African Greens Federation calls upon the Mauritius Government to urgently consider reparations of descendants of slaves. | African Green Federation
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African Greens Federation calls upon the Mauritius Government to urgently consider reparations of descendants of slaves.

Greens in Mauritius before at the start of the hunger strike
Greens in Mauritius before at the start of the hunger strike

The African Greens Federation calls upon the Mauritius Government and the Private Sector to urgently consider the matter reparations for the Mauritian descendants of slaves, known locally as the Creoles, through a Green Reparation Foundation (GRF).

Members of “Verts Fraternels’’ a recognized political party in Mauritius and a founder member of the African Greens Federation, started an unlimited hunger strike on Sunday, 6th October 2013 at the historical Company’s Garden, in Port-Louis, capital of Mauritius as a last recourse to a long battle started in 1989.

A motion for reparations to the descendants of slaves was approved at both the African Greens and the Global Greens Congresses held in Dakar during March-April 2012.

The African Greens Federation, support this initiative of a Green Reparations Foundation for the following reasons:

-          It is a pragmatic and non-violent solution to the growing issue of reparations as it allows all parties concerned to work together on the same footing, giving to the victims the possibility to participate actively for their effective empowerment.

-          The green objectives set to the process of reparations will promote a green economy in a country like Mauritius presented as a model for African countries while Mauritians of African origins continue to be dependent, marginalized and discriminated against, due to its neoliberal economy.

-          The association of the issue of reparations and the green objectives can act as a driving force in the African countries. It gives a tool to fight against poverty and to work for the economic independence of African countries.

-          Given the natural and ecological way of living still prevalent in the African cultures, the Greens of Africa are in a position to play a key role for the development of a green economy available to all.

-          It provides a reasonable time frame schedule for reparations and a sharing of responsibility for funding.

We also urge the governments of Great Britain, France and the Netherlands to recognize their responsibility in the present situation of the descendants of slaves and participate in Green Reparations Foundation as set up by the “Verts Fraternels’’.

Background:

The “Verts Fraternels” (VF), set up in 1968, became a green political party in 1989. Their long campaign for the emancipation of the descendants of slaves has led to the setting up of a Truth and Justice Commission (TJC) in 2009 to make recommendations on the sequels of slavery and indentured labour. The TJC’s report submitted in 2011 is the first official document attesting the situation of dependence, marginalization and discrimination of descendants of slaves in all walks of life in contemporary Mauritius. Implementation of the recommendations has not been realized.

 

                                                                                          Done at Kigali, 7th October 2009

 

                                                                                                  Dr.Frank HABINEZA

                                                                                              President, African Greens Federation

 

Greens in Mauritius before at the start of the hunger strike
Greens in Mauritius
Verts Fraternels