Hi, looking thorugh the Wook, I came across this under Gardulla the Elders entry: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Gardulla_Besadii_the_Elder When did the Empire BAN slavery? It was using Wookiee Slaves
The Imperial ban on slaves definitely deserves more attention in the EU. It would be a great plot for a politically-driven story. Ah, if only Luceno were to set his sights again on the Dark Times era...
I would suggest the ban was largely on human and other sapient species, with lesser species and/or species with politically questionable ties being exempted from such a ban. Alternatively, the ban would be on the books but certain officials had power enough to get around it, such as Grand Moff Tarkin and his extensive Wookiee slaving.
Because the Empire just called it something different. Witness this speech by the Emperor to Vader from Dark Times: "My apologies, Lord Vader. I should have explained the current situation sooner... the slavery that exists in the lawless reaches of the Outer Rim is wrong. The trading in individuals' lives and freedom for personal gain must end. And it will... in time. But what the Empire is doing on New Plympto - and elsewhere - is different. Unrepentant Separatists like the Nosaurians must be dealt with. Put to work, they will make a positive contribution to the Empire, and their lives will be spared. It is a merciful alternative to what would otherwise be necessary. I'm certain you understand."
As the Atlas pointed out Palpatine banned slavery for personal gain, but was fine with it when conducted by governments (his own Empire, supporting governments) and where it was cultural tradition (Hutt space and some other areas). He apparently wanted it controlled and contained so it would benefit his undertakings and not the chaos of Slavers run rampant that seemed to happen in the days of the Old Republic.
Just so; this is the same Sith Lord who once told a certain Count that many Sith Empires of the past were built on the backs of slaves. That story arc, at the same time, established exactly the kind of slavers whom Palpatine didn't want to allow free reign. The Zygerrians had no problem enslaving pretty much anybody. That, and given Miraj's defiance, making an example of her sent a message: Confederacy members needed to keep to their place. Dooku was in charge, even as much as Gunray and the rest of the council were important parts of the machinery.
Considering Vader's past as a slave living on Tatooine, maybe he later ordered to ban all slave trading on that planet. It doesn't say that the ban that affected Jabba's and Gardulla's slaving activities on Tatooine was a galay-wide ban.
I think the Wook might be mistaken on this point...I could be wrong, but IIRC, this information comes from the Secrets of Tatooine sourcebook, which had these events take place when the Republic, not the Empire, was still in power. Someone should probably check the citations and the original source. TC
Remember there are different types of slavery, for example there is "Roman" slavery; ie man servents, unpaid maids etc. as well as "Plantation" slavery, ie, what happened in the southern US until 1865. From the sounds of it the Empire banned "Roman" slavery, like what Ani was in, but maintained "Plantation" style, or chain gangs or what every they did with Wookiees
The Empire reclassified many of the species it used for slave labor as semi-sentient or non-sentient, so it wasn't slavery. And slavery? Totally different from compelled labor for the government. Totally different thing.
It's an interesting question. Interesting enough that I'm going to roll out from under a log, if only to quickly agree with Hav... Personally, I suspect that the Empire's actions would seem logical to its citziens: on the one hand, they claim to be properly enforcing the longstanding Republic ban on sentients being treated as private property (and senior Imperials like Vader are very strong believers in doing so)... but they're equally firm about the equally longstanding right of the state to take comparable control of sentients as a punitive or "necessary" measure: the way the Imperials use the Nosaurians, Wookies, Mandalorians and Jabiimi would be justified as a rigorous enforcement of the principle that the Republic applied in sending criminals to Kessel, or indeed in forming an army of clones and conscripts... *disappears back into undergrowth* -- The Imperial Ewok
