Von Trotha issue heats up debate in Parliament

HERERO Chief Kuaima Riruako came under fire in Parliament yesterday over negative remarks about a visiting family from Germany, who are in Namibia to contribute to reconciliation.

Members of the Von Trotha family are here to build ties with the Herero people after the atrocities committed by one of their relatives a century ago. “If the Von Trotha family want to clean their name, they must tell the German government what their parent (ancestor) did wrong,” Riruako said in his contribution to an ongoing debate on national reconciliation, deviating from the core issue on the table.”Did I invite them? No!” the Chief exclaimed.At this point, Local and Regional Government Deputy Minister Kazenambo Kazenambo rose and said the visiting members of the Von Trotha family had not done anything against Herero-speaking Namibians.”It is an unfair attack of the Chief on individuals, and hypocrisy,” he told the House.Arnold Tjihuiko of the Nudo party said that General Lothar von Trotha was sent by the German Imperial Government to Namibia in 1904 to end the Herero uprising against German colonial rule.” The visiting family members did nothing wrong, but why do they come here to apologise to only one language group? What about the Nama, Damara and San, (who also suffered) – are they going to them as well to apologise?” Tjihuiko wanted to know.”The Von Trothas have just come here to pursue their strategy of divide and rule.”he claimed.”They did not come here to talk to our Government (about) what they will do (with regard to reconciliation).What the (visiting) family is doing is unacceptable.”The DTA’s Katuutire Kaura responded that Chief Riruako was just sour because the Von Trothas were not visiting him.”If that was so, all the streets would be lined with horses.Fact is that General Lothar von Trotha was the leader of the German army in 1904 and Chief Samuel Maharero the leader of the Herero army.”Three years ago the descendants of both families met in Germany, it was Chief Alfons Maharero and now it is the return visit,” Kaura said.”Chief Riruako thinks no one else must talk about the Herero genocide and reparations except him.”The Speaker of the National Assembly, Theo-Ben Gurirab, then told the House that he would not tolerate a debate getting side-tracked.”The debate on the floor has nothing to do with history or Riruako, I will not allow us to discuss Von Trotha or a Herero,” he cautioned sternly.”If the Von Trotha family want to clean their name, they must tell the German government what their parent (ancestor) did wrong,” Riruako said in his contribution to an ongoing debate on national reconciliation, deviating from the core issue on the table.”Did I invite them? No!” the Chief exclaimed.At this point, Local and Regional Government Deputy Minister Kazenambo Kazenambo rose and said the visiting members of the Von Trotha family had not done anything against Herero-speaking Namibians.”It is an unfair attack of the Chief on individuals, and hypocrisy,” he told the House.Arnold Tjihuiko of the Nudo party said that General Lothar von Trotha was sent by the German Imperial Government to Namibia in 1904 to end the Herero uprising against German colonial rule.” The visiting family members did nothing wrong, but why do they come here to apologise to only one language group? What about the Nama, Damara and San, (who also suffered) – are they going to them as well to apologise?” Tjihuiko wanted to know.”The Von Trothas have just come here to pursue their strategy of divide and rule.”he claimed.”They did not come here to talk to our Government (about) what they will do (with regard to reconciliation).What the (visiting) family is doing is unacceptable.”The DTA’s Katuutire Kaura responded that Chief Riruako was just sour because the Von Trothas were not visiting him.”If that was so, all the streets would be lined with horses.Fact is that General Lothar von Trotha was the leader of the German army in 1904 and Chief Samuel Maharero the leader of the Herero army.”Three years ago the descendants of both families met in Germany, it was Chief Alfons Maharero and now it is the return visit,” Kaura said.”Chief Riruako thinks no one else must talk about the Herero genocide and reparations except him.”The Speaker of the National Assembly, Theo-Ben Gurirab, then told the House that he would not tolerate a debate getting side-tracked.”The debate on the floor has nothing to do with history or Riruako, I will not allow us to discuss Von Trotha or a Herero,” he cautioned sternly.