- Seneiya
Kamotho
- English/Kenya
-
- After what Honourable Amos Wako described in an exclusive interview today as
a tortuous and draining negotiation process, the European Union and other First World countries have finally agreed to accept that slavery, apartheid and genocide are
crimes against humanity.
An elated Amos Wako emerged from the final meeting on this final day of the World Conference Against Racism and said, "This is a historic moment, and more so because Kenya was selected to coordinate the Africa Group in steering these difficult negotiations. Recognizing that these are crimes against humanity is a big step forward." The final declaration from this world conference will, however, not contain the specific word
apology but instead will use others such as regret, and
remorse.
This is a major step forward in the negotiations between the African and European nations regarding slavery and slavery reparations which had earlier created a wide gulf, and even threatened to derail the negotiations. Initial drafts from the different sides had
distinctly different phraseology that seemed to lead to an impasse. Earlier, the African draft text called for reparations to be paid to the victims of slavery and their descendents. The European text did not even have the word
reparations in it. The African text had called for specific apologies from specific countries, for slavery. The European draft only suggested an apology to be issued in the name of all humanity. European objections were based on the claim that slavery was too far in the past, and that all states, not just colonial countries in some way committed the crime, or benefited from slavery.
The words compensation, and reparations have also not been used in the document. Instead other phraseology acknowledging the need for
remedial measures have. "I believe we have covered a lot of ground because the final document recognises that slave trade, slavery, colonialism, and so on are major causes of racism and have led to poverty, underdevelopment and other adverse effects in the Third World. The document, therefore, called for special remedial measures to curb the negative effects that are still being experienced today. As much as it does not call for compensation directly related to these crimes against humanity, at least, there are clear linkages. To earmark poverty to the question of slavery, slave trade and racism is to me a big step," said honourable Wako. "Poverty, underdevelopment is longer being seen as inherent to the African people, but as problems stemming from this crimes in history," he added.
"There was all kinds of phraseology causing problems. There was the question of whether the words
slavery, slave-trade, colonialism, genocide and Apartheid should be mentioned as
crimes against humanity. The European Union, Canada and others were vehemently opposed to slavery and slave-trade being mentioned as crimes against humanity. Their position was that slavery and slave trade occurred on a large scale and at that time it was not a crime against humanity, but that if this had happened at this day and age, it would be considered as such," said the Honourable Wako.
Said he, "In fact, some European delegates went as far as stating that it was perfectly legal at that time and therefore not a crime. But in answer to that the Africa Group emphasized that it was clearly criminal of the highest order on the African population."
On the question of Colonialism, the European nations insisted that this cannot be considered a crime against humanity. "The Some European nations still have
dependent countries so we could not agree on this term. We had to come to a compromise concerning colonialism but nevertheless we used language that clearly shows that colonialism is a
major source of racism and racial discrimination."
One of the other difficult words in the negotiating process was
apology. Some African Group delegates had demanded apologies from specific European and other countries, to specific African countries regarding slavery. The European Union, Canada, Australia and the United States feared that explicit apologies on their part regarding slavery would imply liability on their part, hence opening a floodgate of claims and suits being filed against them. Instead and as a compromise, the final document states that countries concerned must take concrete steps to
show remorse towards the victims. "We have noted that some European countries have expressed their apologies in their legislation, such as Germany towards Namibia. We are hoping the other First World Nations will follow suit," says Wako.
Responding to the question as to whether this was just another talk shop, honourable Wako said, "This particular World Conference may very well be the beginning of a healing process, the beginning of a new chapter in the relationship between races. The process of confronting the issues and doing something to remedy the abhorrent ramifications is a big step forward."
|