Portugal Ought to Apologise, Confront Previous Position in Slavery, Says President

LISBON (Reuters) – Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa mentioned on Tuesday his nation ought to apologise and take duty for its position within the transatlantic slave commerce, the primary time a pacesetter of the southern European nation has instructed such a nationwide apology.

From the fifteenth to the nineteenth century, 6 million Africans had been kidnapped and forcibly transported throughout the Atlantic by Portuguese vessels and offered into slavery, primarily to Brazil.

However up to now Portugal has not often commented on its previous and little is taught about its position in slavery in colleges.

Relatively, the nation’s colonial period, which noticed international locations together with Angola, Mozambique, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor in addition to elements of India subjected to Portuguese rule, is usually perceived as a supply of pleasure by most Portuguese.

Talking at Portugal’s annual commemoration of the 1974 “Carnation” revolution, which toppled the nation’s dictatorship, Rebelo de Sousa mentioned the nation ought to transcend simply an apology, although he didn’t provide up any specifics.

“Apologising is typically the best factor to do: you apologise, flip your again, and the job is finished,” he mentioned, including the nation ought to “assume duty” for its previous to construct a greater future.

Rebelo de Sousa made the remarks after Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was in Portugal on his first go to to Europe since assuming the workplace, addressed the Portuguese parliament. Brazil gained independence from Portugal in 1822.

He mentioned the colonisation of Brazil additionally had optimistic components, such because the unfold of Portuguese language and tradition.

“(However) on the unhealthy facet, the exploitation of Indigenous folks…slavery, the sacrifice of the pursuits of Brazil and Brazilians,” he mentioned.

Europe’s prime human rights group beforehand mentioned Portugal had do extra to confront its colonial previous and position within the transatlantic slave commerce as a way to assist battle racism and discrimination as we speak.

(Reporting by Catarina Demony; Modifying by Deepa Babington)

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