CaribWorldNews, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Feb. 4, 2008: A top right group is again calling on the Jamaican government to take action against `violence and hatred` against homosexuals across the island.

The latest call from Human Rights Watch comes following a January 29th attack against four gay men in Mandeville, Jamaica. The rights claimed the attack left one man severely injured and another missing and feared dead. A mob allegedly broke into the house and beat the men in an effort to get them to leave the area.

It `shows yet again that authorities must take urgent action against violence and hatred,` Human Rights Watch said Friday. `Roving mobs attacking innocent people and staining the streets with blood should shame the nation’s leaders.`

The group said the victims claims police arrived half an hour after the mob had broken into the house – 90 minutes after the men first called for help. One of the victims managed to flee with the mob pursuing.

`While Jamaican police have begun to reach out to gay and lesbian communities, this change hasn’t reached many police stations where protection remains an illusion,` said Rebecca Schleifer, advocate on HIV/AIDS and human rights at Human Rights Watch. `These horrifying attacks should galvanize officials to protect all Jamaicans against violence, regardless of who they are.`
 
Human Rights Watch said it is still awaiting a response from the Jamaican government to their call for an investigation into all the reported violence, as well as protection of witnesses from threats or reprisals. In 2004, the group released a report titled, `Hated To Death,` which detailed attacks against gays in Jamaica. – CaribWorldNews.com