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12/10/2005:

"Row over French law glorifying colonial history causes minister to cancel Caribbean trip"

The row over the French government’s decision to retain a law teaching the “positive aspects” of colonial history, has been sparked off again after the country’s Interior Minister postponed his trip to the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadaloupe.

Nicolas Sarkozy, who has become a controversial figure in the light of the riots that rocked France’s suburbs in October, announced he cancelled his visit to the country’s former colonies, following protests against his visit, scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The trip, which was due to address the issues of illegal immigration and drug trafficking between the two regions, will now be held back by a few weeks, the minister said in an interview on Wednesday.

Hundreds of residents on Martinique, which was colonialised by France in the 17th century, participated in rallies in the capital, Fort de France this week, which were organised by elected officials, left-wing politicians, trade unionists and artists protesting against his 3-day stay.

Despite the cancellation of Sarkozy’s visit, demonstrators decided to go ahead with the rallies to put pressure on the government.

Those protesting against the law, have said it justifies “the extermination of peoples, the extinction of indigenous cultures and the plundering of many countries", of which many of these acts took place during slavery in the Caribbean.

Others have labelled it “the law of shame”.
blackbritain.co.uk