Namas and Hereros unite on reparations

SEVERAL Herero and Nama chiefs have joined hands for the first time in an effort to extract reparations from Germany for atrocities committed against their forefathers during German colonial rule.

Namas and Hereros once were bitter foes in pre-colonial times and fought bloody wars against each other around 1860. Yesterday, however, Herero Chief Kuaima Riruako, who was flanked by Nama Chief David Frederick, said his “dear Nama brothers and sisters” and Hereros were friends.In the paper, which was drawn up last weekend during a meeting at Mariental, the two ethnic groups jointly demand a direct dialogue for reparations with Germany despite Germany’s stance that such a dialogue should only be held between governments.”We have initially raised the issue and now it should be about us and with us, but appears to be without us.”What happened to our ancestors was genocide as defined in international law, and in view thereof we demand just reparation for damages and losses to our ancestors in terms of their own lives, their land, their livestock and other forms of their property,” the document states.Both ethnic groups want land purchased for them “in Namibia and/or elsewhere” to be settled there, fully equipped educational institutions and health centres constructed for them, bursaries granted to their people to train in different skills and study to become doctors, engineers, scientists, environmental experts and architects.They also want community centres built as another reparation measure.In the position paper, the Herero and Nama people further want infrastructural development in their areas like roads and transport systems and telecommunication.Another demand is to have a special “substantive fund created and invested in order to build a steady flow of income” to be used to sustain projects and maintain the envisaged infrastructure.”We are not seeking confrontation with the German government or (its) people, we are seeking redress for the wrongs of the past in order for the wounds to heal and for resultant genuine reconciliation and peaceful co-existence amongst the Nama/Herero and the German people and for lasting, friendly bilateral relations between the two countries.”Approached for comment, the Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Windhoek, Ute Koenig, said the document would be sent to the Berlin government and the German Bundestag (parliament).”Some of the demands expressed in there are actually covered by the special initiative of the German government, which allocates 20 million Euro (about N$200 million),” Koenig told The Namibian.Yesterday, however, Herero Chief Kuaima Riruako, who was flanked by Nama Chief David Frederick, said his “dear Nama brothers and sisters” and Hereros were friends.In the paper, which was drawn up last weekend during a meeting at Mariental, the two ethnic groups jointly demand a direct dialogue for reparations with Germany despite Germany’s stance that such a dialogue should only be held between governments.”We have initially raised the issue and now it should be about us and with us, but appears to be without us.”What happened to our ancestors was genocide as defined in international law, and in view thereof we demand just reparation for damages and losses to our ancestors in terms of their own lives, their land, their livestock and other forms of their property,” the document states.Both ethnic groups want land purchased for them “in Namibia and/or elsewhere” to be settled there, fully equipped educational institutions and health centres constructed for them, bursaries granted to their people to train in different skills and study to become doctors, engineers, scientists, environmental experts and architects.They also want community centres built as another reparation measure.In the position paper, the Herero and Nama people further want infrastructural development in their areas like roads and transport systems and telecommunication.Another demand is to have a special “substantive fund created and invested in order to build a steady flow of income” to be used to sustain projects and maintain the envisaged infrastructure.”We are not seeking confrontation with the German government or (its) people, we are seeking redress for the wrongs of the past in order for the wounds to heal and for resultant genuine reconciliation and peaceful co-existence amongst the Nama/Herero and the German people and for lasting, friendly bilateral relations between the two countries.”Approached for comment, the Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Windhoek, Ute Koenig, said the document would be sent to the Berlin government and the German Bundestag (parliament).”Some of the demands expressed in there are actually covered by the special initiative of the German government, which allocates 20 million Euro (about N$200 million),” Koenig told The Namibian.