英国：首相 Burnham 称对奴隶制正式道歉持开放态度 但排除财政赔偿
路透社10月31日报道，英国首相 Andy Burnham 表示，他对就英国在奴隶制中的历史角色作出正式道歉的呼吁持开放态度，但排除了财政赔偿的可能。他将在下周出席英联邦峰会，预计将在会上再次面对赔偿要求。
Burnham 在英国《卫报》撰文说，英国正向受跨大西洋奴隶贸易影响者提供结构性对话；这场贸易中至少1250万非洲人被绑架并卖为奴隶。他写道：我不认为今天的英国人可以为发生在不同时代、不同法律之下、他们本人没有参与的历史错误承担责任。
在英联邦政府首脑会议于安提瓜和巴布达举行之前，查尔斯国王的一名发言人说，国王在访问期间不会回避面对过去最可耻的部分。一名白金汉宫高级助手说，国王仍在接受癌症治疗，但工作强度不减、日程跨越多个时区排得很满。
Burnham 还在文章中说，他希望发起一项新的债务行动，包括帮助更多脆弱国家以更长期限和更优惠利率偿还债务。安提瓜和巴布达总理 Gaston Browne 对 Burnham 的表态和实际援助提议表示欢迎，但也在社交媒体发文指出，加勒比地区在赔偿问题上的立场由来已久。
UK: PM Burnham Says He Is Open to Formal Apology for Slavery but Rules Out Reparations
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he is open to calls for a formal apology for Britain's historical role in slavery, Reuters reported on October 31, ahead of next week's Commonwealth summit at which he is likely to face demands for financial reparations, while ruling out such payments.
Writing in the Guardian newspaper, Burnham said Britain was offering a structured dialogue with those affected by the transatlantic slave trade, in which at least 12.5 million Africans were abducted and sold into slavery. But he rejected calls for financial reparations, writing that he did not think British people today can be held liable for historical wrongs, however heinous, that happened in a different age under different laws and in which they played no personal part.
Ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, a spokesperson for King Charles said he will not shy away from confronting the most shameful aspects of the past during his visit. A senior Buckingham Palace aide said the King continues to receive treatment for cancer but is working as hard as ever, with packed schedules across time zones.
Burnham also wrote that he wanted to launch a new drive on debt, including helping more vulnerable countries repay over a longer period and with better rates. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne welcomed Burnham's comments and proposals for practical assistance, while noting in a Facebook post the Caribbean's longstanding position on reparations.
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：照片：加纳埃尔米纳城堡奴隶贸易纪念牌，Kurt Dundy 摄，Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 3.0 授权 / Photo: slave trade memorial plaque at Elmina Castle, Ghana, by Kurt Dundy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
GSM Global · 本篇英文版 English edition of this story
