NO to Apologies For The Dutch Slavery Past

(Klik hier voor de Nederlandse versie)

 

To the Dutch Government and the Cabinet 

Attn. the Prime Minister Mr. M. Rutte 

Binnenhof 19

2513 AA DEN HAAG

 

Subject: NO to Apologies for the Dutch slavery past on December 19, 2022 St Eustatius, 19 december 2022

 
‘They (still) Don’t Care About Us’.1

 

    
 

Dear Prime Minister Rutte,
 

Reaction to Prime Minister Rutte excuse,

In memory of our warrior Afrikan ancestors who fought against Colonial rule for our freedom, we, Ubuntu Connected Front D'HERO, Ubuntu Connected Front Caribbean and many supporting advocacy organizations bring to Prime Minister Rutte, your cabinet and government the following message.

1. We will NOT-accept the excuse (or special message) for the Dutch slavery past that you are going to pronounce on behalf of the Dutch State, December 19, 2022. The reason for rejecting your excuse is prompted by the following. 
2. Minister Rutte, HIS previous and successive cabinets and governments have never seen the descendants of enslaved people as full citizens of our society. Time and time again you insulted descendants of enslaved people and or citizens of Afrikan descent in your policies, laws and regulations as well as openly in the media; 
3. In 2001, slavery and the slave trade (including the transatlantic slave trade) was declared a crime against humanity by the UN and the same goes for the European Parliament. We recall that the State of the Netherlands voted against the resolution in this vote; 
4. Your cabinet (and government) subsequently failed to implement the UN "International Year for People of Afrikan Descent" in 2011, which included the themes of recognition, justice and development. 
5. Your cabinet (and government) did not establish a national action plan in the subsequent UN "International Decade (2015 – 2024) for people of African descent"2 with the same themes and baptized the 'Reparations Decade'. 
6. Your cabinet (and government) recently voted in Geneva in October 2022 (less than 2 months ago!!) against a UN resolution against the transatlantic slave trade, colonization, global racism and discrimination; 
7. Your cabinet (and government) has never given a substantive response to questions from the Civil Society about the annual use of the Golden Coach on Prinsjesdag. Even the King has never responded to our requests or formally distanced himself from the Golden Coach to this day; 
8. Your statement in 2013 that 'black pete is black' and the announcement in July 2020 that your cabinet sees nothing in Dutch apologies for the slavery past because it would only have a polarizing effect, are etched in our memory despite your recent U-turn;
9. Finally Minister Rutte announcement during the weekly press conference on Friday last. in which you indicate that after apologizing, the cabinet and the government will not transfer reparations for running the most criminal enterprise in Dutch history.3 Not only is this the umpteenth insult of the descendants of enslaved people in our country, the cabinet and government are also denying that same history and its impact in the present; 
10. Your statement that no reparations in the form of payment of arrears of wages for enslaved people will be paid is also proof to us that the racist colonial actions of your predecessors are also deeply rooted in your genes, your cabinet and government. 
11. The preparations leading up to this day have also clearly shown that the cabinet and government have not understood what this dossier is essentially about: recognition, justice and development. For example, conclusions of ongoing investigations into the slavery past will not be included, apologies will be made for irrelevant groups with regard to the slavery past, and descendants of the true heroes in the battle will not be included on the list of invitees in the Netherlands, the Republic of Suriname and the Caribbean islands ( Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, St. Maarten, St Eustatius and Saba). 
12. By applying the colonial divide and conquer techniques and also setting a date in a colonial manner, express against the wishes of those directly involved, not only shows that the cabinet and government still treat the descendants with disrespect, but also that your cabinet and government has not learned enough from the slavery past.
    

In view of the disrespectful treatment that our ancestors had to undergo under your predecessors and the disrespectful treatment that we as descendants of enslaved people still undergo today, also due to the actions of your cabinet and government, we can accept a possible pronounced apology from the Dutch State impossible to accept today. Accepting your apology under the current facts and circumstances is a betrayal to our ancestors who fought against colonial oppression and for our freedom and a betrayal to our future generations.

In the spirit of Ubuntu, we have proudly accepted the legacy of our spiritual and courageous Afrikan ancestors and it is our moral obligation to continue their struggle to preserve and preserve the legacy of our ancestors, for our generation and for posterity. to cherish.

Ubuntu (I am because we are)!

Sincerely / Kind regards,

Mr. R.P. Varnold LL.M.

President UCF I Director D’HERO

Kenneth Cuvalay  

President (UCF) Caribbean

 

A copy of this letter will be sent to relevant stakeholders and various media.

---

Note 1 A song by American singer and songwriter Michael Jackson, released in April 16, 1996

Note 2 Resolution A/Res/68/237.

Note 3 What is stated here for the descendants of enslaved persons also applies expressly to the Indigenous as the original inhabitants of the Republic of Suriname.