6-6-13
Britain "sincerely regrets" Mau Mau-era abuses
Breaking Newstags: colonialism, war crimes, atrocities, Great Britain, Kenya, Mau Mau uprising
Britain announced compensation for thousands of Mau Mau veterans, saying that it “sincerely regretted” years of “suffering and injustice” carried out under its imperial rule of Kenya, but stopped short of a full apology.
The brutal suppression of an independence rebellion led to torture, internment without trial and excessive numbers of executions, William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, said in a statement to Parliament.
He confirmed that more than 5,200 claimants would share compensation from the Government of £13.9 million, but said that the out-of-court settlement did not mean Britain was legally liable for the abuses, although he said the settlement was about a “process of reconciliation.”
“I would like to make clear now and for the first time … that we understand the pain and grievance felt by those who were involved,” Mr Hague said....