Cape Verde calls for serenity in the debate on possible reparations to former colonies | Cape Green

“I think it is a debate that must be carried out calmly, respecting the opinions of one another, universities, foundations, political parties, civil society”, said the Cape Verdean head of state, in the city from beach.

The President responded to the journalists, apart from being awarded the Amílcar Cabral Order, Second Degree, to Felisberto Vieira Lopes (posthumously), a lawyer who defended former political prisoners from the Tarrafal de Santiago concentration camp.

On Wednesday, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will participate in the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the release of prisoners from the Tarrafal Concentration Camp, a symbol of the violence of the Portuguese colonial dictatorship.

Last week, the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, recognized Portugal’s responsibility for crimes committed during the colonial era, suggesting the payment of reparations for past mistakes.

“We have to pay the costs. Are there actions that were not punished and those responsible were not arrested? Are there assets that were looted and were not returned? Let’s see how we can repair this”, said Marcelo at a dinner with foreign correspondents in Portugal, quoted by Reuters agency.

José Maria Neves said that he does not comment per se on the statements made by his Portuguese counterpart, but insisted on the need for a debate to “reach understanding and consensus on these matters”.

Chega asked for an urgent debate to be scheduled in parliament so that the Government can clarify whether the granting of possible “compensation to former colonies” is being considered.

The political party led by André Ventura accused the head of state of betraying the Portuguese and asked Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to retract his statements.