Introduction:
The London Review of Books (LRB), a British literary magazine, may not be a regular read among Africans, but it has played a significant role in shedding light on Africa-related issues.
Not very long time ago, the magazine brought attention to the British involvement in the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, a pivotal figure in African history.
This revelation challenges the prevailing narrative and exposes the enduring amnesia towards Britain's colonial past.
Unearthing the Truth:
In a review of Calder Walton's book on the British security services and the end of Empire, Bernard Porter mentioned Howard Smith's endorsement of killing Lumumba as a possible solution.
This revelation suggests that British agents and politicians were more aware of and complicit in colonial crimes than previously believed.
This view is shared by many, including Porter and Walton, who argue that British officials had greater knowledge and involvement in European colonial and post-colonial atrocities.
A Startling Revelation:
A letter published in the LRB from David Lea, a member of the British House of Lords, further illuminated Lumumba's assassination.
Lea recounted a conversation with Daphne Park, a former consul and first secretary in Leopoldville (now Kinshasa), who effectively served as the head of MI6 during that time.
When Lea raised the theory of MI6's involvement in Lumumba's abduction and murder, Park candidly responded, "We did, I organized it." This shocking revelation brings the discussion to a new level of certainty.
Media Coverage and Public Response:
The LRB, while reaching a specialist audience, has the potential to shape the comment and op-ed agendas in the British media.
Following the publication of Lea's letter, media outlets addressed the topic from different perspectives. The right-wing Daily Telegraph dismissed the claims, asserting that Britain does not engage in assassinations during peacetime.
Meanwhile, The Guardian took a more cautious stance. Even the tabloid newspaper, The Daily Mirror, included a brief item on Lea's letter, evoking intrigue and curiosity among its readers.
Amnesia and Ongoing Reckoning:
Despite recent revelations and ongoing negotiations for compensating Kenyan torture victims, discussions about Lumumba's assassination in mainstream media have remained detached and aloof.
This reflects a persistent amnesia surrounding Britain's colonial and post-colonial history in Africa and beyond. However, the story is far from over.
A letter in the latest issue of the LRB suggests that Lea may possess additional information. It is hard to imagine that his conversation with Daphne Park concluded with that single revelation.
Read the original version by Harry Stopes here.
Harry Stopes is a historian of modern Europe at Freien Universität Berlin.