The StarBy FLORENCE A. SAMY
KUALA LUMPUR: Britain has reconsidered its decision not to hold an inquiry or further investigation into the 1948 Batang Kali massacre of unarmed villagers by British troops.
However, in its letter dated April 24, the British government said the decision should not be taken as “any indication, one way or the other, whether an inquiry will be established or other investigation undertaken.”
However, in its letter dated April 24, the British government said the decision should not be taken as “any indication, one way or the other, whether an inquiry will be established or other investigation undertaken.”
Coordinator of the Action Committee Condemning the Batang Kali Massacre, Quek Ngee Meng, said he welcomed the decision to reconsider their inquiry petition which was initially rejected on Jan 21.
However, he said the committee and Tham Yong, a surviving family member, could not accept the British government’s reply that the outcome of the reconsideration would only be known within the next few months.
“Such a long and uncertain period of determination is either a genuine typo error on the part of the Secretaries of State or they are simply dragging time unnecessary to the detriment of the surviving families,” he said at a press conference Wednesday.
In December 1948, 14 members of the Scots Guards shot dead 24 villagers thinking that they were communists. This was a crackdown against the communist insurgency.
Tham Yong is the surviving wife of Chong Fong, the lone survivor who died last year aged 82. Chong Fong, then 22, survived the massacre as the guards presumed he was dead after he had fainted and lost consciousness.
Quek said a Queen’s Counsel was assisting the surviving families who were seeking an inquiry, public apology and reasonable compensation according to international humanitarian standards.
He said Tham Yong’s lawyer had written a letter on Monday urging the British government to complete the reconsideration process within six weeks.
“We gave them a deadline by the end of UK business time today (Wednesday) to reply to our letter,” he said.
Time was of the essence, he said, as most witnesses were in their twilight years and wanted to see justice done before they die.
“There is an absolute urgency in the matter as most witnesses may not be able to wait for justice to be restored. Justice delayed is justice denied,” he added.
One witness, Wong Kum Sooi, who was 11 when the incident happened, died last Friday. He had lost his father and uncle in the killing, he said.
Quek said there were now a total of 13 witness, namely nine former Scots Guards and four local witnesses, aged between 69 and 78.
MCA’s Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong who was also present, said they wanted justice not revenge.
“Time is running out for us. We hope the witnesses can see justice done before they die and that the surviving families can finally have some form of closure after more than 60 years,” he added.
Interest on the massacre was re-ignited in 1992 with a BBC documentary entitled In Cold Blood which featured fresh evidence including confessions by former Scots Guards and testimonies by survivors and witnesses.
However, he said the committee and Tham Yong, a surviving family member, could not accept the British government’s reply that the outcome of the reconsideration would only be known within the next few months.
“Such a long and uncertain period of determination is either a genuine typo error on the part of the Secretaries of State or they are simply dragging time unnecessary to the detriment of the surviving families,” he said at a press conference Wednesday.
In December 1948, 14 members of the Scots Guards shot dead 24 villagers thinking that they were communists. This was a crackdown against the communist insurgency.
Tham Yong is the surviving wife of Chong Fong, the lone survivor who died last year aged 82. Chong Fong, then 22, survived the massacre as the guards presumed he was dead after he had fainted and lost consciousness.
Quek said a Queen’s Counsel was assisting the surviving families who were seeking an inquiry, public apology and reasonable compensation according to international humanitarian standards.
He said Tham Yong’s lawyer had written a letter on Monday urging the British government to complete the reconsideration process within six weeks.
“We gave them a deadline by the end of UK business time today (Wednesday) to reply to our letter,” he said.
Time was of the essence, he said, as most witnesses were in their twilight years and wanted to see justice done before they die.
“There is an absolute urgency in the matter as most witnesses may not be able to wait for justice to be restored. Justice delayed is justice denied,” he added.
One witness, Wong Kum Sooi, who was 11 when the incident happened, died last Friday. He had lost his father and uncle in the killing, he said.
Quek said there were now a total of 13 witness, namely nine former Scots Guards and four local witnesses, aged between 69 and 78.
MCA’s Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong who was also present, said they wanted justice not revenge.
“Time is running out for us. We hope the witnesses can see justice done before they die and that the surviving families can finally have some form of closure after more than 60 years,” he added.
Interest on the massacre was re-ignited in 1992 with a BBC documentary entitled In Cold Blood which featured fresh evidence including confessions by former Scots Guards and testimonies by survivors and witnesses.
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