Netherlands should apologise for slavery to Suriname, says Dutch MP
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| Published on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 |
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By Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: An opposition member of the Dutch parliament has said that the government of the Netherlands should offer formal apologies for slavery to Suriname. At a meeting here in Paramaribo, Harry van Bommel from the Socialist Party (SP) maintained that prime minister Jan-Peter Balkenende’s visit next week to Suriname is a unique opportunity for the Netherlands to offer apologies for the atrocities during slavery, which is considered one of the most horrible crimes against humanity.
The call by Van Bommel comes as Suriname prepares to commemorate the abolition of slavery in the former Dutch colony 145 years ago, while on July 1 in Amsterdam the Dutch prime minister will be present for the first time at a commemoration ceremony .
The Netherlands has so far refused to offer a formal apology. According to Van Bommel “Dutch traditions prevents” such a gesture, recalling that it took decades for the Dutch government to formally admit its wrongdoings in Indonesia during the independence struggle in the former Asian colony.
He further argued that fear for possible claims for reparations by descendants of slaves could also play a role in the reluctance of his government to apologise.
According to the Socialist MP, Balkenende should follow the example set by his Australian, British and German counterparts.
“Don’t run away any longer for our own history. I am of the opinion that the apologies should be pronounced here frankly, straightforwardly and overtly. Let Balkenende say it in parliament here,” Van Bommel called upon the Dutch prime minister. | | | | Reads : 138 |
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