Belgian television censored a British documentary about Belgian king Leopold II’s reign of terror in the Congo, during which 10 million Africans are said to have perished. The Congo natives were mutilated and murdered for not delivering enough rubber to the private rubber companies of the cruel king. Belgium’s Foreign Minister Louis Michel, a Francophone Liberal, and Belgium’s present Belgian king Albert II both pressured Belgian state television not to broadcast the BBC documentary “White King, Red Rubber, Black Death”. The Royal Palace expressed its concern about the documentary’s “historical accuracy.” As a compromise the state television had the documentary “put in the right context.” Every comparison between Leopold’s genocide and that of Adolf Hitler was cut from the documentary, as were all references to the wealth of the Belgian royal family - which is to a large extent based on the Congo proceeds of Leopold II. Criticism of the monarchy is taboo in Belgium because it might tarnish the king’s image. The king plays a central role in Belgian politics. Being neither Fleming nor Walloon - the French speaking Saxe-Coburgs are a German family - the king is considered to be an independent arbiter whose motives are not to be questioned.

Dit artikel van Frank Vanhecke verscheen ook in The Free State en The Flemish Republic, alsook op VlaamsBelang.org.

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