Mail von Peter Tatchell (RCA-Koordinator UK) vom 1.9.09

Buju Banton briefing

Hi All.

For future reference in case you come across new Buju Banton concerts:

Caribbean LGBT group J-Flag want a global boycott of Buju Banton over
his repeated violations of the RCA. They want his concerts cancelled.
It is their call. We are merely following their appeal.

Yes, Buju signed the RCA in June 2007. It is signed by Buju Banton
under his real name, Mark Myrie. See here:

http://www.petertatchell.net/popmusic/reggaecompassionateact-bujubanton.htm

But then just weeks afterwards he denied signing and denounced the
RCA. He has repeatedly violated it by performing Boom Bye Bye since he
signed. He is still selling and profiting from Boom Bye Bye (mostly on
compilation albums).

So his signing of the RCA is worthless. Nothing Banton says can be
relied upon. He is a proven liar.

First evidence:

August 2007 - Buju Banton told the London police and the management of
the Brixton Academy (a major music venue) on Sunday 12 August 2007
that he has NOT and will NOT sign the RCA (despite having done so).

Buju was invited to sign the RCA on Sunday 12 August 2007 just before
his London concert and he refused to do. In order that his concert
could go ahead, Buju's people gave the police and venue management the
false impression that he would sign. But at the last minute he refused
to do so. Perhaps a trick all along? As a result of his failure to
honour a pledge, the venue management told me and the police that they
would never allow Banton to perform at the Brixton Academy again.

Second evidence:

Buju has performed Boom Bye Bye after signing the RCA and has abused
gay rights groups with the epithet "Fuck them".

In 2004 and 2005 Banton was claiming that he no longer performs Boom
Bye Bye. Here is video proof that Buju Banton is STILL performing Boom
Bye Bye - Miami concert, 29 May 2006

http://youtube.com/watch?v=l0Eg4Dd9NY4

More evidence: US concert organisers switched off his mike after they
deemed he had attempted to sing Boom Bye Bye at New York's Reggae
CariFest on Randall’s Island, New York, on 25 August 2007 - after he
signed the RCA. .

On 27 October 2007 Buju Banton sang part of 'Boom Bye Bye' at the
Guyana Music Festival - after he signed the RCA.

http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=12309

So much for his PR company's claim that the song was 14 years ago and
that he has since "moved on" and put the song behind him.

Banton Presses On Despite Renewed Controversy

Buju Banton / Photo: Wes Orshoski

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=100318886\
3

Billboard, USA
September 29, 2006, 2:35 PM ET
Wes Orshoski, N.Y.

Controversial reggae star Buju Banton has two words for the gay rights groups
that have sporadically protested his concerts across the U.S.: "F*ck them."

"I have never bashed any gays before, and if I bashed gays, I bashed them 16
years ago," Banton tells Billboard.com. "There's no tolerance from [the gay
community]. I'm not a gay-basher. I'm not a homophobe."

The 33-year-old Jamaican star, whose controversial 1992 song "Boom Bye Bye"
preached violence against homosexuals -- even calling for them to be shot in the
head -- has been plagued by protests since 2004, when he was accused of taking
part in an attack on gay men in Kingston, Jamaica.

Despite being cleared of all charges in January, Banton has seen several of his
scheduled performances cancelled while trying to promote his new album, "Too
Bad." Concerts in both Los Angeles and San Francisco were cancelled this month,
and another in Boulder, Colo., was protested, but still went on. A call seeking
comment from the National Black Justice Coalition, which was involved in the
L.A. protest, were not returned by deadline.

Speaking from his tour bus, Banton was defiant, insisting that despite his
acquittal, gay rights groups refuse to let him move on with his life. In most
cities, he says, there are no protests. The media, he insists, is making too
much out of a handful of protestors' actions.

Despite the controversy, Banton has pressed on with "Too Bad," which marks his
return to dancehall reggae after recent roots reggae discs. "This collection of
music is about reaching into the dancehall time and to a place where the music
was so enjoyable. It [has] so [many] different themes; references to life and
music and all that great stuff," he says. "It's 360 degrees, so to speak."

"Too Bad" is also Banton's first release on his own Gargamel label. And while
he's certainly not the first reggae musician to start his own record company,
Banton is hoping it's a trend that gains more traction in future years.

"It doesn't matter whatever happens for me. It's the uprising that's important
to me," he says. "In Jamaica, the industry is changing from the hands of the
oppressors into the hands of the artists, but the problems come because artists
do not know the principles of the music business. We are emerging to be a force
to be reckoned with, ruling our destiny."

Third evidence

Although he was acquitted of involvement in a gay-bash attack in that
took place in Jamaica in 2004, many people believe he may not have
been innocent. Some of his gay victims were too afraid to testify
against him. They feared being killed. The Jamaican police seemed to
collude to protect Banton from arrest and charges - taking one year to
execute a warrant for his arrest and then only after international
pressure. .

Buju Banton acquitted of gay-bash attack

No justice for lesbian and gay Jamaicans

London – 20 January 2006

Reggae star Buju Banton has been acquitted of a gay-bashing attack at
the conclusion of his trial in Kingston, Jamaica.

Mr Banton is notorious for advocating the murder of gay people in some
of his lyrics (see below). His Boom Bye Bye track encourages people to
shoot gay men in the head, pour acid over them and burn them alive.

Mr Banton’s acquittal has provoked widespread dismay among Jamaica’s
gay and lesbian community. They feel that yet again the police and
courts have failed to protect them from homophobic violence.

The prosecution alleged that Banton was one of a group of men who
forced their way into a house on Carlisle Avenue in Kingston on June
24 2004 and beat six men who they accused of being gay (more details
below).

Mr Banton was not arrested and charged until September 2005 - nearly
15 months after the alleged attack - despite a warrant for his arrest
having been issued in June 2004.

“The police took over a year to arrest and charge Buju Banton. This
delay suggests a half-hearted police response to homophobic violence,“
said Peter Tatchell of the London-based gay human rights group
OutRage!, which works closely with the Jamaican gay rights movement,
J-Flag.

“There are serious doubts about the thoroughness of the police
investigation. Evidence against Buju Banton appears to have been
poorly prepared and presented.

“We want justice for all Jamaicans who are victims of violent crime.

“As long as homosexuality remains a criminal offence in Jamaica, and
while police homophobia is tolerated, lesbian and gay Jamaicans have
no confidence they will protected against homophobic violence.

“Black people could not get justice under apartheid in South Africa;
gay people cannot get justice in Jamaica. Amnesty International and
Human Rights Watch have accused the Jamaican police of colluding with
homophobic violence and failing to properly investigate anti-gay
attacks,” said Mr Tatchell.

Further information: Peter Tatchell OutRage! 020 7403 1790


Buju Banton charged with gay-bashing attack

Reggae star who incites killing gays faces prosecution for real-life
homophobic violence

Trial is test case on whether justice exists for gay Jamaicans

London – 26 September 2005

Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton has been charged with queer-bashing assault.

Jamaican police allege that Banton was one of a group of men who
forced their way into a house on Carlisle Avenue in Kingston on June
24 last year and beat six men who they accused of being gay, according
to the Jamaica Observer newspaper (23 September).

Mr Banton was allowed out on bail of $J50,000 after he pleaded not
guilty to the charges of assault at the Corporate Area Resident
Magistrate's Court.

As a condition of his bail, the court ordered the rastafarian
entertainer to report to the Constant Spring Police Station every
Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Buju Banton’s trial will take place on September 30.

“This trial is test case on whether gay people can get justice in
Jamaica,” said Brett Lock of the UK-based gay human rights group
OutRage!, which has spearheaded an international solidarity campaign
with anti-homophobia groups in Jamaica.

“Some Jamaicans fear that Mr Banton’s celebrity and the strongly
homophobic attitudes that exist in Jamaica will deny justice to the
victims of what was a horrific homophobic assault.

“We pay tribute to the police officers who eventually pressed ahead
with these charges, despite huge pressure not to do so. It our hope
that the court will show similar resolve.

“OutRage! salutes the courageous struggle of gay and human rights
groups in Jamaica to challenge violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender people. We support their campaigns.

“A warrant for Mr Banton’s arrest was issued last June, just days
after the alleged assault.

“Jamaican police and prosecutors were heavily criticised by Jamaican
human rights groups for failing to execute the warrant. There were
allegations that some senior officers were protecting the singer from
the due process of law.

“Buju Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, became notorious in the
early 1990s with his violently homophobic hit single, Boom Bye Bye,
which incited his audience to shoot “batty boys” (queers) in the head,
pour acid over them and set them on fire (see lyrics below).

“He continues to perform Boom Bye Bye and re-released it on two
compilation albums (Best of… and Strictly the Best 9). The albums are
still on sale and Mr Banton continues to earn royalties from Boom Bye
Bye’s murderous incitements,” said Mr Lock.

Buju Banton is one of eight reggae dancehall artistes who have faced
protests from gay and human rights groups in Jamaica, Europe and the
United States for their gay-bashing lyrics.

These protests have been coordinated by the Stop Murder Music campaign
group, led by the UK gay rights organisations, OutRage! and the Black
Gay Mens Advisory Group, and by the Jamaican gay rights movement,
J-Flag.

Dozens of concerts have been cancelled as a result of the campaign,
which has cost the artists, promoters and venues losses in excess of
£UK5 million.

Further information from OutRage!:

Peter Tatchell 0207 403 1790
Brett Lock 0770 843 5917

Lyrics of Buju Banton’s Boom Bye Bye

Jamaican patois, with standard English translation and explanation underneath

Boom bye bye
Boom [as in gun sound] goodbye, goodbye
[as in we won’t be seeing you again, you’re dead]

Inna batty bwoy head
In a queer’s head

Rude bwoy no promote no nasty man
Rude boys don’t promote no queer men

Dem haffi dead
They have to die

Send fi di matic an
Send for the automatic [gun] and

Di Uzi instead
The Uzi instead

Shoot dem no come if we shot dem
Shoot them, don’t come if we shoot them
[as in don’t come to help them]

Guy come near we
If a man comes near me

Then his skin must peel
Then his skin must peel
[as in pour acid over him]

Burn him up bad like an old tyre wheel
Burn him up badly, like you would burn an old tyre wheel

Ends