long time Clansman deh yah and Spanish Town a run right, and from One Order come is pure problems," said the member.

However, police investigators in Spanish Town are not quite willing to absolve Clansman of all blame in the recent upsurge in murder. "Both sides are involved because persons from both sides have been killed and they both know that," said a policeman.

In the meantime, Clansman have promised that if they are attacked they will retaliate. "Of course we a watch wi head back, and if dem touch we, is den dem see trouble."

Between last Thursday and Sunday, 13 persons were murdered in the town allegedly because of an ongoing turf war between the two major gangs. However, on Monday, allegations surfaced that One Order was planning to kill 100 persons in revenge for the July murder of their leader Oliver 'Bubba' Smith.