this post was submitted on 11 Sep 2024
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The Caribbean island state became the first in the region to win its independence in 1804 after a revolt by enslaved people. But in a move that many Haitians blame for two centuries of turmoil, France later imposed harsh reparations for lost income and that debt was only fully repaid in 1947.

The group of about 20 non-governmental organisations currently in Geneva for a UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) are seeking a new independent commission to oversee the restitution of the debt, which they refer to as a ransom.

...

The amount paid to France is disputed by historians although the New York Times estimated Haiti’s loss at $21bn. The proposal’s backers say the amount is much higher.

“It’s $21bn plus 200 years of interest that France has enjoyed, so we’re talking more like $150bn, $200bn or more,” said Jemima Pierre, professor of global race at the University of British Columbia.

Clesca said she hoped the recommendation and others would be part of the UN forum’s conclusions due on Friday. Last year, the PFPAD suggested that a tribunal should be formed to address reparations for slavery.

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[–] RestrictedAccount@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] NateNate60@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

France doesn't have "trillions". There is nothing that can be done to force France to pay, so demanding too large of a sum, even if justified, is a good way to get them to say "fuck that" and you get nothing.

[–] RestrictedAccount@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Hati didn’t have it either.

It didn’t stop France from demanding it.

[–] NateNate60@lemmy.world 0 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

To be franc (or to be billion francs), France has enough money, guns, and United Nations Security Council seats to give Haiti the middle finger