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Blair Could Be Tainted By Scotland Yard's "Official Lie" - Spanish Daily

Posted on: Friday, 19 August 2005, 09:00 CDT

Text of unsigned editorial: "Scotland Yard, official lie", published by Spanish newspaper ABC web site on 19 August

A report has been leaked from Britain's Independent Police Complaints Commission that radically contradicts the official version of the death on the London underground of the Brazilian electrician [Jean Charles de Menezes] and blames the security forces. According to this new version, Menezes neither ran away, nor jumped the barriers in the station, nor acted in a suspicious manner, nor was he wearing the clothing that it was said he was wearing, and he was not immobile when the officers shot him eight times. The images were recorded by the security cameras. All this suggests that Scotland Yard lied in the description of the events and that the prime minister, Tony Blair, was dragged along by its lies, repeating them in good faith. A very difficult situation has thus been created for the Metropolitan Police and, particularly, for its chief, Sir Ian Blair, that could taint the Labour government.

The incident is extremely serious and must be clarified, just as it is also necessary to demand that the pertinent political and criminal responsibilities are dealt with. A certain hastiness by the police is understandable considering the impact of the brutal terrorist attack that took place. But that understanding has limits and does not extend to cases as repugnant as this one. There are even people who are prepared to accept some limitations on their rights and freedoms as citizens, but nothing that goes beyond an understandable mistake or haste can ever be justified. Blair must act swiftly and forcefully if he does not want to have grave doubts cast on an administration that has deserved the recognition of the majority of the British people and the international community. The measures adopted by the British government were not very popular; with cases such as this they could become even less so. If the official lie is confirmed, as it appears, we are facing something more reprehensible than a tragic error. The security of citizens is one of the first duties of all governments, but it cannot become the cause of insecurity. If the authorities stop guaranteeing security and become a threat to it, it destroys the subtle framework of weights and balances that make up the rule of law. It is time for transparency and exemplary conclusiveness.

Source: BBC Monitoring European

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