First we find out that the London Metropolitan Police lied to the public about the execution of Jean Charles de Menezes; now we discover that the commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, also tried to stop an independent inquiry into the shooting. Instead, he wanted an in-house whitewash in order to avoid damaging the morale of the armed police unit responsible for the killing - people's self-esteem clearly being more important than the fact that an innocent man had just been killed under extremely questionable circumstances.
But as if that's not bad enough, it gets worse. Having been overruled, Sir Ian then kept the Independent Police Complaints Commission away from the crime scene for three days. Normal practice would have seen them there within hours. He deliberately impeded the investigation into de Menezes death, while he and his spokespeople tried to lie and spin their way out of trouble by demonising their victim (par for the course for the Met, it seems).
Having this sort of tragic mistake happen on your watch is one thing - but to try and cover it up and prevent an independent investigation from establishing the facts is quite another. Sir Ian Blair is guilty of an extraordinary attempt at a cover-up, and there is only one honourable course open to him: he should resign.
Sock Thief: As I pointed out in the other thread (which you now seem to be avoiding), the police repeatedly made statements to the media that they knew to be false. If that's not lying, then WTF is?
ReplyDeleteFighting terrorism should be primarily a police action. But that doesn't get the police off the hook from being held accountable when they fuck up - as they have so graphically done in this case.
If everything leaked is accurate and truthful, then it is an appalling act and deserves the term 'summary execution'. However, I'd prefer to wait for the official findings before jumping about.
ReplyDeleteJust imagine what this much coverage and outrage over a Brazilian/Columbian/Peruvian police execution could achieve - It may even force said governments to investigate fully and openly the human rights horrors perpetrated by police there. However sadly, the comparatively commonplace dosn't command attention.
Yeah, wait for the official findings. Except it is the official version of events that is the problem. Governments lie to protect themselves. If Ian Blair obfuscated or "resisted," he should resign.
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BRAZIL AND LATIN AMERICA (AND OTHER COUNTRIES THAT CARE) SHOULD THREATEN TO BOYCOTT THE LONDON OLYMPICS UNLESS FULL JUSTICE IS DELIVERED ON THE MENEZES CASE. EVEN IF THE BOYCOTT NEVER TAKES PLACE, I THINK THAT THE SIGHT OF ANGRY CITIZEN RALLYING ON THE STREETS ASKING FOR A BOYCOTT AND THE PUBLICITY THEY WILL GET WILL BY THE CONFLICT-HUNGRY MEDIA WILL FORCE THE BRITS TO CHANGE THEIR TUNE.
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