Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today.
by Grenville Phillips II
There have been crimes against humanity committed by empires, from the earliest Sumerian to the German Third Reich. Those crimes tended to be against other nations during and after their conquests.
During empire wars, soldiers would normally be allowed to rape and pillage the citizens, to keep them motivated to fight. At the end of the war, the conqueror would normally demand that the defeated government pay reparations, to pay for the expenses of the war.
The age of empires ended with the formation of the United Nations. After this time, crimes against humanity tended to be inflicted upon citizens by their own governments. Crimes against humanity, whether between nations or within nations, continue to this day.
SLAVERY
From the earliest times of empires to the present, there has been slavery. There are two types, willing and forced. In the past, those with unsustainable debts would willingly become slaves to work off their debts.
Forced slavery is used for two main purposes. One is to provide cheap labour to maximise profits. The other is to provide sexual pleasure. Both types continue to this day.
COURT ACTION
During the time of empires, countries owing reparations could have them forcibly taken by the conqueror. In this post-empire age, disputes are settled by agreement, by law courts, or by international tribunals.
On 8 January 2021, a South Korean court ordered Japan to pay US$90,560 to 12 South Korean women, who were forced into sex-slavery during World War II.
Sex-slavery stations were established where Japanese soldiers operated, and were designed to reduce the undisciplined practice of soldiers raping women indiscriminately.
Japan claimed that the ruling is against international law. It also claimed that the judgement violates a 1965 agreement between both countries, to normalise relations. The decision will be challenged, and the relationship between South Korea and Japan is now strained.
NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT
In 1952, the Israeli and German governments negotiated and signed a reparations agreement. In it, Germany agreed to pay Israel three billion German marks (about US$123 B today) for the loss of Jewish persons’ livelihoods and properties during World War II.
Much of the money was used to build Israeli infrastructure and manufacturing plants, which improved Israel’s economy. The agreement with Germany was negotiated relatively quickly, because much of the money was used to purchase German goods, which were then exported to Israel.
OUR BEST OPTION
With this background information, we can assess our options for reparations. Our best option seems to be the one pursued by Israel.
The harm done by Germany against the Jews is well documented. West Germany was willing to pay, since payment was based on a win-win situation. Germany could afford to pay its manufacturers to provide Israel with German industrial products.
Those products would need to be maintained with German parts, resulting in sustained economic growth and employment for Germany.
What should our approach be? Perhaps it may be a similar win-win option. We may negotiate an agreement with the UK, where we accept UK manufactured products that can improve both economies. In this manner, there is no damage to our relationship.
We seem to have rejected this option. We have released our radical activists to identify plantation owners in Barbados during slavery. Then we lead an international campaign to damage the personal reputations of their descendants.
OTHER OPTIONS
Our next option is to go to court. We can easily file a claim in Barbados’ court at any time. The result may be challenged or confirmed by the Barbados court of appeal and the Caribbean Court of Justice. Of the thousands of lawyers in Barbados, not one is known to have filed such a claim.
The final option is through an international tribunal. This is the most complicated and unlikely option. If it is successful, it can allow every group, tribe, and nation on Earth to claim against every other group or nation that forcibly enslaved their ancestors.
Persons with weak claims are well-advised to negotiate a settlement. Unfortunately, our radical activists have already muddied the waters, and continue to sabotage any negotiated agreement with the UK. Following the advice of radical activists rarely ends well – for anyone.
Next week should be the final installment of this series on Reparations.
Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer. He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com
