President of Portugal urges us to assume historical truth about colonization: “We cannot omit it”

Published at: 27/04/2024 09:23 PM

The president of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, declared this Saturday that his country must assume the historical truth of colonization and make some reparation for the former colonies that were invaded and controlled for several centuries, when their wealth was stolen and atrocious crimes were committed.

“It's always a delicate issue that has to be taken up, because it's part of our history, because we can't ignore it,” said the president after attending the inauguration ceremony of the National Museum of Resistance and Freedom, in the town of Peniche, north of the capital, Lisbon.

He emphasized that what was done by the metropolis during centuries of colonial domination in countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America cannot be swept under the carpet, and we must assume that period or we run the risk of losing dialogue with those nations that Lisbon invaded.

He said that the Portuguese authorities must lead this process. However, he pointed out that assuming such responsibility does not have to involve payment of compensation.

According to the Public platform, the president gave as an example the reparations already carried out by Portugal, such as the cancellation of debt to colonized countries or the “mobility statute” that was granted to nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries.

He explained that if he does not assume that historical responsibility, “what has happened to other countries that have been colonial powers and have lost the capacity for dialogue and understanding with the former colonies and are invited to leave, well or badly, from the countries in which they still have a presence” will happen to Lisbon.

According to local media, the president said that “responsibility for what was good and bad in the empire” must be taken. Other media highlighted that this is the first time that a head of state in that country has recognized such an issue. For example, it is considered that the Portuguese Crown trafficked around six million slaves over several centuries.

The inauguration of the National Museum of Resistance and Freedom took place in the context of the celebrations for the half-century of the Carnation Revolution.

After these statements, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said that “no specific process or program of actions has been or is in question” to carry out the said reparations.

Mazo News Team/TELESUR