Demand for slavery reparations delivered to Dutch embassy in Suriname

PARAMARIBO, Suriname – The compensation many descendants of Dutch slavery feel is due to them became official after members of the Committee Reparations Slavery Past Suriname deposited a claim at the Dutch embassy here.

“We want to discuss the material and immaterial damage,” said Committee Chairman Armand Zunder as he presented a petition to Dutch charge d’affaires Ernst Noorman.

Zunder was joined at the presentation by Committee member Guno Rijssel, who stressed “we’re did not go begging. We only demand a satisfactory settlement that is due to us.“

In its petition, the Committee requests that The Netherlands acknowledges the suffering of people who were enslaved here.