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sabang

Britain's defence ministry will pay nearly STG3 million ($A6.2 million) to the family of an Iraqi man who died in the custody of British troops and to others who were abused, lawyers have said.

Baha Mousa, a 26-year-old hotel receptionist, was badly beaten and died after being arrested on suspicion of being an insurgent in Basra, southern Iraq, six months after the US-led invasion in March 2003.

Seven British troops were court martialled over the case last year but all were cleared bar one, Corporal Donald Payne, who admitted inhumane treatment and was jailed for a year. [ ]

The STG2.83 million ($A5.87 million) payout will be shared with eight other Iraqi men who were mistreated, the law firm Leigh Day, which represented the men, said in a statement.

Martyn Day, senior partner at Leigh Day, said: "Our clients have been through hell over the last few years and this settlement will go some way to enabling our clients to have some semblance of a decent future life."

Mousa's father Daoud, however, said the payout would not do much to ease his pain.

"The money will never compensate for the loss of my son," he told television broadcaster Channel 4 News.

"It just gives some sort of future for his children," he said.

In May, British Defence Secretary Des Browne announced a public inquiry into Mousa's death, describing it as a "terrible incident".

The Ministry of Defence said on Thursday the settlement was "amicable" and accompanied by an admission of liability that the British troops had committed substantive breaches of the European Convention on Human Rights.

It has also apologised to the Mousa family and the other claimants.

"The claimants' solicitors said that the settlement represented a fair deal for the claimants," the ministry added in a statement.

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said while most British troops had behaved well in Iraq, procedures and training had been improved to prevent further cases such as Mousa's death.

"All but a handful of the more than 120,000 British troops who have served in Iraq have conducted themselves to the highest standards of behaviour, displaying integrity and selfless commitment," she said.

"But this does not excuse that during 2003 and 2004 a very small minority there committed acts of abuse and we condemn their actions.

"The army has done a great deal since these cases to improve procedures and training. But we are not complacent and continue to demand the very highest standards of conduct from all our troops."

Britain to compensate Iraq abuse victims - Breaking News - World - Breaking News

So now the MOD has admitted liability and coughed up, the inevitable question to follow is what about the US?

Should the US DOD follow suit, admit liability, and compensate victims of prisoner abuse in Iraq?

Should the US DOD admit liability and compensate victims of murder, such as the family that was murdered, their 14yo daughter raped and murdered?

And then, what about Afghanistan? Could be a whole can of worms here.

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Norton

The US has already been paying compensation of all sorts for well over a year.

More likely to come with the wave of petitions demanding compensation for property destruction and pending law suits regarding illegal imprisonment and torture.

"According to the New York Times, the US has paid out more than $32m in compensation for civilian deaths, injuries and property damage." (April 2007)

US compensation payments to Iraqi civilians made public | World news | guardian.co.uk

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bkkandrew

Think I might put a claim in myself. I've been mortally embarassed by the whole Iraq adventure...

colourful-era

How much compensation do British or American families get whose sons have been killed/maimed? - very little I would imagine.

AntRobertson

So you're suggesting that as well as invading Iraq and Afghanistan they ought to be able to receive compensation from the Govt.'s of such for deaths incurred?

Presumably then that principle should also apply to someone who forces their way into your home, throws your stuff around, and injures themself in the process. At least medical expenses I reckon, minimum!

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colourful-era

No, I meant that the Governments of the UK or US should compensate the families of their own soldiers if they are prepared to do this for the Iraqis.

Texpat

How about the Iraqis killed while in UK custody?

How much for that little transgression?

AntRobertson

Oh right you are, totally wrong end of the stick there. My apolgies.

Norton

$100,000 tax free death gratuity from the government and if he/she has the supplemental life insurance, up to an additional $400,000. (I think that's right?)

Bush Seeks GI Death Benefit Hike, Calls For Extra $235K For Families Of Soldiers Killed In Combat - CBS News

astasinim

Have you read the OP or link private Pyle?

Texpat

Same for injury and death. Something ain't right there.
Acknowledge your shameful sins and REPENT!

sabang

So they have- and it would also appear they have been trying to keep them quiet. From the Guardian article-


"The memo is just one of 500 claims for damages by family members of civilians killed or injured by US forces and its allies in Iraq and Afghanistan that have been obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU made the documents public on its website today."
The ACLU received the records in response to a freedom of information act request filed in June last year.

US compensation payments to Iraqi civilians made public | World news | guardian.co.uk

So the information had to be wrested from the US government by the ACLU, using the FOI act. Why

Maybe_

"Since US troops first set foot in Afghanistan in 2001, the defence department has gone to unprecedented lengths to control and suppress information about the human costs of war," said Anthony Romero, the executive director of the ACLU.

This opacity has been a hallmark of the Bush administration.

Texpat

^ Filing a FOIA request is hardly wresting info.

The ALCU criticizes every presidential administration. And every government institution. It's what they do.

But this thread is about Britain paying compensation.

blackgang

And besides that,The USA does not like to brag about little shit like paying comp. shit it really nothing to run around bragging about, they do a lot of good shit that no one knows about, and most don't want to hear about the good shit, just shit to denigrate them about.

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astasinim

^
Damn, thats a lot of good shit!

Norton

Looks like a winner for the TD photo contest!