[Image depicts Britain treating their colonies as slaves in a cartoon form. Credit to Pixabay]

King Charles III visited Samoa Island for a Commonwealth summit and faced calls for reparations of slavery in the former British colonies. 

Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe confronted the king, accusing the monarchy of having “committed genocide against our people,” citing British historial use of the colonies as their slaves in the past. 

She has consistently strongly rejected him for being her monarch and states that he is not their king. 

She passionately shouted “Give us our land back, give us what you stole from us. Our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people. You destroyed our lives.” as she confronted Charles III. 

Protesters across Commonwealth nations, including Lidia Thorpe, are increasingly demanding  an apology and demanding payments for their past sufferings. 

The demands of former British colonies highlight the profound impact of colonization on First Nations people. 

A recent report led by UN judge Patrick Robinson estimates that the UK owes €18.8 trillion ($36.6 trillion) as reparations to 14 countries involved in the slave trade. 

In fact, according to a document published by the University of the West Indies, a UN judge claimed that the total reparation fee was an underestimation of the true amount and its actual amount is expected to be significantly larger. 

The Brattle report released in June intensified debates on  reparations and apologies, urging a deeper examination of Britain’s colonial debt. 

Despite this, then-prime minister Rishi Sunak, stated  that Britain’s colonial debt is not our topic of discussion for the Samoa summit, and, therefore, should not be given attention. 

Nonetheless, several Commonwealth leaders, particularly from The Caribbean Community (Caricom), have pledged to advocate for a full and formal apology and reparatory justice measures. 

All candidates for the next secretary-general in Samoa – Mamadou Tangara of Gambia, Shirley Botchwey of Ghana and Joshua Setipa of Lesotho – have expressed support  of reparations. 

Professor Jioji Ravulo, chair of social work at the University of Sydney, said “A lot of the social structures and systems that exist in those countries that we're talking about, the health and the legal and the welfare, and even the education system is still very much based on a Western and white approach.”

Professor Jioji Ravulo argued that colonial systems fail to incorporate indigenous perspectives, exacerbating health and social disparities. 

Intergenerational trauma remains a critical issue, particularly in Australia, where colonial policies displaced communities and separated families. 

According to a report from the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare, colonization has   profoundly impacted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and culture.

The AIHW report detailed  how violence, disease, and settlers occupying land has caused loss of life, leading to high incarceration rates and mental health struggles among Indigenous people. 

Before Thorpe protested in Canberra on Monday, King Charles said “timeless wisdom of Indigenous people”, emphasizing reconciliation and respect. 

As the Commonwealth prepares for the next secretary-general in Samoa, leaders are urging Britain to acknowledge its colonial history. 

Charles, instead mentioned that it is true that history is the most painful aspect; however, we should not linger on the past but instead understand the past “ to guide us towards making the right choices in a future where inequality exists.” 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer added  that he will work harder “together to make sure the future is not in the shadow of the past.” 

Whether Commonwealth leaders will adopt a stronger stance against Britain remains uncertain, as debates over colonial justice will continue.