Menezes
On July 22nd, 2005, British police and special forces were desperate to make some progress into the investigation of the London Subway bombings. In a show of arrogant bravado that would do the Bush Administration proud, Menezes was mistakenly suspected and killed by a bullet wound to the head, also on the subway, and a mere day after the bombings.
This, from Wikipedia:
The day after the shooting, the Metropolitan Police identified the victim as Jean Charles de Menezes, and said that he had not been carrying explosives, nor was he connected in any way to the attempted bombings. They issued an apology describing the incident as "a tragedy, and one that the Metropolitan Police Service regrets."
Menezes's family condemned the shooting and rejected the apology. His grandmother said there was "no reason to think he was a terrorist." It has been reported that the dead man's family had been offered almost £585,000 compensation. [10]
His cousin, Alex Alves Pereira, said, "I believe my cousin's death was result of police incompetence." Pereira said that police claims regarding the incident had been conflicting, and took issue with their pursuit of Menezes for an extended period and their allowing the "suspected suicide bomber" to board a bus. "Why did they let him get on a bus if they are afraid of suicide bombers?… He could have been running, but not from the police… When the Underground stops, everybody runs to get on the train. That he jumped over the barriers is a lie." [11]
The Brazilian government released a statement expressing its shock at the killing, saying that it looked forward "to receiving the necessary explanation from the British authorities on the circumstances which led to this tragedy." Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, who had already arranged to visit London, said he would seek a meeting with the UK's Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw. He later met ministers and had a telephone conversation with Straw.
The Muslim Council of Britain expressed immediate concern about the apparent existence of a "shoot-to-kill" policy and called on police to make clear their reasons for shooting the man dead.
My good friend Greg Turner-Rahman provides this portrait of Menezes, a year after his slaying. He is right to remind us of Menezes, of the subway bombings, and of the price of our arrogance, whatever side we take in this insane "war on terror."
Sarvam Dukkham (all is suffering).