The government refuses to pay compensation for colonial crimes – Liberation

This announcement was expected, but it feels like a step backwards. In a press release sent on Saturday, April 27, to the Portuguese news agency Lusa, the Portuguese center-right coalition government announced that it rejects any measure for reparations for colonial crimes. This position is the same as that of previous governments, that is “Deepening mutual relations, respect for historical truth, and increasingly intense and close cooperation on the basis of reconciliation between fraternal peoples.” With colonial countries but without paying.

This is an unequivocal response to the remarks made six days ago by the Head of State, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. He had mentioned his desire to do so “Paying costs” Crimes committed by his country in the context of colonialism.

Lisbon is not yet ready to take charge

On Saturday, the president remained straight in his shoes and in his remarks. “We cannot push this under the rug or into the drawer. We have a duty to lead and direct this process [de réparations]”. He also said that Portugal could use several methods to pay reparations, such as canceling the debts of former colonies and financing several projects.

This is a position that part of the Portuguese-speaking political class is not yet ready to accept. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa's desire to finally take responsibility for the atrocities committed by the former colonial power has sparked strong reactions from right-wing parties in recent days, especially within the CDS Popular Party (conservative, in the coalition government) or the extremist party. Chiga party right.

The longest historical involvement in the slave trade

If the government's refusal cannot be seen as a retreat from its position, it is primarily a disdain for the multiple appeals made by non-governmental organizations in Portugal and, more broadly, to all former colonial powers.

Portugal is the European country that holds the sad record for the longest historical involvement in the slave trade. From the 15th to the 19th century, at least 12.5 million people were kidnapped, forcibly transported across the Atlantic Ocean by Portuguese ships, and sold into slavery, primarily in the Americas. Angola, Mozambique, Brazil, Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe, East Timor and some areas in Asia remained under Portuguese control for a long time. The decolonization of African countries came a few months after the launch of the “Carnation Revolution” in Portugal, on April 25, 1974, which overthrew the longest fascist dictatorship in Europe and which celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its founding on Thursday. Therefore, there is still a long way to go before the countries involved in the transatlantic slave trade truly bear their responsibility.