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Blantyre
Nyasaland (Image from centralafricana.com)
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The
families of 33 pro-independence fighters who were killed in the 1950s in the
region today known as Malawi are demanding reparations from the UK for
“unjustified killings” perpetrated towards the end of colonial rule. Relatives
of protesters who were killed by British colonial forces in Malawi in 1959
during the Operation Sunrise massacre in Nyasaland said they are seeking
reparations in court.
The
South African newspaper Mail & Guardian reports the families of 51 slain
freedom fighters are pushing the Malawi government to seek £100-million in
compensation.
On
March 3, 1959, Britain imposed a state of emergency in Nyasaland to stop
violent protests by political activists of the Nyasaland African Congress
fighting for independence, led by Hastings Kamuzu Banda.
RT.com report continues:
The
peaceful and unarmed protesters, including three pregnant women, were
demonstrating against the arrest of freedom fighters on a passenger ship on the
shores of Lake Malawi. Public opposition to the detentions culminated in the
killing of 51 demonstrators and 1,300 arrests.
Speaking
to the Guardian, Raphael Mhone, a lawyer representing the victims’ families,
said: “The families of the 33 deceased are mourning year in and year out. The
killings created a lot of challenges to families, because some of those killed
were breadwinners.
“It
should also be borne in mind that apart from creating economic and social
challenges to such families, the mere fact that they were innocently killed
warrants compensation from those responsible.
“First,
we will engage Britain diplomatically to own up to their responsibility. The
martyrs were not criminals.”
He
added that if diplomacy fails, he would bring the case to London’s High Court, “like
the Kenyans did.”
Nyasaland
became independent from British colonial rule on 6 July 1964 and was renamed
Malawi.
Some
claim Malawi could use the Mau Mau case as a precedent to push for
compensation. In 2013, due to a ruling by the high court, the UK government
paid out £19.9-million in costs and compensation to 5,228 Kenyans who had been
tortured by British colonial forces during the Mau Mau uprising between 1952
and 1960.
Malawi’s
daily, the Nation newspaper, said in an editorial this week: “Let dialogue
prevail. Innocent lives were needlessly lost at the hand of the federal forces
as people of this country struggled for their emancipation. In the end, a lot
is indeed at stake given the age-old relations between the two countries.”
In
March, John Chunda, the only surviving witness of the massacre and the
representative of the families, reportedly presented a petition to the office
of the British high commissioner to Malawi in the capital Lilongwe, demanding
£100-million in compensation.
“This
is the initial step,” Chunda told the Mail & Guardian. “If the UK
government insists on denying, then we follow with litigation. It is a simple
case. Representatives of the British Crown ordered the shooting of our freedom
fighters and it’s on record. There is no way they can deny liability.”
“We
have suffered for 56 years,” said Chunda, “a period long enough for people to
make a meaningful [contribution] either to their families or the country had
they not been slain like animals.
“They
have been called martyrs all these years, but definitely their relatives need
to be compensated for their souls to rest in peace.”
,
has ruled out compensation.
“We
are saddened by any loss of life during the struggle. We have had no discussion
with the government of Malawi on this matter and do not consider the issues of
compensation arise,” he told the Mail & Guardian.
“The UK and Malawi enjoy a
close relationship that stretches back over many years and we look forward to
that relationship continuing in the years ahead.”
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