amnesty International highlights mass rape of Kenyan women by British soldiers

international | anti-war / imperialism | press release Wednesday July 02, 2003 20:44 by Fintan Lane - Cork Anti-War Campaign corkantiwar at hotmail dot com

News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of amnesty International

AI Index: EUR 45/018/2003 2 July 2003

UK Armed Forces: Institutional acquiescence in rape of hundreds of
Kenyan women?


Six hundred and fifty allegations of rape have so far been made
against members of the UK army posted to Kenya for training over a
period of more than 30 years, Irene Khan, Secretary General of
amnesty International said today.

"The fact that so many rape claims over such a long period of
time were neither investigated nor prosecuted shows a systemic
failure of the UK army and may amount to institutional acquiescence
which encouraged a pattern of grave human rights violations by
members of the UK army."

amnesty International has received information that UK Army officials
in Kenya may have become aware of some of the rape allegations as
early as 1977.

"It is particularly worrying that both the UK and Kenyan
authorities failed to investigate these allegations, and the fact
that there were no repercussions for the perpetrators of these crimes
inevitably contributed to their widespread repetition," Ms Khan
said.

Speaking at the launch of a new report United Kingdom: Decades of
impunity: Serious allegations of rape of Kenyan women by UK Army
Personnel, Irene Khan called on the UK government to establish
without delay an independent and impartial commission of inquiry. The
inquiry should examine the conduct of the UK Army in light of
hundreds of allegations of rape of Kenyan women by UK Army personnel
over the course of more than three decades.

"The women and children born allegedly as a result of these
attacks have been suffering in silence for over thirty years --
stigmatized, discriminated and outcast within their own community.
They have suffered a double injustice -- not only were they sexually
abused but the crimes against them have never been properly
acknowledged let alone thoroughly investigated."

"For decades they have been waiting for justice - only through
the delivery of justice can they overcome their ordeal."

This report is largely based on information collected by an amnesty
International mission to central Kenya in June 2003 that interviewed
women alleged to have been raped, chiefs, and witnesses.

amnesty International also called on the Kenyan authorities to ensure
that all allegations of rape made against UK soldiers are thoroughly
and independently investigated either by instructing competent Kenyan
authorities to conduct such an investigation or by instructing
relevant Kenyan authorities to liaise and cooperate fully with UK
investigating authorities; and to ensure that anyone reasonably
suspected of criminal conduct be brought to justice in the course of
a fair trial.

The organization also called on the UK authorities to ensure the
protection of respect for the dignity of victims and witnesses.

Testimony

Oseina Thomas Koitat was born in 1964. She was reportedly attacked
when she was in her late teens, possibly in 1984, at around midday,
when she was taking her sheep home. A group of seven UK soldiers was
walking past her and they greeted her. It is reported that, suddenly,
one of the soldiers ran towards her. She became scared and started to
run as well, but tripped and fell on her knees. The soldier
reportedly caught up with her and held her down. She screamed and
struggled. She tried to get up, but the other soldiers came and held
her down. Oseina Koitat told amnesty International that there were
seven soldiers: she remembers being raped by four of them, and that
she then lost consciousness. It is reported that the men who raped
her were white and were wearing military fatigues, boots, a headgear
of leafy branches, and were carrying large backpacks and guns.

When Oseina Koitat regained consciousness, she found herself in a
pool of blood. She was angry and confused. She told amnesty
International that she felt like mud. She got up and walked for a
long time, feeling dizzy. When she was close to her home, she saw the
councillor's car parked nearby. Her neighbours were in the car and
they asked what had happened. She reportedly told them that she had
been raped. They took her home to her husband, who brought her to
Nanyuki hospital where she stayed for one day. The following day the
chief of the village went to visit her at home. Her husband reported
the rape to the police.

At the time of her rape Oseina Thomas Koitat had two children and she
has had another six since, but she stated that her health has never
been the same again since the attack. As a result of the attack, she
bled profusely, and suffered back and stomach pains.

After the rape, some people stopped socializing with her, and she
feels ashamed because everybody -- even her grandchildren -- knows
what happened to her. When she attends meetings related to bringing
legal proceedings in connection with the alleged rapes, she does not
tell her family where she is going and why, but everybody knows.
Since the attack, she often feels very angry; when she sees a
military vehicle or soldiers her heart beats faster. At times, while
she is going about her daily chores, all of a sudden the thought of
the attack crosses her mind and she stops and feels enraged.

Details of other cases are available in the report: United Kingdom:
Decades of impunity: Serious allegations of rape of Kenyan women by
UK Army Personnel - http://amnesty-news.c.tclk.net/maabdTJaaYXzSbdR4zmb/


Video: UK Army in Kenya: Serious Allegations of Rape (Real Player
required) - http://amnesty-news.c.tclk.net/maabdTJaaYXz3bdR4zmb/




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