Malaysian activists are seeking an apology from Britain for the 1948 massacre of 24 unarmed villagers by British troops during the start of a crackdown against a rising communist insurgency.
The killings, known here as the "Batang Kali massacre," occurred in central Selangor state on December 12, 1948 when 14 members of the Scots Guards killed unarmed Chinese villagers and torched their village.
Cabinet minister Ong Tee Keat, who was present at the signing today of a petition calling for an official apology and compensation, says the history of the guerrilla war between colonial British forces and the Communist-led Malayan National Liberation Army should be accurately portrayed.
Ong told AFP "This event has been glossed over by the colonial government administration. This has been kept under the rug for so long".
He added "What these people are seeking really is historical redress as those that were killed have for long been described as bandits and Communist sympathizers".
Quek Ngee Meng, head of the Campaign Condemning the Batang Kali Massacre says the group wanted Britain to apologize and hold a public inquiry into the killings.
SAPA-AFP
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