December 19, 2003
Some slaves in Niger finally freed.
BBC News reports that after a great deal of effort,
some slaves in Niger have finally been freed. Amazing as it may seem, it was only this year that the practice was banned. But apparently there are still tens of thousands of them, only a few dozen of them being freed yesterday.
Dozens of slaves have been set free at a ceremony in Niger despite an attempt by the local authorities to stop the event being reported.
The ceremony in Tahoua in central Niger was disrupted by police, who seized equipment from journalists.
In May this year, acting under pressure Niger's parliament banned the keeping or trading in slaves but the law has not been fully implemented.
Local human rights group say there are still some 20,000 slaves in Niger.
... The BBC's Idy Baraou says Governor Ziti Maiga sought to prevent journalists reporting on the ceremony, because he, along with many others in authority, does not accept that slavery still exists in Niger.
However, our reporters says the former slaves shed tears of joy as they were given certificates showing they were now free.
They were also given money to return to their homes.
According to a local anti-slavery organisation, Timidria, the victims are usually aged between 14 and 25.
Males slaves are forced to work in farms and tender cattle, while women are confined to domestic duties.
... The organisation says many female slaves are raped and subjected to other forms of sexual abuse by their masters.
Men who disobey orders are flogged or in serious instances castrated.
I could wonder why the world's news media never reports on this, but I guess we all know. If you want to know more try the
Anti-Slavery Organization. Slavery exists all over the world, not just in Africa. The BBC also provides a link to a
very interesting page on the history of the British slave trade. See their
Africa News page for the latest.
Virtual slavery has also enjoyed a resurgence in the US under the Clinton and Bush administrations, although it's never labeled as that. This is the land of the free, so it couldn't possibly exist, could it? But there is a growing use of prisoners in both public and privately operated prisons as unpaid corporate labor. Both within the prisons themselves, as well as under programs that "rent" them out to private companies. With over 2,000,000 Americans now under lock and key there's no shortage of supply. And that's backed up by growing numbers of illegal immigrants who work under horrendous conditions. They may be paid nominal amounts, but they are often locked up at night and in other ways have their freedom restricted. And that is slavery.
