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| Colchester barracks: Paratrooper 'shocked' by 'racist abuse' | Colchester barracks: Paratrooper 'shocked' by 'racist abuse' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A former paratrooper endured racial abuse and described racism as "prevalent" in his battalion, an employment tribunal heard. | A former paratrooper endured racial abuse and described racism as "prevalent" in his battalion, an employment tribunal heard. |
| Hani Gue told the tribunal he saw Nazi, Confederate and SS flags and photographs of Adolf Hitler displayed in accommodation at Colchester. | Hani Gue told the tribunal he saw Nazi, Confederate and SS flags and photographs of Adolf Hitler displayed in accommodation at Colchester. |
| Mr Gue and colleague L/Cpl Nkululeko Zulu have taken the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to a tribunal alleging they suffered racial discrimination. | |
| The MoD is contesting the claims. | The MoD is contesting the claims. |
| Mr Gue joined the Army in 2012 before transferring to 3rd Battalion (3 Para) A Company, based at Merville Barracks. | Mr Gue joined the Army in 2012 before transferring to 3rd Battalion (3 Para) A Company, based at Merville Barracks. |
| In his statement to a central London employment hearing on Tuesday, Mr Gue, who describes himself as a black African of Ugandan nationality, recalled colleagues using racist language to describe Kenyan soldiers during a deployment to the country. | In his statement to a central London employment hearing on Tuesday, Mr Gue, who describes himself as a black African of Ugandan nationality, recalled colleagues using racist language to describe Kenyan soldiers during a deployment to the country. |
| Mr Gue, who changed his Muslim surname of Hassan for fear that it could make him more likely to be a target, said racism was "prevalent in 3 Para and A Company in particular" and often passed off as "banter". | Mr Gue, who changed his Muslim surname of Hassan for fear that it could make him more likely to be a target, said racism was "prevalent in 3 Para and A Company in particular" and often passed off as "banter". |
| He also said photographs of himself and Mr Zulu, from South Africa, were pinned to the door of his room daubed with swastikas, Hitler moustaches and racist language. | He also said photographs of himself and Mr Zulu, from South Africa, were pinned to the door of his room daubed with swastikas, Hitler moustaches and racist language. |
| Mr Gue, who asked to leave the Army in January last year, said: "During the course of my employment I noticed that there were Nazi, Confederate and SS flags and photographs of Hitler displayed in A Company's accommodation which is a stone's throw away from the battalion headquarters." | Mr Gue, who asked to leave the Army in January last year, said: "During the course of my employment I noticed that there were Nazi, Confederate and SS flags and photographs of Hitler displayed in A Company's accommodation which is a stone's throw away from the battalion headquarters." |
| He said the alleged abuse, which included people smashing bottles and urinating in the corridor where he was staying, had "an extreme psychological impact" on him. | He said the alleged abuse, which included people smashing bottles and urinating in the corridor where he was staying, had "an extreme psychological impact" on him. |
| He added: "Unfortunately, my experiences of racial harassment and discrimination during the course of my employment have led me to realise that the Army is not the honourable institution I once thought it to be." | He added: "Unfortunately, my experiences of racial harassment and discrimination during the course of my employment have led me to realise that the Army is not the honourable institution I once thought it to be." |
| Mr Gue and Mr Zulu say they were racially abused, harassed and that the Army did not take reasonable steps to prevent it. | Mr Gue and Mr Zulu say they were racially abused, harassed and that the Army did not take reasonable steps to prevent it. |
| The MoD said the armed forces take complaints very seriously and at least one incident was referred to the Royal Military Police.. | The MoD said the armed forces take complaints very seriously and at least one incident was referred to the Royal Military Police.. |
| The tribunal continues. | The tribunal continues. |