Website dedicated to ‘shoot to kill’ victims

CAMPAIGNERS in Ireland are to launch a website dedicated to victims of police ‘shoot-to-kill’ policies beginning with a Brazilian who was shot dead by London detectives last month.

Jean Charles de Menezes died at Stockwell Tube Station, south London, on July 23 after anti-terrorism officers mistook him for a suicide bomber. Up to 30 people, including members of Ireland’s 5,000-strong Brazilian community, attended a peaceful protest outside the British Embassy in Dublin on Thursday evening.

Organiser, Brazilian Gustavo Barbosa said he now intends to set up an Irish-hosted website dedicated to victims of ‘shoot-to-kill’ policies by police.

“We aim to use the site to remember these innocent victims beginning with Jean Charles,” said the 28-year-old translator. “We will also be featuring the cases of people who died in shoot-to-kill circumstances in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.”

The proposed website is being supported by the Latin America Solidarity Centre in Dublin, Amnesty International, the Irish Anti-War Movement and NGOs Afri and Trócaire.

Mr Barbosa, who has been living in Ireland for eight years, said he organised the British Embassy protest to express condolences to Mr de Menezes’s family and to reflect the anger and concern felt by Brazilians in Ireland.