Page 6 - aruba-today-20201001

A6 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 1 OcTOber 2020
‘It belongs to us!”: Tense French trial over colonial art

By ANGELA CHARLTON incident and that his court
Associated Press wasn't competent to judge
PARIS (AP) — Is dislodging France's colonial era as a
African artwork from a Eu- whole.
ropean museum a political Quai Branly lawyer Yves
statement, or a criminal Goulard argued that be-
act? That's the question cause of the discussions
a French court weighed underway between France
Wednesday in an emotion- and African governments,
ally charged trial centered "there is no need for this po-
around a Congolese ac- litical act." The French state
tivist campaigning to take "is very committed to this,
back art he says was plun- and serious" about follow-
dered by colonizers. ing through, he said. The
"It belongs to us!" shouted a prosecutor said the activ-
Black woman watching the ists should have made their
trial, breaking down in tears point via more peaceful
and storming out after a means. Defense lawyer Ha-
lawyer for Paris' Quai Bran- kim Chergui argued that it
ly Museum insisted that its shouldn't have taken this
holdings — including tens many decades after Af-
of thousands of artworks rican countries' indepen-
from former colonies — be- Congolese activist Mwazulu Diyabanza arrives at the Palais de Justice courthouse, in Paris, dence to settle the issue.
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020.
long to the French state. Associated Press He choked up when talk-
Congo-born Emery Mwazu- ing about the skulls of Alge-
lu Diyabanza and four oth- gency after this year's If convicted of attempted taken from now-impover- rian 19th century resistance
er activists went on trial on global protests against ra- group theft of a historical ished countries like Congo, fighters long held as tro-
attempted theft charges cial injustice unleashed by object, Diyabanza could and said the pole, which phies in a French museum
for removing a 19th century George Floyd's death in the face up to 10 years in pris- came from current-day and returned to his native
African funeral pole from its U.S. at the knee of a white on and a 150,000 euro fine Chad, should be among Algeria this year.
perch in the museum in a policeman. ($173,000). However, the works returned to Africa. "There is a frustration in the
June protest livestreamed Diyabanza seized on that lawyer for the French state "We are the legitimate heirs population that is growing,
on Facebook. Guards mood and has staged did not ask for prison time, of these works," he said. But growing, growing," he said,
quickly stopped them; the three livestreamed mu- demanding only modest he insisted that "appropria- calling Wednesday's pro-
activists argue that they seum protests in recent fines. A verdict is scheduled tion wasn't my goal. ... The ceedings "a trial of the co-
never planned to steal the months — in Paris, Marseille Oct. 14. aim was to mark the sym- lonial continuum."
work but just wanted to call and the Netherlands. Diyabanza defended what bolism of the liberation of Applause and boos period-
attention to its origins. French officials denounced he called a "political act" these works." ically interrupted the pro-
Lurking beneath nearly ev- the Quai Branly incident, and said it's about time The presiding judge asked ceedings. A crowd of sup-
ery exchange in the court- saying it threatens ongo- that Africans, Latin Ameri- the activists why they porters shouted in anger at
room was the question of ing negotiations with Afri- cans and other colonized thought they had the right not being able to enter the
whether and how former can countries launched by communities take back ill- to take the law into their small, socially distanced
empires should atone for President Emmanuel Ma- gotten treasures. He accus- own hands. He insisted that courtroom, and judges sent
colonial-era wrongs. The cron in 2018 for legal, orga- es European museums of the trial should focus on Diyabanza to calm them
question took on new ur- nized restitution efforts. making millions on artworks the specific funeral pole down.q

U.S. says it will block palm oil from large Malaysian producer

and sexual violence and companies and is closely ing its commitment to hu-
forced child labor, an offi- connected to Felda, which man rights, including steps
cial said Wednesday. is owned by the Malaysian it was taking to make sure
The withhold release or- government. its workers have access to
der against FGV Holdings The Customs order comes their passports and wages.
Berhad goes into effect a week after an Associated "Despite ongoing criticism
immediately following a Press investigation exposed and allegations against
yearlong investigation, said a litany of labor abuses in FGV, we will continue with
Brenda Smith, executive as- the palm oil industry in Ma- our effort to strengthen
sistant commissioner at the laysia and Indonesia, which our practices to respect
U.S. Customs and Border together produce around human rights and uphold
Protection's Office of Trade. 85% of the global $65 billion labour standards," it said.
"We would urge the U.S. supply. Some of the abus- "Our commitment to sus-
importing community es occurred on plantations tainability is clear, and we
again to do their due dili- operated by Felda. The are determined to achieve
A little girl holds palm oil fruit collected from a plantation in gence," she said, adding tainted palm oil was traced the goals and targets we
Sumatra, Indonesia, Nov. 13, 2017. they should look at their to the supply chains of the have set as a responsible
Associated Press palm oil supply chains. "We planet's most iconic food and sustainable business."
By MARGIE MASON AND and its products from a would also encourage U.S. and cosmetics companies Palm oil is the world's most
ROBIN MCDOWELL major producer in Malaysia consumers to ask questions like Unilever, L'Oreal, Nestle consumed vegetable oil,
Associated Press after a wide range of la- about where their products and Procter & Gamble. found in roughly half the
The United States will de- bor abuse indicators were come from." FGV is one of FGV issued a statement products on supermarket
tain shipments of palm oil found, including physical the world's largest palm oil over the weekend outlin- shelves. q