One of the silliest phrases to enter politics in the past few years is the accusation that someone is “rewriting history”.
Rewriting history is precisely the job description of a historian. Yet the phrase is often used in the UK nowadays to undermine or criticise the work of modern historians who overturn traditional views and prejudices, particularly of the British Empire.
A row about “rewriting history” arose a few years ago when a movie about the First World War featured Sikh soldiers fighting for the UK against Germany. There were many, many Sikh, Muslim and Hindu soldiers and people of colour from all over the world who fought in European wars on the British side. A more interesting question is why some British people are so insecure in their Britishness and our extraordinary history that they feel undermined rather than enriched by knowing how complicated the past really is.
That brings us to a current complication – a re-evaluation of very recent history, and the morally dubious things that happened within the UK itself in living memory.
Historically, the “Troubles” of Northern Ireland lasted from the late 1960s to the Good Friday Agreement of April 1998. But the re-evaluation of this living part of British history is contentious. Part of it emerged in a report released a few days ago on Operation Kenova.
Kenova is a long-term investigation into the police force in Northern Ireland, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and the failure to investigate 18 murders in order to protect a high-level double agent known as “Stakeknife”. The agent, a paid informer, worked for the British army while simultaneously he was a notorious killer for the Provisional IRA, the Irish Republican Army.
Why are some British people so insecure in their Britishness that they feel undermined rather than enriched by knowing how complicated the past really is?
His name is Freddie Scappaticci. He died aged 77 last year. He was for a long time trusted within the IRA as a member of their Internal Security Unit, informally known as the “nutting squad” – killing supposed informants and others who, the organisation believed, were betraying them to the British.
The attraction for British forces and army intelligence engaged in a dirty war, in which more than 3,000 lives were lost, is obvious. For years, they had someone trusted by the IRA who was betraying the IRA’s secrets. But at what cost in terms of human misery and – frankly – basic decency and ethics?
The official Operation Kenova report into Stakeknife released in the past few days is clear: “It is unacceptable that 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement [GFA], many families of those who were killed during the Troubles are still seeking information from the United Kingdom and Irish governments.” The report points out that the current peace in Northern Ireland and the reinvigoration of power-sharing between communities and political parties have yet to bring closure for victims and their families.
Those of us who lived and worked in Northern Ireland during the Troubles are familiar with the peculiar, and at times horrific, moral wasteland from which sprang its own peculiar vocabulary. Paramilitary organisations were known by their initials – the IRA, the Provisional IRA (PIRA or “Provos”), the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and so on.
Paranoia about penetration of these organisations by informers was so rampant that they practised their own discipline. Some who offended against the organisation’s rules were “kneecapped” – shot in the legs in a variety of horrible ways. One paramilitary leader, with the most desperate attempt at humour, told me: “For a first offence we kneecap you. For a second offence … we kneecap your head.” Hence “the nutting squad”.
The Kenova report is, you might say, a very positive attempt to give closure to those who were wronged. It is a welcome rewriting of history. And it is a reminder that the horrors of the past need to be remembered so that they are not repeated.
I return to Northern Ireland often. I love this small piece of Earth, and I have many friends there. I also remember that while humans are capable of appalling atrocities, we are also capable of change and redemption. In these (thankfully) more peaceful and optimistic times, I have met many former prisoners and one-time terrorists, including some convicted of murder.
I would never attempt to excuse their crimes but having lived through the violent years, I have come to understand why otherwise good people are capable of appalling acts. Many – perhaps all – of those I have met are capable of change. Many are most definitely making a contribution to peace now and trying to atone for their at-times violent pasts.
In the words of the Kenova report: “This report is dedicated to the many victims we have come to know, those who survived and those whom through their loved ones we feel we know, each life prematurely lost during the Northern Ireland Troubles.”
The report rewrites history. Good. In doing so, it reminds us of truly despicable acts of terror and complicity. The key to avoid repeating the sins of the past is to constantly re-evaluate our history and remember what went wrong.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh960,000
Engine 3.9L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power 661hp @8,000rpm
Torque 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.4L / 100k
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
More coverage from the Future Forum
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre, six-cylinder
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 395bhp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: from Dh321,200
On sale: now
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UAE%20SQUAD
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE%20SPECS
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Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs: 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
Price, base: Dh399,999
Engine: Supercharged 6.2-litre V8
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 707hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 875Nm @ 4,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 16.8L / 100km (estimate)
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
match info
Maratha Arabians 138-2
C Lynn 91*, A Lyth 20, B Laughlin 1-15
Team Abu Dhabi 114-3
L Wright 40*, L Malinga 0-13, M McClenaghan 1-17
Maratha Arabians won by 24 runs
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
