Genocide must be commemorated – OGF
The Ovaherero and Ovambanderu Genocide Foundation (OGF) has taken offence that Namibia’s recently Independence celebrations took place opposite a memorial site of human remains of the Nama and Ovaherero genocide, yet failed to pay respects to the deceased.
The celebrations took place at the Vineta stadium in Swakopmund in the Erongo region, home to mass grave of victims of concentration camps of the German colonial forces.
“The 32nd Independence Anniversary celebrations took place in this very Swakopmund which housed one of several concentration camps in which many Ovaherero, Ovambanderu and Nama were incarcerated under unbearable conditions during imperial Germany’s brutal colonial period.
"Thousands of these prisoners of war eventually succumbed due to the harsh conditions of their detention and forced labour,” they said.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Foundation also accused the government of working overtime to convince descendants of the victims of that genocide to accept the joint declaration on reparations to the tune of N$18.5 billion between Namibia and Germany.
“But the top echelons of our state were there a few kilometres away at the Vineta Stadium, basking in the ‘freedom watered by the blood’ of, among others, those whose remains are yet to receive proper burial with appropriate monuments to create a lasting memorialisation for this dark chapter in our history.'
Omitted from history
The OGF said affected communities will no longer tolerate the dismissal of those valiant warriors who went against colonial oppression.
In light of this recurrent omission from historical commemorations, the foundation has themed this year’s edition of the Swakopmund Reparation Walk 'Not Anymore'.
“For the descendants of genocide are intent this weekend in Swakopmund to determine that enough is enough, the Namibian government and its German counterpart cannot be allowed to further continue to act on their behalf while pursuing their own bilateral agenda,” the statement read.
The Reparation Walk has since 2007 been observed annually on or around 25 March by the descendants of the victims of the genocide committed against the Ovaherero, Ovambanderu and Nama during the period 1904 to 1908.
[email protected]
The celebrations took place at the Vineta stadium in Swakopmund in the Erongo region, home to mass grave of victims of concentration camps of the German colonial forces.
“The 32nd Independence Anniversary celebrations took place in this very Swakopmund which housed one of several concentration camps in which many Ovaherero, Ovambanderu and Nama were incarcerated under unbearable conditions during imperial Germany’s brutal colonial period.
"Thousands of these prisoners of war eventually succumbed due to the harsh conditions of their detention and forced labour,” they said.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Foundation also accused the government of working overtime to convince descendants of the victims of that genocide to accept the joint declaration on reparations to the tune of N$18.5 billion between Namibia and Germany.
“But the top echelons of our state were there a few kilometres away at the Vineta Stadium, basking in the ‘freedom watered by the blood’ of, among others, those whose remains are yet to receive proper burial with appropriate monuments to create a lasting memorialisation for this dark chapter in our history.'
Omitted from history
The OGF said affected communities will no longer tolerate the dismissal of those valiant warriors who went against colonial oppression.
In light of this recurrent omission from historical commemorations, the foundation has themed this year’s edition of the Swakopmund Reparation Walk 'Not Anymore'.
“For the descendants of genocide are intent this weekend in Swakopmund to determine that enough is enough, the Namibian government and its German counterpart cannot be allowed to further continue to act on their behalf while pursuing their own bilateral agenda,” the statement read.
The Reparation Walk has since 2007 been observed annually on or around 25 March by the descendants of the victims of the genocide committed against the Ovaherero, Ovambanderu and Nama during the period 1904 to 1908.
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article