UK's decision to compensate Kenyan victims of colonial-era torture
UK's decision to compensate Kenyan victims of colonial-era torture - Impractical and bad precedent
The Kenyan families have been tortured and brutally treated by the colonial administration in the 50’s and 60’s. The British government has decided to compensate the Kenyan victims for the same. But this is too less in front of the torture that the Kenyans and their family have gone through.
For:
- The compensation would be directed straight to the sufferers of agony and not to their descendants or the government
- The Kenyan fatalities who are to be compensated is thus a triumph for global human rights jurisprudence
- For a lot of Kenyan fatalities, the regret shown by the British government is more than the compensation amount that they would be drawing
Against:
- The decision of British government to compensate Kenyan Victims will lead to other countries as well demanding for akin compensation
- Today when most of the previous colonial authorities have encompassed the ethics of human rights and democracy, it is prejudiced to presume them to pay damages for each and every past barbarism
- It is impractical to pay for such barbarism, as if such compensation is paid to one country the other countries will also prop up and demand for such kind of compensation
Conclusion:
- Feeling guilty and apologising for such kind of atrocities is one thing but compensating is other, compensating will be impractical In long run and might have to compensate for other countries as well, which will be in-turn a costly affair.
Discussion
- RE: UK's decision to compensate Kenyan victims of colonial-era torture -Rishika Jalan (04/25/14)
- It is undoubtedly a great positive and friendly move made by the United Kingdom in deciding to compensate Kenyan victims of the colonial era torture. The British government has decided that their compensation will be directly going to the hands of the victims who suffered because of the colonial era torture. None will be handed over to their descendants or to their government. This gesture is an initiative taken by the British government to show their regret to the Kenyans. But this decision might lead to a lot of other problems. This one decision to agree to pay compensation might lead to other countries also claiming for similar damages. This might have a serious and negative impact on the finances of the British government as paying such huge amounts for compensation is not practical and logical. Though this move is a great deed in favor of human rights, but on practical grounds it has no validation.
- RE: UK's decision to compensate Kenyan victims of colonial-era torture -Rajani Sharma (01/20/14)
- For:
• UK’s decision to compensate Kenyan victims of colonial era torture is a welcome acknowledgment of historical guilt.
• The compensation by the British government will be directly given to the victims of colonial era torture and not to their descendants or government.
• For some of the survivors of the colonial-era torture, British regret is worth more than compensatory money which will be provided to them.
• It is only fair that the UK pays compensation for the British suppression of the Mau Mau rebellion, which delayed Kenyan independence by a few years.
• This decision of British government will be a victory for international human rights jurisprudence.
• With this decision the elderly victims of torture will have the recognition and justice they have sought for many years.
Against:
• UK’s decision to compensate Kenya's victims of colonial era torture is bound to open the floodgates for similar compensation claims across the world.
• Apologising for past mistakes is one thing, but giving out monetary compensation for historical grievances is impractical. If today UK compensate those who suffered during Kenya’s Mau Mau movement then victims of other massacre or torture can make similar demands of British authorities.
• Today when most of the previous colonial authorities have encompassed the ethics of human rights and democracy, it is prejudiced to presume them to pay damages for each and every past barbarism.
