Alleged murder of Agnes Wanjiru by British soldiers

[littleburn]

I hope that the share token from today's Times works:

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/9040c28a-1e21-11ec-b8f6-2f9fbbeddc5b?shareToken=9a312274dd206c814d2ff4d064d70191

The level of misogyny is absolutely sickening. According to the anonymous soldiers interviewed, as she was 'just' a prostitute (their words) in Kenya no one would care if a soldier did murder her, and yes soldiers would most likely cover for each other and help dump her body in a septic tank.

Oh and apparently getting drunk and sleeping with multiple local prostitutes/sex workers is totally normal, excusable 'letting off steam' behaviour if you're sent to Kenya for a few weeks.

That poor woman, just trying to earn some money to survive and raise her child.

That's a horrific incident and such a casual dismissal of the life of a young woman. I fear that too much time has passed since it happened to collect any meaningful evidence and whoever killed her is likely to remain uncaught.

What I find astonishing is that the use of prostitutes is accepted by the UK army in this way. Any behaviour like that ought to lead to severe consequences imo, and followed through on, to make the clear point that you don't behave that way. You're stationed in a poor country, you don't take advantage of desperate poor women in this way.

It has always been the case that all armies sanction the use of women by men. How many women will admit that their fathers, brothers partners are likely to take the opportunities where they can?

It is so close to armies using rape as a weapon of war.

@AssassinatedBeauty

That's a horrific incident and such a casual dismissal of the life of a young woman. I fear that too much time has passed since it happened to collect any meaningful evidence and whoever killed her is likely to remain uncaught.

What I find astonishing is that the use of prostitutes is accepted by the UK army in this way. Any behaviour like that ought to lead to severe consequences imo, and followed through on, to make the clear point that you don't behave that way. You're stationed in a poor country, you don't take advantage of desperate poor women in this way.

It's not just the UK Army is it though?

It appears to be anyone that has access to poor women - Oxfam for example.

And it's not that the "use of prostitutes is accepted by the UK army", I'm pretty sure it'd come under "bringing the Army into Disrepute", it's a case of some drunken squaddies on a bender with access to poor, cheap prostitutes.

I don't know how much more of this I can take. I feel like I'm going to explode with rage or tears.

Did I say it was only the Army?? What an odd response. I'm equally as fucking horrified by the NGOs and charities that let the same behaviour go unchallenged by their employees/volunteers.

As for:

"And it's not that the "use of prostitutes is accepted by the UK army", I'm pretty sure it'd come under "bringing the Army into Disrepute", it's a case of some drunken squaddies on a bender with access to poor, cheap prostitutes."

I haven't got a clue what point you're trying to make. This behaviour clearly was tolerated because no one involved was charged with bringing the army into disrepute. Squaddies are part of the Army irrespective of how drunk they are. Their behaviour when off duty is going to be well known about and clearly it was tolerated.

Woman ✅
Poor ✅
Prostitute ✅
Africa ✅
"Third world" = "worthless cave-dwellers" ✅

Nothing to see here.

The response from the army is disgusting but not surprising. I hope this blows up into a massive scandal and the exploitation of poor women by our soldiers is tackled.

I haven't got a clue what point you're trying to make.

Obviously.

If no-one in charge was there (and they won't have been) then who will charge them??

They're allowed out on their own.... (Unfortunately in this case)

@DecadentlyDecisive what is with the vile attitude towards me posting about this issue??

Clearly no officer was there. But it is known who was there, who booked which room, witnessed who saw various people engaging in various behaviours. It could have been possible to charge people afterwards. Although now such time has passed that it will be more and more difficult to achieve.

Disgraceful. !

@PaleGreenGhost

It is so close to armies using rape as a weapon of war.

It only recently occurred to me that "allied forces" probably never stopped doing this.