在《废除奴隶贸易法案》通过200周年纪念日前夕,英国政府23日提议,为这一事件设立固定的纪念日,但仍拒绝就英国当年的奴隶贸易行径正式道歉。 : V* v& h/ L$ o0 Z4 n6 V ' F4 Y# X5 { t* z2 n1 l7 k 英国副首相约翰·普雷斯科特当天表示,将设立固定的纪念日,让公众记住英国在奴隶贸易中的所作所为。他透露,纪念日将定在6月。1 \) U3 i# m! M
* h& V. R! |2 ^3 Q$ V 普雷斯科特说:“就像讨论二战时期纳粹分子对犹太人的大屠杀一样,人们开始比较公开、诚实地面对奴隶贸易了。” 0 u7 b* u3 n. {; W! p' `2 u ! y5 U/ d* j% D5 V 他说:“知道英国在历史上参与过这些事情,让人感到震惊和恐怖,奴隶贸易是如此残酷……我们需要告诉人们历史真相,包括好的、不好的,还有恐怖的。”& @0 d" L$ s8 E; k" n
0 \' z/ N, B! W5 T( a 他指出,纪念日将提醒人们不要忘记残酷的奴隶贸易。 6 S2 r/ B* c$ N0 @- ] : O9 k' t+ t- b: E 英国首相布莱尔21日曾表示,他对英国过去参与奴隶贸易感到抱歉,表示英国当时的做法“完全不可接受”。但英国政府迄今为止仍然拒绝就此正式道歉。# A' o8 u! u% D* v: Z7 U+ X
2 h y7 g3 }# C. D7 v1 \ 历史学家估计,从1700年到19世纪初期,英国商人经由大西洋,从非洲贩卖了约300万名黑人奴隶。从1450年到1850年,欧洲国家共贩卖了约2100万名黑人奴隶,其中英国商人扮演了主要角色。 ! }2 Y- x2 Z5 P( h. `. [9 C% W8 m: ?( e; d
1807年3月25日,英国通过《废除奴隶贸易法案》,规定英国船只上每发现一名奴隶,罚款100英镑(约合190美元)。1833年,英国通过《废除奴隶制法案》,宣布废除奴隶制度。7 q. m5 Q- R+ O) Q T* K( `2 ^
: o# c: n* q. o* k5 UCommemoration day to mark UK slave trade role % w: |/ S: `$ E: E/ _; XAN annual commemoration day will be held to recall Britain's role in the slave trade, deputy prime minister John Prescott said. : t5 K( r5 M* o3 q- {
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The news came as the Government today announced freed victims of human trafficking are to be granted the right to stay in Britain temporarily. 3 G& J+ j+ @% K i. s0 L" I; V4 C6 i& e
Mr Prescott said that he expected the commemoration day to take place along with the rest of Europe in June to help counter modern-day human trafficking. % P4 n2 B( q+ N+ s) K# {
4 R0 s3 I4 M" u4 G H0 O"Like the Holocaust, we are learning to talk about the slave trade openly and more honestly," he reportedly said. 5 c' ?7 a" O! u# K: `, ]% k% y 0 ^) O" N( B2 m: O! _5 _"Tragic and terrible as it was, the slave trade defied anyone to discuss it because it was so horrendous." $ C% `# C) X7 m' [' i/ H' f4 l
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The Home Office was today set to announce plans to sign the European Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings. : [, r# Q$ I W: \' r
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The agreement offers victims - such as women who are sold into the sex trade - the right to at least 30 days' grace after they have escaped people traffickers. u' }4 Q5 U) M) o; ]