Is there a case for the Western powers to pay reparations to Africans for colonialism and slavery?

Is there a case for the Western powers to pay reparations to Africans for colonialism and slavery?The six central Aims and objectives of the African Reparations Movement:To use all lawful means to obtain Reparations for the enslavement and colonisation of African people in Africa and in the African Diaspora.To use all lawful means to secure the return of African artefacts from whichever place they are currently held.To seek an apology from western governments for the enslavement and colonisation of African people.To campaign for an acknowledgement of the contribution of African people to World history and civilisation.To campaign for an accurate portrayal of African  history and thus restore dignity and self-respect to African people.To educate and inform African youth, on the continent and in the Diaspora, about the great  African cultures, languages and civilisations.These claims were advanced at the Durban August 31-September 7 2001 UN World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related IntoleranceThis is a claim for intergenerational justice. Arguments:1. Apologies and reparations have been offered in other cases.2. Western wealth was based on colonialism and slavery3. Relations between North and South need to be based on a new moral foundation not tainted by past and western feelings of superiority.4. African peoples need to recover their self respect.5. History can be a tool of oppression and should be re-written to reflect past wrongs of Europeans and achievements of Africans.6. Past system of exploitation has fed into present system of exploitation through trade and oppressive debt burdens.Counter-arguments:1. Link with Holocaust suspect: part of pro-Palestinian agenda in confrontation with Israel (one reason American walked out of the Durban conference).2. How far back in history do we go (all have suffered some historical injustice). Need to take account of contemporary moral and legal context and degree to which people today still suffer from past wrongs.3. Counter-factual historical “what ifs” impossible to determine: Africa might have developed naturally but might not.4. Precise benefits conferred on the West by colonialism and slavery are open to debate –western capitalism depended on several factors. Spain and Portugal were left behind despite early “advantages” in both colonialism and slavery.5.  Slavery predated the Europeans (Arabs were the main slavers in Africa). Britain fought the slave trade at its own expense from 1830-1880.6. Who should pay for slavery? Slavers were private companies; claims are made against taxpayers (who include migrants from former colonies or descendants of slaves.)7. Slavery and colonialism need to be distinguished as evils, and distinctions need to be made between different colonies and colonial powers.8. Even if compensation were paid, there is no guarantee that it would be used to alleviate poverty but conditional aid would raise the same issue of Western superiority that this debate is confronting.9. Some African economies are booming –perhaps trade not aid is the answer?To Argue these points in a very eloquent manner. Tutor has stressed great grammer.