Indigenous leaders request royal apology, reparations from Charles III

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 May 2023 08:25
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Colonial reparations remain a cornerstone for justice toward all Indigenous peoples of former and present-day colonies.

Australia is the last remaining ex-British colony without a treaty with its First Nations peoples. (Reuters)

Indigenous leaders from 12 Commonwealth nations called on Thursday for King Charles III to apologize for "centuries of racism" and the British monarchy's "legacy of genocide."

In a letter addressed to the King ahead of the upcoming official coronation, they requested financial reparations from the crown and the return of stolen cultural artifacts.

It was signed by Indigenous leaders from Australia who are known to have undergone massacres of unprecedented scales by British colonizers, as well as leaders from Caribbean nations known to have been forced into slavery. It also included signatures from representatives in Canada, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.

The letter stated that Indigenous leaders joined forces to help their people "recover from centuries of racism, oppression, colonialism, and slavery."

The British monarchy has possibly the bloodiest historical record in terms of its role in the enslavement of people, the pillaging of resources, and the destruction of indigenous civilizations worldwide. Yet, King Charles has in recent years stepped up efforts to dialogue with Indigenous leaders.

Despite him recognizing that the crown must "acknowledge the wrongs which have shaped our past," the letter called on him to go a step further so as to issue a royal apology.

Former Olympian Nova Peris, the first Aboriginal woman elected to Australia's federal parliament, was one of the leaders to sign the letter.

Peris noted that the time has come for the crown to "acknowledge the horrific and enduring impacts" of colonization and the "legacy of genocide" felt by many Indigenous populations.

"It's vital for us to discuss and educate people on the truth behind colonisation, during the week of the coronation," she said, adding that "conversations start with listening."

The letter emphasized the necessity for Charles to start discussions about reparations for peoples who had their treasures pillaged and cultures destroyed.

According to Hannah McGlade, an Aboriginal woman from Western Australia and human rights expert, reparations remain a cornerstone for justice towards all Indigenous peoples of former and present-day colonies.

"We are increasingly seeing Indigenous people call for reparations from the royal family," she told AFP, noting that "they really do have that history that they haven't tackled. Genocide happened on their watch."

Charles' coronation is scheduled to be held on May 6. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died on September 8 in Scotland at the age of 96, marking the end of her 70-year-long rule, which was the longest ever recorded in the history of the British monarchy.

On Wednesday, UK-based TV outlet Sky News said at least 1,600 antimonarchists are preparing a protest to be held on the day of Charles III in the UK's capital, London, this week.

According to estimates, the coronation is expected to cost a staggering 250 million pounds ($314 million).

Others have estimated that the coronation may cost between 50-100 million pounds of UK taxpayers' money, the Evening Standard reported last month.