Batang Kali massacre

The Batang Kali massacre took place in Malaysia on December 12, 1948. It is claimed that 14 members of the Scots Guards murdered 26 unarmed men and then set fire to the village. The only adult male survivor was Chong Hong, who was in his 20s at the time. He claimed to have fainted and was presumed dead however at least one female eyewitness has questioned his account. The men had been separated from the women and children for interrogation before the shooting began. The incident today is sometimes described as "Britain's "My Lai" massacre".

In the late 1960's an inquiry was begun by the British Labour government into the conduct of the Scots Guards at Batang Kali. The incoming Conservative government chose to drop the investigation in 1970.

Early reports claimed the men had run into the soldiers' gunfire. In contrast, later reports stated that the soldiers gave chase and opened fire on the fleeing villagers. The official account is that the men tried to escape into the jungle after being warned they would be shot if they ran. No one disputes the fact that all of the victims were unarmed. Nevertheless, the charge of a massacre has never been thoroughly investigated by either the Malaysian or British governments. The British troops and locals involved were never charged over the killings.

The controversial affair took place during British military operations against the communists in the post-World War II Malayan Emergency. It was in this campaign that Sir Gerald Templer first coined the now famous phrase "hearts and minds" as part of his strategy for victory.

In 1992, journalists from the BBC's Inside Story interviewed former members of the unit, who gave their side of the encounter.

External links

* [http://batangkalimassacre.wordpress.com Condemning Batang Kali Massacre Signature Campaign and Legal Action against the British Government]
* [http://www.dapmalaysia.org/all-archive/English/2004/jul04/bul/bul2460.htm Malaysian account of "massacre"]
* [http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1371332003 A Scottish viewpoint]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/3897147.stm BBC Malaysia Correspondent's account]