Rewriting history in wake of Mandela’s death

We are all saddened by Nelson Mandela’s death but it was interesting to see the British media try to rewrite history to make it appear their government was anti-apartheid and pro-Mandela.

For decades UK leaders and US leaders supported the racist regime in South Africa and supplied it with weapons, making huge profits. Recently House of Commons speaker John Bercow said Mandela was “Father of us all”, yet in 1989 he was chair of the Federation of Conservative students which produced “hang Mandela” posters and badges.

David Cameron also praised Mandela, yet in 1989 he went on an all expenses fact-finding trip to South Africa in secret whilst Mandela was in jail. Margaret Thatcher and president Regan classed Mandela and his ANC as terrorists and opposed sanctions against white South Africa. Even last week former Tory chairman Lord Tebbit was refusing to back down from saying the ANC was a “typical terrorist organisation”. Ex-Tory MP Terry Dicks went further and compared Mr Mandela to a member of Al-Qaeda. Not until the very end of the eighties did public opinion backed by boycotts of South African companies and goods help bring the regime to its knees.

It’s also not surprising that president Jacob Zuma was booed at Mandela’s funeral.

Sadly, South Africa is now a more unequal society than under apartheid. Nelson Mandela’s colleagues are mostly corrupt and most of them are now multi-millionaires. Compelling evidence is now emerging that 34 unarmed striking miners killed last year were the victims of a pre-planned police ambush. This massacre was obscured from public view as long as possible by the authorities.

When animals are caught and charged the wealthy can find a way to bribe the police and prosecutors to ensure they never go to court.

Gordon Cunningham

Donaghmede

Dublin 13