P-to-P, April 23, 2024 [AlterPresse] — A coalition of around twenty non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are asking France to reimburse the billions of dollars paid by Haiti for its independence, acquired on January 1, 1804 against the French colonists, in a new appeal expressed during the permanent forum of the United Nations (UN) for people of African descent (Pfpad), held from Tuesday April 16 to Friday April 19, 2024 in Geneva (Switzerland), reports the website of the French newspaper “Libération” , consulted by the online agency AlterPresse.
France owes more than 100 billion dollars (Editor’s note: US $ 1.00=+ 140.00 gourdes; 1 euro=143.00 gourdes; 1 Canadian dollar=97.00 gourdes; 1 Dominican peso=2.40 gourdes today) to the Caribbean island, which agreed to pay reparations after its independence in 1804, according to these organizations cited by “Libération”.
This coalition of NGOs is seeking to set up a new independent commission to supervise the restitution of the debt, which they describe as a ransom, reports the French newspaper.
“I join your requests for immediate action,” declared, on Friday April 19, 2024, the Austrian Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a speech delivered at the closing of the Pfpad, which It took place from Tuesday April 16 to Friday April 19, 2024.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights calls on governments to “show real leadership, with a sincere commitment to quickly move from words to action, to right the wrongs of the past.”
“When it comes to reparations, we must finally enter a new era,” says Volker Turk, who supports the April 2024 Forum in Geneva.
“It is time for France to recognize this and for us to move forward,” Haitian Monique Clesca, a Haitian civil society activist who is coordinating efforts to return the extorted funds, told Reuters. by France to the new independent nation of Haiti.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not reacted, for the moment.
In a column published in 2010 in “Libération”, the support group for the Committee for the immediate reimbursement of the billions stolen from Haiti asked Nicolas Sarkozy to return to Haiti “its extorted money”, recalls “Libération”.
“Considering the dire financial needs of this country, devastated by the terrible earthquake of January 12 [2010]we therefore urge you, Mr. President, to return to Haiti, the first black republic in history, the historic debt of its independence,” the signatories wrote.
“Even if I did not begin my mandate at the time of Charles who “did not leave only good memories”.
In 2015, François Hollande spoke of a “moral debt” towards Haiti.
Controversies surrounding the amount of French debt to Haiti
There is controversy over the exact amount of debt. The amount paid to France is today disputed by historians.
The New York Times estimated the debt to Haiti at $21 billion, while supporters of paying off the debt say the amount is much higher.
“It’s 21 billion dollars, plus 200 years of interest, from which France has benefited. So, we are talking more about 150 billion, 200 billion or more,” insisted the Doctor in anthropologist, Professor Jemima Pierre (Professor of Global race in the Institute of race, gender, sexuality and social justice / Grsj at the University of British Columbia).
Haiti became the first black republic in history to obtain its independence, on January 1, 1804, after a revolt of slaves, who defeated the army of Napoleon Bonaparte, the most powerful at the beginning of the 19th century.
Severe reparations were imposed on him by France, which claimed the loss of his income.
In an order dated April 17, 1825, Charles privileged commercial exchanges in favor of France.
This debt was not fully repaid until 1947. [emb rc apr 23/04/2024 12:00]
