The only problem with accusations of thuggery is to make them stick, and of course the crown said they own the land, and in the international communities eyes the crown is the landlord, and making claims is exactly how ownership occurred, claims that weren't challenged became accepted, which is why the indigenous have to challenge the claims and when they accuse the Crown of malfaice it must be substantial.
For every law theres is an exception, and for every rule an exemption. An apropos about wars, if an aggresor initiates war with your country, wouldn't you consider fighting against the aggresor fighting for freedom, in turn meaning every defensive war a war for freedom.