Reparations motion makes history

HISTORY was made in the National Assembly yesterday when Herero Paramount Chief Kuaima Riruako, as the representative of the Herero people, called on fellow parliamentarians to support their demand for reparations from the German government for atrocities committed against the Hereros a century ago when Namibia was under German colonial rule.

It was the first such motion tabled in a parliament in southern Africa, according to legal experts. The visitors’ gallery was packed to capacity with followers of the Chief, dressed in uniforms and with Herero women wearing colourful traditional dresses.Giving an account of the history that led to the extermination order of German General Lothar von Trotha after the Herero uprising in 1904, which decimated the tribe from some 80 000 to just 15 000, Chief Riruako described how their land and cattle were confiscated, his ancestors robbed of their livelihood and dignity, the survivors languishing in concentration camps until 1908.Members of Parliament listened attentively and a serious mood prevailed in the House as Riruako recalled the “officially sanctioned physical, sexual and mental abuse of the Ovaherero women by German soldiers and officials in the concentration camps, resulting in unwanted pregnancies”.”Hundreds of Ovaherero children born out of these relationships had to grow up without knowing their fathers,” he said.”Let us as elected representatives of our people advise the German government to convene a consultative conference in order to set up an agenda for dialogue – that should be the best way to solve the unresolved issue,” Riruako appealed in his 22-page speech.He reminded the House that Germany paid billions in compensation to Jews, that the USA and Canada similarly paid millions to indigenous people, and that the Herero people’s demand for reparations was justified and in line with “international demand”.Unless the “reasonable proposals” of his people to resolve the issue were put on the agenda of various organs of the UN for public debate and adjudication, “the struggle will go on”, Riruako added.He then quoted from an account of a German soldier who in 1904 described how they pursued fleeing Herero groups in Omaheke.”A number of babies lay helplessly languishing by mothers whose breasts hung down long and flabby, others were lying alone, still living, with eyes and noses full of flies.All this life lay scattered, both men and beast, helpless, still in agony …at noon we halted at water holes which were filled to the brim with corpses,” the soldier wrote.”The people referred to here are my grandmothers and grandfathers, brothers and sisters, the offspring of those people still living in diaspora in Botswana and South Africa, we are survivors of the first genocide ever committed in Africa,” 71-year-old Chief Riruako concluded, drawing strong applause from both sides of the Chamber and the visitors’ galleries.Swapo Party Chief Whip Ben Amathila then urged MPs on both sides of the House to display tolerance and sensitivity when the debate started.”This issue can open up the past and I make a special appeal to you all to handle the motion with maturity, tolerance and sensitivity in your contributions,” Amathila pleaded.Minister Without Portfolio, Ngarikutuke Tjiriange adjourned the debate until Thursday next week.The visitors’ gallery was packed to capacity with followers of the Chief, dressed in uniforms and with Herero women wearing colourful traditional dresses.Giving an account of the history that led to the extermination order of German General Lothar von Trotha after the Herero uprising in 1904, which decimated the tribe from some 80 000 to just 15 000, Chief Riruako described how their land and cattle were confiscated, his ancestors robbed of their livelihood and dignity, the survivors languishing in concentration camps until 1908.Members of Parliament listened attentively and a serious mood prevailed in the House as Riruako recalled the “officially sanctioned physical, sexual and mental abuse of the Ovaherero women by German soldiers and officials in the concentration camps, resulting in unwanted pregnancies”.”Hundreds of Ovaherero children born out of these relationships had to grow up without knowing their fathers,” he said.”Let us as elected representatives of our people advise the German government to convene a consultative conference in order to set up an agenda for dialogue – that should be the best way to solve the unresolved issue,” Riruako appealed in his 22-page speech.He reminded the House that Germany paid billions in compensation to Jews, that the USA and Canada similarly paid millions to indigenous people, and that the Herero people’s demand for reparations was justified and in line with “international demand”.Unless the “reasonable proposals” of his people to resolve the issue were put on the agenda of various organs of the UN for public debate and adjudication, “the struggle will go on”, Riruako added.He then quoted from an account of a German soldier who in 1904 described how they pursued fleeing Herero groups in Omaheke.”A number of babies lay helplessly languishing by mothers whose breasts hung down long and flabby, others were lying alone, still living, with eyes and noses full of flies.All this life lay scattered, both men and beast, helpless, still in agony …at noon we halted at water holes which were filled to the brim with corpses,” the soldier wrote. “The people referred to here are my grandmothers and grandfathers, brothers and sisters, the offspring of those people still living in diaspora in Botswana and South Africa, we are survivors of the first genocide ever committed in Africa,” 71-year-old Chief Riruako concluded, drawing strong applause from both sides of the Chamber and the visitors’ galleries. Swapo Party Chief Whip Ben Amathila then urged MPs on both sides of the House to display tolerance and sensitivity when the debate started.”This issue can open up the past and I make a special appeal to you all to handle the motion with maturity, tolerance and sensitivity in your contributions,” Amathila pleaded.Minister Without Portfolio, Ngarikutuke Tjiriange adjourned the debate until Thursday next week.