On April 1, the Uhuru African Liberation Solidarity Campaign (Uhuru ALSC) announced a pledge drive to raise €10,000 Euro (or about 7,600 GBP) by April 9th in support of the International Tribunal on Reparations for Afrikan People (ITRAP).
Africans from throughout the world will converge on Berlin, Germany, June 7-10, 2007 for ITRAP, the African people's court aimed at putting the U.S.A and European imperialism on trial for crimes against African people during the slave trade, colonialism and neocolonialism. The pledge drive is raising funds that are needed for travel expenses to bring judges and witnesses from throughout the world to Berlin in June. In addition to cash donations, airline awards tickets may also be donated.
The tribunal in Berlin marks a return to “the scene of the crime” where in 1884-5, European colonial powers drew borders designed to divide African people and facilitate the theft of their resources.
The issue of reparations for slavery and colonialism is being raised by African people throughout Africa and the world, most recently in the context of the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Britain's abolition of the TransAtlantic Slave Trade.
Speaking at the Ovaherero-Ovambanderu Reparation Walk in Swakopmund, Namibia, on March 31, 2007, Maureen Hinda-Mbaziira, Pan African Centre of Namibia board member said, "We recall with agony and sorrow the inhuman and brutal extermination order of 1904 by Lieutenant-General Lothar von Trotha meted to the Otjiherero-speaking Namibians which brutally eliminated about 65 000 people. We note with disbelief the conscious eradication of the Khoi-Namibians, as well as the orchestrated colonial scheme of isolating, enslaving and displacement of our people."
Between 1904 and 1908, the German government systematically exterminated eighty percent of the Herero people and half of the Nama people in Namibia. The German military rounded up the Herero people in the Kalahari Desert and left them to die a slow, tortuous death without food, water or shelter.
The survivors of the Herero people have filed a $4 billion lawsuit against the German government and corporations as reparations for the genocide. The Germans have paid over $100 billion to the Israeli government and Jewish people as reparations, while they refuse to recognize the just demand from the Herero people.
In a climate where the U.S. and Europe refuse to discuss reparations for slavery, colonialism and the genocide of African people, Africans are convening their own court. African people from around the world, including the Herero people, will testify at the ITRAP, document their case and demand reparations that are long overdue.
Omali Yeshitela, Chairman of the African People’s Socialist Party, has said, “The International Tribunal on Reparations for Afrikan People (ITRAP) is an African people's court aimed at putting the U.S.A and European imperialism on trial for their crimes against African people during slavery and the slave trade, colonialism and neocolonialism. The Tribunal will utilize international and African traditional law. We will assume our right as African people to define our reality and initiate the process to redress injuries.”
Many are rallying around a call to help make this year's tribunal possible. Since, April 1, supporters have donated €5,500 Euro (or about 3,765 GBP) for the expenses to launch this tribunal. A total of €10,000 Euro (or about 7,600 GBP) is needed by April 9th to bring judges and witnesses from around the world, for logistics and to spread the word.
Donations can be made online at
http://solidarityforafrica.org/giveback.shtml
Or checks can be made out to “I-TRAP” and sent to:
Uhuru ALSC, 484 Lake Park Avenue, Suite 357, Oakland, CA 94610, USA.
Airline awards tickets can also be donated.
The pledge drive is organized by the African Liberation Solidarity Campaign (ALSC). ALSC raises resources for the campaigns and programs of the African People's Socialist Party (APSP), organizing African people worldwide to end more than 500 years of oppression and poverty, the results of slavery and colonialism. ALSC Coordinator Maureen Wagener states, “As African working people struggle to regain control of the resources of Africa to benefit all African people everywhere, ALSC encourages everyone to contribute to the success of the International Tribunal on Reparations for Afrikan People.”
More information about the tribunal and pledge drive are found at:
www.solidarityforafrica.org and www.apspuhuru.org/tribunal
The tribunal in Berlin marks a return to “the scene of the crime” where in 1884-5, European colonial powers drew borders designed to divide African people and facilitate the theft of their resources.
The issue of reparations for slavery and colonialism is being raised by African people throughout Africa and the world, most recently in the context of the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Britain's abolition of the TransAtlantic Slave Trade.
Speaking at the Ovaherero-Ovambanderu Reparation Walk in Swakopmund, Namibia, on March 31, 2007, Maureen Hinda-Mbaziira, Pan African Centre of Namibia board member said, "We recall with agony and sorrow the inhuman and brutal extermination order of 1904 by Lieutenant-General Lothar von Trotha meted to the Otjiherero-speaking Namibians which brutally eliminated about 65 000 people. We note with disbelief the conscious eradication of the Khoi-Namibians, as well as the orchestrated colonial scheme of isolating, enslaving and displacement of our people."
Between 1904 and 1908, the German government systematically exterminated eighty percent of the Herero people and half of the Nama people in Namibia. The German military rounded up the Herero people in the Kalahari Desert and left them to die a slow, tortuous death without food, water or shelter.
The survivors of the Herero people have filed a $4 billion lawsuit against the German government and corporations as reparations for the genocide. The Germans have paid over $100 billion to the Israeli government and Jewish people as reparations, while they refuse to recognize the just demand from the Herero people.
In a climate where the U.S. and Europe refuse to discuss reparations for slavery, colonialism and the genocide of African people, Africans are convening their own court. African people from around the world, including the Herero people, will testify at the ITRAP, document their case and demand reparations that are long overdue.
Omali Yeshitela, Chairman of the African People’s Socialist Party, has said, “The International Tribunal on Reparations for Afrikan People (ITRAP) is an African people's court aimed at putting the U.S.A and European imperialism on trial for their crimes against African people during slavery and the slave trade, colonialism and neocolonialism. The Tribunal will utilize international and African traditional law. We will assume our right as African people to define our reality and initiate the process to redress injuries.”
Many are rallying around a call to help make this year's tribunal possible. Since, April 1, supporters have donated €5,500 Euro (or about 3,765 GBP) for the expenses to launch this tribunal. A total of €10,000 Euro (or about 7,600 GBP) is needed by April 9th to bring judges and witnesses from around the world, for logistics and to spread the word.
Donations can be made online at
http://solidarityforafrica.org/giveback.shtml Or checks can be made out to “I-TRAP” and sent to:
Uhuru ALSC, 484 Lake Park Avenue, Suite 357, Oakland, CA 94610, USA.
Airline awards tickets can also be donated.
The pledge drive is organized by the African Liberation Solidarity Campaign (ALSC). ALSC raises resources for the campaigns and programs of the African People's Socialist Party (APSP), organizing African people worldwide to end more than 500 years of oppression and poverty, the results of slavery and colonialism. ALSC Coordinator Maureen Wagener states, “As African working people struggle to regain control of the resources of Africa to benefit all African people everywhere, ALSC encourages everyone to contribute to the success of the International Tribunal on Reparations for Afrikan People.”
More information about the tribunal and pledge drive are found at:
www.solidarityforafrica.org and www.apspuhuru.org/tribunal
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Bjorn Yesterday was I?......
07.04.2007 05:57
Britain outlawed Slavery, and Most British Profited not from slavery. The Royal navy Hunted Slavers down on the High Seas to stop the trade.
Most Americans Today are decended from Immigration waves of the 1880-1929 timeframe why should they pay a Farthing for reparations for something they and their Ancestors had nothing to do with?
Arab Country's on trial? should be as they were the Middlemen
and Finally what about the Culpability of the Afikans themselves? Most of the slaves were historically Prisoners of other tribes, Dun them
Bjorn Yesterday