Swanu hits reparations trail

NAMIBIANS affected by atrocities committed by German colonial rule a century ago should receive reparation payments similar to or more than those Germany paid to Jews who suffered under the Nazi regime, a local opposition party has demanded.

The Swanu Party of Namibia has reacted to a motion tabled in the German parliament last week by the opposition Left Party to officially recognise the colonial war against Namibians between 1904 and 1907 as genocide and to urge German companies and financial institutions that benefited in Namibia during colonial times to pay reparations. The motion fell short of demanding reparations from the Berlin government.”The suffering of more than a hundred years is unimaginable and unbearable,” Swanu said in a statement, “and the motion should have monetary estimates similar or of more proportions as already given to the Jews to date and (in) the future.”The statement was signed by the party’s foreign affairs secretary, Dr Tangeni Iiyambo.Swanu also demanded that Germany adopt a special law for the envisaged reparation payments.The political party also wants German-speaking Namibians to express themselves on the motion brought before the Bundestag last week.”Being descendants of Germany, the local German population and (the majority of them) Christians, they have benefited from the fruits of colonisation during and after the German colonial era.They should feel morally obliged to support reparation (demands) for their fellow citizens who were wronged in the past.That is the least that Swanu expects from their German-speaking brethren.”Iyambo also called on the Namibian Government to “come clean and clear” on the reparation demands made by Herero- and Nama-speaking Namibians.”Such a statement will send a clear message to Germany’s parliament that these demands are not partial but have full support of all Namibian compatriots and the Government.”The motion fell short of demanding reparations from the Berlin government.”The suffering of more than a hundred years is unimaginable and unbearable,” Swanu said in a statement, “and the motion should have monetary estimates similar or of more proportions as already given to the Jews to date and (in) the future.”The statement was signed by the party’s foreign affairs secretary, Dr Tangeni Iiyambo.Swanu also demanded that Germany adopt a special law for the envisaged reparation payments.The political party also wants German-speaking Namibians to express themselves on the motion brought before the Bundestag last week.”Being descendants of Germany, the local German population and (the majority of them) Christians, they have benefited from the fruits of colonisation during and after the German colonial era.They should feel morally obliged to support reparation (demands) for their fellow citizens who were wronged in the past.That is the least that Swanu expects from their German-speaking brethren.”Iyambo also called on the Namibian Government to “come clean and clear” on the reparation demands made by Herero- and Nama-speaking Namibians.”Such a statement will send a clear message to Germany’s parliament that these demands are not partial but have full support of all Namibian compatriots and the Government.”