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The lifelong communist militants, both from poor peasant backgrounds, are murdered by the pro-imperialist Council of National Salvation and buried in an unmarked grave.

“I will answer any question, but only at the Grand National Assembly, before the representatives of the working class. Tell the people that I will answer all their questions. All the world should know what is going on here. I only recognize the working class and the Grand National Assembly – no one else. I will not answer you putschists,” Ceausescu said.

Transcript of the closed “trial” of Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu, December, 1989 

Chaser

Today in Haitian History - August 18, 1944 – Death of Haitian political activist and novelist Jacques Roumain

Born into wealthy “mulatto” family in Port-au-Prince in June 1907, Jacques Roumain rose to become one of the most celebrated figures of his time. While outside of Haiti, he is often remembered for his posthumous magnum opus, Gouverneurs de la Rosée, published shortly after his death, Roumain’s importance extends beyond literature and carries into politics. His political engagement notably as the co-founder of the Parti communiste haïtien or PCH (the Haitian Communist Party) led to his imprisonment (on repeated occasions). Analyse schématique 32-34, the political text released shortly after the creation of the PCH, remained for a long time an inspiration for generations of Haitian Marxists and Communists and guaranteed Roumain a central place as one of the most influential individuals the Haitian Left. While his death in 1944, that of his close collaborator Christian Beaulieu the previous year coupled with the increased intolerance of the Lescot government (1941-1946) for any political opposition, did provide for a momentary blow to the Left, a new movement emerged during the “Revolution of 1946.″ Many of the central agitators of the other Haitian Revolution cited Roumain and his life as inspiration for their political awakening. 

On 17 August 1795, Tula, with 50 others, started the largest revolt in the history of the Netherlands Antilles against the Dutch tyrannical slavers. Tula fought for freedom and equality. His group traveled across the island, freeing people, and the group increased to 2000 people. The Dutch brutually crushed the revolt and captured Tula. Tula was tortured and brutually executed by the Dutch.

The Dutch government always portrayed Tula as a criminal, but today, he is declared a hero by the Dutch government (he has been a national hero in Curaçao since 2010). They also admitted that the Dutch tried to erase him from history and offered official apologies.

These are small steps, but important in the road towards reparations.