Death Row in Paradise: The Untold Story of the Mercenary Invasion of the Seychelles 1981-83

by Aubrey Brooks

This is the story of an attempted coup d'etat more than twenty years ago on the Seychelles, an idyllic but obscure group of islands in the Indian Ocean. At the time, the attempt made headlines across the world, partly because it involved names still famous or notorious from the mercenary involvement in the Congo in the 1960s, partly because it involved the hijacking of an Air India jetliner, partly because South Africa, the international pariah, was involved, and partly because the incident was perceived as another small skirmish in the Cold War. However, this is more than a behind-the-scenes account of those faded headlines. It is the story of one individual's personal growth.

The author writes, "I was wounded and captured in the Seychelles. I was severely beaten on a daily basis, stood trial and then was sentenced to death. I eventually served two and a half years in prison, a time, which I value with hindsight because I now realize it was then that I discovered hidden depths in my comrades and myself. I discovered humanity in my jailers and in the president of the Seychelles, whom my group had set out to depose. Cut off from my wife and family, I treasured their support from a distance and today do not for an instant take for granted the strength and joy of a loving family. And I deepened my religious faith, which today lights my path. It seems an odd thing to say, but I owe a lot to that escapade in the Seychelles. I realized how shallow and crass the racial attitudes are that exist in this world we live in. Human courage and kindness, I discovered, knows of no racial barriers. I experienced the unbelievable magnanimity and greatness of spirit of President Albert René, the man to whom I owe my life. I also experienced support from a distance from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a person I had been conditioned to expect nothing from except hostility. It was an illuminating and humbling experience. I also experienced the fickleness of the apartheid regime. I suppose, it would have been expecting a bit much for them to admit they backed the Seychelles attempt and supplied the weaponry, but as far as I am aware, they subsequently did not stir a finger, officially or unofficially, to ameliorate our condition or secure our release. What they did do was put sinister and unpleasant pressure on my wife, alone in Durban with two young children, for reasons I am still at a loss to understand."

Genres: History

156 pages, Paperback

First published December 26, 2012

Reviews

[JD · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is about mercenary Aubrey Brooks who during the failed 1981 coup in the Seychelles was wounded and captured and sentenced to death. The story gives just enough background on his youth and military career in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and his life in South Africa after moving there. He also gives just enough details about the planned coup and it's execution. His imprisonment takes up most of the book as the title suggest, but while this is interesting in the beginning, it started to drag out in the end and sometimes you get lost in the timeline of these events as he tends to jump around with some events and he makes the time spent imprisoned seem so much longer. Still an inspiring story of the triumph of the human spirit to read if you are interested in the events.

[Greer Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was with great interest that I read this book, not only knowing the author but also having lived in all the places mentioned, including the Seychelles. This, one would think, would give me an added advantage and deeper insight of what happened but the very human way in which the entire story is documented is so compelling it had me turning pages well past the bewitching hour. It was as if I'd been teleported back in time, scared out of my wits one moment, feeling the suffering, the desperation the next. But always the excitement, the intensity of the unexpected forever lurking.. yet hope,always hope.The humble and honest way in which it is told, both refreshing and endearing, adds to the charisma of the writer. The heart-stopping crescendo's, like the tides themselves, as our battle-torn soldier of fortune is tossed mercilessly around as if adrift in high seas, at the mercy of savage and ruthless adversaries to the president himself. The loyalty and courage of fellow soldiers, his wife, his friends, the unexpected warmth and kindness from those least expected, to the total cut-off, disregard, by those most accountable. And all true! What exciting times we lived in! This book held me captivated from start to finish. There is definitely a film in Death Row in Paradise, it is this century's Wild Geese!

[Zare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book on mercenaries that got caught by Seychelle security forces after attempted coup went sour.

Left to their own devices and captured by the country that wants to save their face after coup attempt but also act humanely to their prisoners, mercenary group (and one very weird spook) need to rely on their training to not succumb mentally during the trial and two and a half years of prison and constant fear of death sentence execution by their captors - and being treated as pariahs by their own government the whole time.

Author tells about difficulties encountered and overcome by him and his team-mates, involvement of South Africa security forces in harassing him and his family (something author still does not understand why it was done) and finally understanding that he was fed a lot of political dogma that had nothing in common with the real world.

I was especially taken aback by author's view of Mike Hoare - usually Hoare and his 5 Commando weren't very much liked by professional soldiers that came into contact with them. Aubrey Brooks shows him in different light as rather capable officer. As I said ... interesting.

Recommended to everyone interested in Africa wars and mercenaries.

[Greer Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was with great interest that I read this book, not only knowing the author but also having lived in all the places mentioned, including the Seychelles. This, one would think, would give me an added advantage and deeper insight of what happened but the very human way in which the entire story is documented is so compelling it had me turning pages well past the bewitching hour. It was as if I'd been teleported back in time, scared out of my wits one moment, feeling the suffering, the desperation the next. But always the excitement, the intensity of the unexpected forever lurking.. yet hope,always hope.The humble and honest way in which it is told, both refreshing and endearing, adds to the charisma of the writer. The heart-stopping crescendo's, like the tides themselves, as our battle-torn soldier of fortune is tossed mercilessly around as if adrift in high seas, at the mercy of savage and ruthless adversaries to the president himself. The loyalty and courage of fellow soldiers, his wife, his friends, the unexpected warmth and kindness from those least expected, to the total cut-off, disregard, by those most accountable. And all true! What exciting times we lived in! This book held me captivated from start to finish. There is definitely a film in Death Row in Paradise, it is this century's Wild Geese!