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Genocide deal is a disgrace – German MP


A MEMBER of the German parliament, says the N$18 billion offered to Namibia by her country’s government as compensation for the 1904-1908 genocide is a disgrace.

She also says communities affected by the genocide should not allow the German government to divide them over genocide negotiations.

“The German government lacks political will to seriously deal with many German colonial and war crimes. The €1,1 billion the German government wants to provide over a period of 30 years is a disgrace. It corresponds to the development aid payments made over the last 30 years,” she said during an interview on Desert Radio yesterday.

She said the German government is trying to exploit disputes among affected communities for its own gain.

“I hope the Namibians will not allow [themselves] to be divided at that stage because that will weaken their negotiation position,” Dagdelen said.

She advised the communities to act as a strategic unit against the German government.

Dagdelen, a member of Germany’s Left Party who will be in Namibia for political talks until Saturday, said she is “deeply ashamed” that the German government still refuses to truly recognise the 1904-08 atrocities against the Nama and Ovaherero people.

She said it is Germany’s responsibility to recognise the genocide genuinely and pay appropriate reparations.

“The German government is apparently afraid of opening Pandora’s box and having to deal seriously with the many other German colonial and war crimes, and above all to pay up to the consequences resulting from its historical responsibility,” she said.

Last year, Germany officially recognised and apologised for the Herero-Nama genocide and agreed to pay Namibia €1,1 billion (N$18,6 billion) in development aid. The German government considers the money as a gesture of reconciliation, but not legally binding reparations.

Vice president Nangolo Mbumba in June last year announced that the Namibian government has accepted Germany’s reparations offer.

The announcement was met with criticism. Traditional chiefs from the Maharero, Kambazembi, Gam, Zeraeua and Mireti royal houses of the Ovaherero people have rejected the German government’s offer, saying they want N$8 trillion paid over 40 years and a pension fund as financial reparations for the 1904-08 genocide.

Dagdelen denounced her government’s offer, saying development aid is not reparations.

COMMON GROUND

At a media briefing yesterday, Dagdelen said the way the German government is handling the genocide negotiations shows a continuity of power imbalances and dependencies in German-Namibian relations.

“I really hope for a common future where there are equal relations and true reconciliation,” she added.

Dagdelen is the chairperson of Germany’s Left Party parliamentary group in the committee on foreign affairs, and spokesperson on international policy. The Left Party holds 39 seats in the German parliament, which has 736 members.

Prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila on Wednesday commended Dagdelen for being prepared to tell her government to do more for humanity.

“It is very nice to hear there are people in government, as there are those outside in those countries, where we may have issues that we are discussing and have not been able to find common ground, who are prepared to say to their governments ‘we can do more, and we would not lose anything’,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.





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