Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Judi Lynn

(160,219 posts)
Sat Apr 13, 2013, 08:20 PM Apr 2013

Margaret Thatcher 'gave her approval' to her son Mark's failed coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea

Margaret Thatcher 'gave her approval' to her son Mark's failed coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea

Unpublished version of memoir by former SAS officer Simon Mann records Baroness Thatcher's endorsement of plan to depose oil-rich country's president

Daniel Boffey
The Observer, Saturday 13 April 2013

Margaret Thatcher approved of a failed attempt to use an army of mercenaries to overthrow the president of Equatorial Guinea, according to the unpublished memoirs of the chief protagonist of the bid, former SAS officer Simon Mann.

The former prime minister, whose son, Sir Mark, was convicted in a South African court of involvement in the attempted 2004 coup, allegedly told Mann at a meeting at her Belgravia home: "I'm sure it's going to work".

It is claimed that Thatcher likened the need for radical change in the oil-rich Equatorial Guinea to the way London's Docklands had been redeveloped during the 1980s.

She is also alleged to have encouraged Mann to talk to a group seeking to overthrow the then president of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, with the words: "We must always look after our friends, Simon … as I'm sure you know."

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/apr/14/thatcher-knew-of-equatorial-giunea-coup-attempt

2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Margaret Thatcher 'gave her approval' to her son Mark's failed coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea (Original Post) Judi Lynn Apr 2013 OP
I completely forgot about "Sir Mark"......... rdharma Apr 2013 #1
Wow. Had no idea about this. Thank you so much, Judi. ocpagu Apr 2013 #2
 

rdharma

(6,057 posts)
1. I completely forgot about "Sir Mark".........
Sat Apr 13, 2013, 08:48 PM
Apr 2013

..... thanks for the reminder, Judi.

He got a slap on the wrist for that one......

 

ocpagu

(1,954 posts)
2. Wow. Had no idea about this. Thank you so much, Judi.
Sun Apr 14, 2013, 12:30 AM
Apr 2013

What a sick woman Thatcher was. She knew no limits, in the worst possible way. But, again, no surprise that she would like Chávez to be deposed. Considering she said Pinochet brought democracy to Chile, that probably made a lot of sense in the twisted reality she was living in. As for her son and his mercenaries from South Africa plotting coups and destabilization... well, we can clearly see that she passed her rotten "values" to her offspring.

I will never understand the existence of people whose only goal in life is spreading evil worldwide.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Latin America»Margaret Thatcher 'gave h...