France, Alternative Libertaire AL #240 - Slavery: Jean-Paul Dessaux (SUD-PTT): "There must be reparation" (fr, pt)

Jean-Paul Dessaux, the Solidarity Trade Union, was active in the collective unit "Slavery 
reparations," which includes several trade organizations and associations in favor of 
reparations for crimes against humanity. It puts forward here how the consequences of 
these crimes are part of our present. ---- While commemorations of the abolition of 
slavery was in full swing on May 10, a unitary group mobilized around the issue of 
reparations for this crime against humanity. We asked Jean-Paul Dessaux, trade union 
Solidarity Union, a member of the collective of associations and unions, we present the 
challenges of this mobilization. ---- AL: Can you tell us why the commemoration of the 
abolition of slavery seem insufficient to you?

Jean-Paul Dessaux: Simply officially commemorate the abolition of slavery and the slave 
trade should lead to other measures or actions. Therefore there has been a crime against 
humanity, it must be repaired. Mention may be made of memorial, economic reparations, 
social, environmental, as we have done in our unit call with multiple associations (CRAN, 
C-O10Mai ...), radio, collective overseas CGT. .. [ 1 ]

Opponents repairs often cite the fact that slavery has always existed. But this does not 
detract from the relevance of our campaign. Slavery "domestic" consecutive wars and 
conquests was actually a mass phenomenon for centuries and in all regions of the world.

But here we are talking about a process that can be described as industrial, 
intercontinental. The slave trade has established itself as a truly international and 
transatlantic trade which lasted four centuries. And trafficking is unique in the history 
of mankind: it is not a result of wars, but expresses a conscious will of the great powers 
to reduce human movable property with a single objective: the purpose of exploitation 
enrichment. Black Code of 1685 is the most exacerbated legal expression. Finally, want to 
open the file repair, it is also admit that this long period of history has left traces 
still visible today ...

How not to admit evidence for a state like Haiti who paid the ransom until 1946 (and loan 
interest) of 150 million gold francs price of independence imposed by order of Charles X?

Finish by recalling that the Taubira law provided such repairs in one of his articles: 
"There shall be a committee of qualified persons responsible for determining the damage 
suffered and to examine the conditions of reparation in this crime" . This Taubira law had 
an overall sense. It was amputated this article for reasons that are partly in place as 
France still holds, directly or indirectly, in this part of the world.

Can you tell us some of the consequences of this form of exploitation?

Jean-Paul Dessaux: This period is defined as a crime against humanity because, as regards 
Africa alone, estimates and research report from 15 to 20 million Africans deported. To 
this figure must be added the fatalities on African soil, they died during transfer to the 
African coast or to America.

It is estimated that a remote African, there were four to five times more victims. There 
has been 60 to 90 million victims of trafficking throughout four centuries. It should be 
recalled that the African continent at that time fifty million. Across this period, the 
African continent has been negated at least twice! It should also be remembered that 
millions of Indians have suffered the same fate before the arrival of slaves ...

In the Caribbean, these populations disappear almost completely after the occupation 
"institutional" enacted in 1635. In the United States, the Native American population 
increased from about 10 million at the end of the fifteenth century to 250,000 in 1890! 
Other encrypt are equally eloquent: in Haiti, there were more than 500,000 slaves at the 
time of the fight for freedom from slavery.

And of course, today, the traces are still visible. Especially to add to the four 
centuries of slavery, forced labor, which lasted until 1946. This is an often neglected 
aspect! Probably because this period is it much more recent. It allows to link with the 
present. It was not until 11 April 1946 for the National Constituent Assembly adopts the 
abolition of forced labor, by decreeing that "forced or compulsory labor is absolutely 
prohibited in the overseas territories."

The example of the construction of the railway from Brazzaville to Pointe-Noire (a little 
more than 500 km) is the best known. Society Construction des Batignolles (SCB today Spie 
Batignolles) is the prime contractor under an agreement signed with the colonial 
authorities of French Equatorial Africa. The site will be 17,000 dead! Should read the 
former CEO of Spie Batignolles in a book entitled A History of Spie. Birth and rebirth: 
"Nearly 130,000 people participated in the construction of the line, about 12% of the 
adult male population of the areas subject to recruitment. [...]. At the end of this 
gigantic project, the Congo was bled ... "

Line Haiphong-Kunming (Indochina), by the same company, will result in death 12,000 
"native". This is the word bloodless countries, remote populations massacred.

How can we believe that this long "dark night" of four centuries would not leave traces? 
How not to make a link between economic and social state of Haiti and its past, including 
the ransom imposed under threat of military intervention? This ransom eventually be repaid 
in 1946. Today, it is 21 billion dollars ... That is why we insist on the issue of 
reparations. The past is still present!

What can require large companies that have worked in the triangular trade?

Jean-Paul Dessaux: Already, they admit their participation in this double process of slave 
trade and slavery. It is well known that without the help of banks and without access to 
credit, it would have been quite different. The times we are talking about the 
accumulation of capital is low. The banks have played a significant role in financing 
these "triangular trips" and enriched this trade.

CRAN, in his research, has identified three major banks. The Bank of France, which since 
its creation in 1800, has funded the entire French economy; Credit Suisse, which also 
played an important role in the colonial history; and Neuflize OBC bank established in 
France and now belonging to the Netherlands.

These three financial institutions were created on capital largely from slavery, and they 
tell a story that shows how the financing of trafficking was a European process in a 
system of globalization already well oiled. As part of our work together, we used 
questionnaires CRAN to question the companies in question. All unionists should take it. 
Companies like Bank of America, JP Morgan and Chase, Wachovia Bank also paid for repairs 
related to slavery.

What links between union activity and repair of slavery?

Jean-Paul Dessaux: The history of mankind is littered with repairs. From this point of 
view, we have not invented anything. Following the war, crimes against humanity, health 
disasters, we always discuss repairs. It is obvious that it would be futile to try to 
transform society without taking into account that the past has left its mark. When you 
participate in campaigns on North / South relations, the struggles of undocumented or 
defense of claims originating in "overseas departments (DOM)" in your business, you are 
naturally in this story.

I work at the post office with many colleagues from the DOM and Africa. When you talk of 
chlordecone and pollution in Caribbean colleagues , talking quickly monoculture banana, 
earth, membership still prevails . the descendants of slave owners Struggles currently 
exist in Guadeloupe over land: who owns the land? And to whom does it benefit? Morally, 
economically and socially, the land should be redistributed to the people.

After Hurricane Dean in 2008, Yves Jego and his government have mobilized thirty million 
to rebuild a chain - banana - without question was asked in another mode of production to 
both meet local demand and end to the widespread pollution of the Caribbean. The purpose 
of this public subsidy should mobilize many forces. And it speaks to my colleagues when 
you point a different economic development and that they expect a hypothetical Post 
mutation, taxes ... This is a fight that must be carried by all the forces that share such 
an approach.

The link between these two activities also aims to break down barriers between 
associations, unions, parties, personalities ... The associations are doing important work 
and longstanding. Enriches our work together reciprocally and we learn a lot, especially 
for our union activity. The challenge is to build the broadest possible front on this 
age-old question but still relevant. And in France, it resonates in a particular way.

This issue remains taboo. Just note the number of voices every year right but 
unfortunately left to assert that there is no need to open this kind of debate. In fact, 
if France was one of the largest slave powers, it is still a colonial power. The 
qualification of "departments" or "territories" does not change anything. As the 
independence of African countries does not preclude the maintenance of a custom policy of 
military and economic interventions for its own interests and those of large industrial 
groups.

Do not forget that our country is regularly condemned by the UN for organizing a real coup 
to Mayotte referendum by organizing a second referendum on the island after only one who 
will give independence to the rest of the archipelago Comoros. Do not forget either 
organized dirty tricks for twenty years in the islands either by secret services or 
mercenaries!

Recognize the role played by France for centuries on two continents - Africa and America - 
necessarily raises the question of this for these regions. The question of their status, 
of course, but also their development, land ownership. There are currently no coincidence: 
if there is such obstacles in France, it is because the state still maintains colonial 
relations in all parts of the world! How the labor movement could he stay away, on the 
edge of the road, facing such issues?

Interview by Violaine (AL Seine-Saint-Denis)


[1] The text of the call, the list of signatories, and a brochure are available, for 
example on the website of Solidarity: http://www.solidaires.org