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

Alltheprettyseahorses · 29/01/2024 17:35

It doesn't matter who broke the story. Harry needs to condemn the brutality, implement an investigation and resign from the board either immediately or after the investigation concludes, whichever is the better course to ensure it's fulfilled.

Yes - but I bet he'll just try to pretend it's all nothing to do with him. In the past he'd have had advisers, lawyers and PR people to sort this kind of stuff out for him. Of course he's not personally responsible for the atrocities, but why the heck did he ignore the information when it was sent to him months ago? That's what he needs to explain, and fast. He's clearly not very switched on about his charitable causes.

Harry needs to stop meddling in other countries business. He has no authority to do so. IMHO.

African Parks have responded better now - I think this is a decent statement and accounting (no explanation though re: issues since 2013). I look forward to seeing what comes of the investigations once completed.

Thanks for the link @skullbabe . Quite a defensive statement imo. And a direct grenade at SI about withholding information and revealing the ID of the victims. I assume those victims gave their consent, so it’s not AP’s place to question that, imo. They must have been desperate to do so.

The statement seems to be blaming the whistleblowers??

It is also a bit light on an actual timeline of when they instigated the formal investigation with the independent law firm and human rights lawyers. Hopefully that was implemented immediately rather than as a reaction to the recent public outcry.

It is interesting Harry still has not made a personal statement, considering he is the most high profile member of that organisation.

“It is our view that withholding of relevant information about potential abuses, as well as the publication of confidential or sensitive information (such as the names and images of victims) is tantamount to a second abuse of the victim.”

What?!

I think they are blaming SI for not sharing the identities and photographs of the victims.

They don’t seem very kind or wise. More defensive. Would it be a surprise if the victims didn’t feel safe with sharing their identities with the organization?