[Kiss]

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18874040

The British government accepts that colonial forces in Kenya tortured and abused detainees during the Mau Mau rebellion, the High Court has heard.

Three elderly Kenyans who are suing the government for damages were told it did not dispute that "terrible things" had happened to them.Their lawyers say it is the first ever official acknowledgement by the UK.

The revolt against British rule in Kenya in the 1950s and 1960s was marked by atrocities, with thousands killed

In a 20-page statement, Mr Nzili, 85, gave details of being stripped, chained and castrated, with large pliers normally used on cows, at Embakasi detention camp, near Nairobi. e said: "I felt completely destroyed and without hope. I have never had children of my own and never will have. I am unable to have sexual relations with my wife."

Mrs Mara, 73, submitted evidence describing how, at the age of 15, she was taken to Gatithi detention camp, where she was beaten by the British and subjected to sexual abuse with a glass bottle containing very hot water.

I´m glad that this has came to light, and in reading some of the stories from the BBC and elsewhere I´m disgusted and ashamed of the British Empire, and has encouraged my hate of imperialism/colonialism. What are your views on this?

[+ polarity -]

Why?

[Freiheit]

(Original post by Kiss)
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18874040



I´m glad that this has came to light, and in reading some of the stories from the BBC and elsewhere I´m disgusted and ashamed of the British Empire, and has encouraged my hate of imperialism/colonialism. What are your views on this?

It's horrible. I don't understand how a person can do that to someone else.

[Kiss]

(Original post by + polarity -)
Why?

Why what?

[Tesphena]

Both the British and the Mau Mau comitted atrocities.

As an example, in late March 1953 the Mau Mau entered the village of Lari, gathered everyone into their huts - children too - and set them on fire. If people escaped they were either hacked to death with machetes or thrown back in the flames.

What the British did is bad, but there is another side to the story. I don't agree with a lot the British Empire stood for - I recognize it had its good points and its bad points - certainly don't agree with Gandhi's belief that it achieved nothing for those under its rule. I also don't find its healthy or appropriate to hate something that is so entirely confined to history, that clouds our understanding of it.

[Formerly Helpful_C]

99% of people, if they're being honest, don't know or care about this event.

This is merely something for the self-deprecating liberals to spout about. Much like you did in your opening post.

I assume they want some form of compensation, even though it 'won't be enough'?

[style86]

(Original post by Formerly Helpful_C)
99% of people, if they're being honest, don't know or care about this event.

This is merely something for the self-deprecating liberals to spout about. Much like you did in your opening post.

I assume they want some form of compensation, even though it 'won't be enough'?

99% percent might not know about the incident, but sensitizing them about it is important. Both Mau Mau as well as the British Empire is at fault for being so inhumane in their acts.

[Formerly Helpful_C]

(Original post by style86)
99% percent might not know about the incident, but sensitizing them about it is important. Both Mau Mau as well as the British Empire is at fault for being so inhumane in their acts.

Newsflash: The British Empire is no more. Nearly everyone who was involved is dead, so why care?

By reporting on such matters, all it does is try to subjugate any feeling of national pride. Call it a control mechanism, if you will.

[Kiss]

(Original post by Formerly Helpful_C)
This is merely something for the self-deprecating liberals to spout about. Much like you did in your opening post.

I assume they want some form of compensation, even though it 'won't be enough'?

So am I not allowed to feel disgusted at the atrocities commited under the British? I don´t really care if it comes across as an unpatriotic remark because whilst I am happy to be British, I can´t say I´m proud of everything they´ve done or do.

[Squidgyness]

Yes, it happened, yes it was terrible, no people didn't get punished, yes the mau mau also did terrible things, no we shouldn't pay them compensation but should acknowledge this happened, yes everyone involved is either dead or about to be, and finally... the british empire is no more, yes it did terrible things but no it wasn't a complete failure that did nothing for those living under it's rule.

That about sums my opinion on the matter up.

[Snagprophet]

This is a little awkward because my dad's girlfriend's dad grew up in Kenya and joined the Army around this time. He had English parents though.

[AhzhaK]

(Original post by Formerly Helpful_C)
99% of people, if they're being honest, don't know or care about this event.

This is merely something for the self-deprecating liberals to spout about. Much like you did in your opening post.

I assume they want some form of compensation, even though it 'won't be enough'?

No doubt the same liberals who are "PC gone mad" wrt not condemning Asian paedophile gangs and their barbaric society. When its criticism of Britain its self deprecating.

And treatment of terminal cancer patients isnt enough to make them better, so should we just cclose up the hospices?

[AhzhaK]

[QUOTE=Formerly Helpful_C;38599953]Newsflash: The British Empire is no more. Nearly everyone who was involved is dead, so why care?

By reporting on such matters, all it does is try to subjugate any feeling of national pride. Call it a control mechanism, if you will.[/QUOTE

So any criticism of Britain should be censored so we can be blissfully unaware during the jubilee/olympics while people abroad still suffer because of good ol' blighty and its greed overcthe last centuries

[Formerly Helpful_C]

(Original post by AhzhaK)

So any criticism of Britain should be censored so we can be blissfully unaware during the jubilee/olympics while people abroad still suffer because of good ol' blighty and its greed overcthe last centuries

Things happen. Get over it.

[Formerly Helpful_C]

(Original post by AhzhaK)
No doubt the same liberals who are "PC gone mad" wrt not condemning Asian paedophile gangs and their barbaric society. When its criticism of Britain its self deprecating.

And treatment of terminal cancer patients isnt enough to make them better, so should we just cclose up the hospices?

Nice straw man.

[goape]

Its not the responsibility of the current british government to comment - they were in no way involved


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[Cannotbelieveit]

While the British Empire did have low points, it also had very high points as well.

[JD.27]

(Original post by Formerly Helpful_C)
Newsflash: The British Empire is no more. Nearly everyone who was involved is dead, so why care?

By reporting on such matters, all it does is try to subjugate any feeling of national pride. Call it a control mechanism, if you will.

This was a colonial govt in 1960, people care because many of them are still alive. The people who are claiming compensation are also alive, shockingly. They were tortured wrongfully so are entitled. They're using the money to set up a fund for all the others that were tortured. I don't see how you can have a problem with this.

[MrFlash1994]

Some of the reactions on this thread really shock me. Britain, a self-proclaimed beacon of freedom and democracy (and also a frequent critic of other nations) doesn't want to face up to and pay for the terrible crimes against humanity that it has commited against these people, and it still wants to hold its head up high as if its done nothing wrong. Yes the Mau Mau would have commited a few attrocities as well, but no where on the scale of the brutality of the British. Many people seem to forget that the Mau Mau were fighting for their freedom. It's lucky that any of these crimes are being reported in the first place, since during its last days the British Empire destroyed many records of the torture and abuse that was going on.

[Snagprophet]

Face it, people only give more of a **** because it happened after the second world war. People probably only give more of a **** because it involved Britain.