Apologies and reparations to Mau Mau victims of torture

PRESS RELEASE

Apologies and reparations to Mau Mau victims of torture

Colonialism Reparation calls on United Kingdom to immediately apologize and pay reparations to Mau Mau for the torture and abuse systematically carried out by the British colonial government during the brutal repression of the independence movement in Kenya.

On September 1, 2003, on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the independence, the Government of Kenya lifts ban on Mau Mau, which began in 1950 during the British colonial rule. This allows the creation of the Mau Mau War Veterans Association, that begins to take action to get apologies and reparations for the abuses suffered by its members.

On October 4, 2006 the Kenya Human Rights Commission presents to the British foreign secretary a formal request for apologies and reparations for the torture inflicted on Mau Mau, which is rejected on April 2, 2007 requiring to submit it to the competent court.

On June 23, 2009 Jane Muthoni Mara, Ndiku Mutwiwa Mutual, Susan Ngondi, Wambugu Wa Nyingi and Paulo Muoka Nzili issue a claim against the British Government for the tortures and abuses suffered during the brutal repression of the independence movement in Kenya by the British colonial government during the fifties and early sixties of the last century.

On July 21, 2011 the High Court in London gives the Kenyans citizens the go-ahead to pursue their legal action claiming that the responsibility for the atrocities committed belongs to United Kingdom and not to Kenya, as stated by the British Foreign Office.

On October 5, 2012 the High Court in London states again that the Kenyan citizens have the right to pursue their legal action claiming that there is no prescription for tortures and personal injuries, as stated by the British Foreign Office, and that it must be considered that the ban on Mau Mau prevented any legal action before 2003.

On October 10, 2012 the Kenyan Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Eugene Wamalwa assured the Mau Mau War Veteran Association of the government's support towards the British Government.

Colonialism Reparation calls on the United Kingdom to immediately apologize and pay reparations to Mau Mau for the torture and abuse systematically carried out by the British colonial government during the brutal repression of the independence movement in Kenya and not to keep “hiding behind technical defenses in a morally repugnant way”, as the victims lawyer claimed.

Colonialism Reparation is an international movement for the acknowledgement, the reconciliation, the apologies and the reparations of colonialism. It develops nonviolent activities at a personal and institutional level to create awareness of the situation and to make sure that the colonizing nations which have given rise to situations of inhumane injustice and suffering condemn their colonial actions recognizing their behavior as criminal, they reconcile with their past, apologize and finally pay reparations to the colonized countries.

ENDS

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