Peru apologises to descendents of slaves

[Judi Lynn]

Peru apologises to descendents of slaves
By Richard Reynolds in Montevideo and wires

Posted 23 minutes ago

The government of Peru has formally apologised to Peruvians descended from black slaves.

The authorities say they are planning a formal ceremony in the next few months, but did not say when or where it would take place.

It is often estimated that at least half of all South Americans are at least in part descended from African slaves, and more than 5 per cent of Peruvians consider themselves black.

In a formal statement, the government says it apologises for the "abuse, exclusion and discrimination perpetrated against them, from the colonial era until the present".

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/29/2756618.htm?section=justin