Two buses and seven other vehicles torched in continuing disturbances following death of Odair Moniz
In spite of authorities’ ‘zero tolerance’ stand on disturbances following the shooting by police on Monday of a Cape Verdean father-of-two, further incidents were registered last night: two buses and seven other vehicles were set on fire, as well as several bins of rubbish in multiple municipalities (see update below).
PSP police made two arrests, but ‘generally’, the tense situations experienced on Monday and Tuesday nights appear to be calming.
That said, questions on exactly what led a PSP agent to shoot dead Odair Moniz continue – particularly as the official PSP version appears to have been discounted by the shooter himself.
Further afield, the president of Cape Verde has expressed his “deep sadness” over the shooting of Moniz, himself a Cape Verdean who worked as a chef, and who has even appeared alongside President Marcelo in one of Marcelo’s famous ‘selfies’.
In a note of condolence made public on Wednesday, the Cape Verdean head of state, José Maria Neves expressed “solidarity with the bereaved family, friends and all those who lived with the young man” and conveyed “his deepest sympathy” to them.
The head of state referred to the tragic nature of the death as being “regrettable” saying he understands “the feeling of outrage and indignation that reigns within the Cabo Verdean community” in Portugal”.
This in itself is significant: the issues of Cape Verdeans and other black communities in Cova da Moura with regard to police go back years.
However, Neves called for “calm and serenity” and for trust “in the country’s authorities” – noting that Portugal’s Ministry of Internal Administration has already ordered the opening of an internal inquiry “as a matter of urgency” into the circumstances of Moniz’s untimely death.
José Maria Neves also pointed to “the importance of believing in justice, which must act with rigour and impartiality to clarify all the facts and impute responsibility, if appropriate.”
In the appeal for calm with which the presidency’s statement ends, he recalls that “violence always generates more violence” and that it is essential to seek “the best way to resolve the problems, following the case serenely until investigations are concluded.”
José Maria Neves’ careful words may well help water down the anger, which was evident last night but far less ‘violent’ than on Monday and Tuesday.
Lusa reports that “according to the website of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority, at 2.30 a.m. there were more than a dozen incidents resulting in “debris” in the districts of Lisbon and Setúbal, namely in Queluz (in the municipality of Sintra), Alfragide (Amadora), Camarate (Loures), Carcavelos (Cascais), Carnide (Lisbon), Mina de Água (Amadora), Corroios (Seixal), Caparica (Almada) and Moita”.
The last bus to be set alight was in Arrentela, in the municipality of Seixal, in the district of Setúbal.
Greater Lisbon bus company Carris has already warned that some services may experience delays due to the number of vehicles (at least four so far) that are out of action.
‘Urgent inquiries’ continue, on various fronts, to try and get to the bottom of what exactly happened (bearing in mind the conflicting stories).
Anti-racism organisations (SOS Racismo and Vida Justa) have demanded “serious and impartial” investigation, arguing that there is a “culture of impunity” among police in Portugal.
UPDATE: The driver of one of the buses set on fire last night is said to be in a serious condition in hospital, with serious burns to his face and chest.
In an incident that happened around 1am in Santo António dos Cavaleiros, in Loures, it seems that “a burning object was thrown into the bus” through the driver’s open window.
SIC Notícias refers to the man’s “serious injuries to his chest and face”.
The injured driver is being treated in Lisbon’s Santa Maria Hospital.
Source material: LUSA/ SIC
