We were betrayed, claim mercenaries jailed after ex-SAS man's failed coup

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Guardian

We were betrayed, claim mercenaries jailed after ex-SAS man's failed coup
Soldiers imprisoned after foiled takeover in Equatorial Guinea describe their capture in Zimbabwe and call for compensation from Simon Mann, the Old Etonian ringleader
Ian Evans in Pretoria
The Observer, Sunday 25 April 2010

http://static.guim.co.uk.nyud.net:8090/sys-images/Observer/Columnist/Columnists/2010/4/24/1272104651870/Simon-Mann-001.jpg

Simon Mann, front right, sits with his co-defendants during their trial
in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in 2008.
Photograph: REBECCA BLACKWELL/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Former soldiers imprisoned alongside mercenary Simon Mann in Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea have demanded compensation from the convicted coup plotter, claiming they were duped into becoming part of his plans.

Speaking in Pretoria, where many of Mann's former accomplices have now settled, the men said that Mann and the other ringleaders of the coup attempt "owed them" for their ordeal.

George Alerson, 51, was imprisoned in Equatorial Guinea's notorious Black Beach prison, where Mann was also sent after being extradited from Zimbabwe. He told the Observer: "When he arrived, we weren't allowed to speak to him and he was kept separate from us.

"In jail on the last day I got the chance to speak. I told him he must help and look after us and he said he would do his best. We've tried to get in touch through lawyers, but he doesn't get back."

Sergio Cardoso, who was arrested and imprisoned in Equatorial Guinea as part of an advance party in the plot, added: "In the end he was a celebrity in prison, getting his food from a local hotel. He was looked after because he was paying the government and everyone knew it."


Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/25/simon-mann-equatorial-guinea-coup

[WhiteTara]

1. boohoo n/t

[UpInArms]

2. Simon Mann's partner was Mark Thatcher - son of Margaret Thatcher -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Thatcher

[Judi Lynn]

3. Thanks for reminding us. I had to go look for his photo after seeing your post.

He looks EXACTLY like a composite Monty Python twit:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn.nyud.net:8090/english/doc/2005-01/13/xin_500102130849070313912.jpg
Good godalmighty. He couldn't find anything he could do well, so he started trying to ruin the lives of huge numbers of people to leave his mark on the world. What a complete ass.

Why can't people hire these wealthy, decadent bastards to do harmless things and make life safer for human beings?

[UpInArms]

4. why can't these "decadent bastards" just have the good grace

to sit by a swimming pool and drink themselves to death?

got me.

no answer

they just need to find out they have no reason to live and do themselves in and stand in front of a train. I used to know where one went by at least 2 times a day.

[conspirator]

8. Rich people are not happy just with wealth. They feel the need to control other human beings

What good is their wealth if they cannot make others poor and miserable?

[tabatha]

7. Well said.

They still had their old colonial frames of mind. Go do something in a continent where they have a chance of success because of the lack of sophisticated police (Zimbabwe), but blew it anyway --- in Zimbabwe of all places.

[BlueMTexpat]

5. The Beeb has a great film about this whole episode.

It's called "Coup!" One of the most hilarious scenes portrays "Maggie" herself at a cocktail party held by her son where the plotters were getting together using that social occasion as cover.
The episode was more shocking than hilarious. But the film is quite accurate generally.
Check it out here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/coup/

If nothing else, Mann is a colorful figure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Mann

[Snazzy]

6. So what was it?

Been following this for so many years, still don't have it straight.

It is a fascinating crack in the engine, for sure. One can peek in and see a bunch of the moving parts.

Bush Sr. and Margaret were tight of course, so it's like there was some rebellion there, somewhere, and ultimately Thatcher Jr. lost. Oil and mostly nat'l gas in E. Guinea. The evil dictator remains "our" evil dictator. A Washington bank that historically shielded "our" puppets, tanks. Didn't change a thing that I could see, and probably wouldn't had the coup succeeded either.