Charity linked to Duke of Sussex accused of perpetrating atrocities

[AliceOlive]

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/28/charity-with-prince-harry-as-director-investigated-over-and-torture-claims

“A charity with strong ties to Prince Harry has been funding rangers responsible for horrific abuses against Indigenous people in the Congo, including torture and rape, according to a major investigation published in the UK’s Mail on Sunday.”

“The investigation has uncovered evidence of countless atrocities committed by African Parks’ “armed militia” against local Baka people. The organization has known for years that the abuses were taking place, but they have continued unabated.”

edited to add quotation marks

People already trying to excuse it are shocking. When you sit on a board you have access to and responsibility for the financials. You have knowledge and control of how the money is spent. Armed guards are not free. Weapons are expensive. You can’t think anyone on that board was unaware of the their obscene partnerships, either.

How is allowing trophy hunters while keeping out the Baka with physical force “protecting” the forest?

Now the focus is on Harry rather than the atrocities. 😥

I don't like him but this is stupid journalism. And this post is just fuelling it.

Now I've read more , I withdraw my previous post defending Harry !
I thought it was as ushal down to his stupidity and lack of doing his own work but no , he actually was informed about all these awful accusations already!
And I agree with @AliceOlive , kicking indigenous people off their own land and separating them from their culture is disgusting behaviour.

No, it’s hand in hand. This will ensure the atrocities gain attention. The MoS broke the story but serious organizations in UK and US are picking it up. It will at minimum stop people from donating to WWF and African Parks.

Harry could have been in the right side of this and chose another path. That’s a small part of the story.

And if it makes even one person think about being involved with a charity just to raise their own profile rather than to do the actual work of providing oversight, that’s a very good thing.

What makes it particularly bad for me , after all the guff he spouted on Netflix about the commonwealth... empire 2.0 and colonialism and royal family being racist ( sorry unconsciously biased ) the people obviously thought he'd care which is why they told him ( and Meghan apparently) directly !
But no , no action , just pass the Buck .

Clearly it was all empty words!

It's all about creating an image and looking the part (humanitarians and philanthropists), ensuring PR puff pieces are released on a regular basis so we can all sing their praises but under the surface they don't really care much about anything other than the green $$$. They are all show and no substance.

A couple of charlatans and I hope their chickens all come home to roost very soon.

Archewell - 'compassion in action' what a farce.

Rant over.

Thank you for the thread, @AliceOlive

He was president of this org for 6 years.

May 2023, he and Meghan received direct correspondence from Survival International about the atrocities. Atrocities that had been going on all through his presidency and long before from all accounts. They ask the Sussexes for help.

He or someone then starts touting his Netflix plan for an Africa documentary. This becomes known via people like Dr Tessa Dunlop crowing about his triumphant return to Africa and Netflix glory.

He then takes a board of directors role with African Parks in October 2023. This to me is doubling down his association, and going from well meaning bystander to a directly responsible officer of the org.

He happily uses his African Parks credentials on his Archewell page and to gain awards like the Legends of Aviation Award.

He is by far the most high profile person involved in the org, having a worldwide name, reputation and platform. People will pay attention if he supports the org. People will pay attention if an org associated with him does something wrong.

Playing the blame game against the Mail is just a deflection of his own poor choices, his smoke and mirrors “humanitarian “ and his own stupidity and/or indifference. Africa has only ever been a playground in which to exercise his white, privileged existence amongst people just like himself. It’s all about building a profile as a humanitarian rather than actually being one. Both he and his wife engage in pay to play humanitarian for photo ops and little else.

Yes, the whole white saviour 'my passion for Africa' thing while accepting awards for challenging racism was a tad irritating.

And now this. He knew about the accusations, and chose to get even more involved by joining the Board six months later, even though nothing had been done about the situation.

I'm actually really angry about this!!!
Those poor women! Raped ( as ushal!) , just ignored! Would they have been ignored if they were white?
It's like the oxfam scandal!!
So angry 😡

😂There are around 3.5 million sole proprietorships (companies with one director) in the UK , 414,000+ partnerships (with multiple directors), and 2 million+ limited companies (with multiple directors) - and 1,200 are disqualified each year??? I rest my case - it is exceptionally rare.

And he immediately escalated it and an investigation was launched. I haven't seen the news about the immediate investigation launched against the WWF for the same reason. Sir David Attenborough is one of their distinguished ambassadors. Prince Phllip was "closely linked" to them for decades including the period to which these allegations refer.

I am not saying that if these allegations are true they are not serious - but blaming Harry for them is bloody ridiculous.

Being legally accountable and being held accountable are two different things.

If an organization and it's board are not responsible for people they employ and arm causing grievous harm to people while in the course of their duties, who do you think is responsible?

Your argument continues to shift. Now you accept what I posted which you previously challenged, but have moved your target again.

It's not true.
Well, it may be true but he didn't know.
Well I guess he knew, but he is not responsible.
Well he may be responsible but did the right thing.

You wrote that no one here gives a shit. It's pretty clear how you came about that conclusion. If you don't care about a topic, there's no need to engage.

Harry is not smart. He does not have an outstanding talent, passion or hobby. He also has virtually no real-life experience in business, creative endeavours, media, film etc. His adult life was spent mostly battling MH issues, going to parties, doing Royal engagements, suing people and constantly moving house. (His only work experience of note is military but unfortunately that's of no help to his current life). I seriously doubt he gives more than a few minutes thought about these charities. Just like Travalyst or any of the other ventures he tacks his name onto.

As soon as potential trouble comes up, he's obviously doing to do the "Homer Simpson backing away through a hedge" thing. I agree that it's slightly unfair to pin the atrocities perpetrated by staff of a big company on the director, however I equally don't see Harry or Meghan giving a shit about bringing anything to justice here. They are both obsessed with fame and fortune and surrounding themselves with high-level, influential people. They have not visited any third world country or took part in any humanitarian trips since they moved to LA.

For all their virtue signalling about racism, poverty and women's rights, they seem extremely keen to distance themselves from helping POC victims of rape when the opportunity has clearly presented itself as an urgent request.

I don't see anyone blaming Harry for what happened, however people are outraged that he knew about it and chose to look the other way.

Good post @User2356542 !
Very much what I was thinking!
This could have been a valuable opportunity for them to practice what they preach and really help a community in desperate need!

A very rude personal attack on op!
She's not a royalist by the by she's American and quite often defends Meghan!
You however are an unknown quantity taking pot shots!

Thanks Jeff. And buh-bye angry lady!. Funny for me to be called the Royalist here.