He's got a point though, and a good one. The victims of the original colonisation process are all dead. Current generations in these countries may despice the practice of those days, but any claim that they'd been materially better off if colonisation had never happened is unadulterated BS. The difference would be that the vast majority in those countries wouldn't be able to write "reparations" with a paper and a pen and would have even less cause to demand them.
EDIT:
before any mentions it, I'm aware of recent Dutch history in regards to Indonesia and I think it's a disgrace. In my opinion any victims of that period who are still alive ought to get compensation and fast, unlike what our government seems to think. The above bit is in regards to the colonisation and subsequent administration itself, not to misguided 20th century attempts to hold on to the Dutch Indies, Indochina or whatnot.
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