Genocide lawsuit sets example for others
Namibia could lead by example for the world to follow, if the country wins its New York lawsuit on genocide against Germany, historians from the University of Hamburg have said.
Germany awaits the second hearing in a New York court on 21 July, but is still mum on whether it would appear for the hearing after failing to make a first appearance in March this year.
Speaking to Nampa recently, the head of research at the Hamburg University's Department of History, Dr Jürgen Zimmer, indicated that the justice secretary of Berlin has not officially handed over the lawsuit by Namibia to the German government.
Correctly remembering the genocide would mean that the German society at large would engage with the reality of what happened over 110 years ago in Namibia and other African countries like Tanzania, Burundi and Cameroon.
Germany would then have to think about how they would want to remember it.
“We are far from this. What we have achieved in the meantime is that most people have heard of the Ovaherero and Nama, and they have heard of them in a critical way,” Zimmer said. He said a memorial in Germany was needed to commemorate general colonial history as well as the Ovaherero and Nama genocide. Zimmer said that in addition to a formal apology from the German government, the first step to truly coming to terms with the 1904-1908 genocide, would be to hold global broader scientific discussions with Africa and other countries, including former colonies.
“However, the German government has only half-heartedly acknowledged that genocide took place, and there is a lot to be discussed on whether it is recognised or not. It would have to be developed in a close dialogue with Namibia and I cannot see that dialogue happening at the moment,” he said.
He explained that to acknowledge any duty to make up for the past wrongs is what the German government is shying away from, as this could set as example for other former colonies to sue for reparations as well. Meanwhile, Kim Todzi, research assistant at the same university, said having a Genocide Remembrance Day would be a huge achievement for both countries, as it would be part of the process of dealing with the past.
“It would be a huge achievement, because then it means that it is acknowledged and is part of the political calendar for both countries,” Todzi said.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs in Namibia held public consultations with various stakeholders in May and June 2017 to determine the enactment or declaration of a Genocide Remembrance Day. Parliamentarian Usutuaije Maamberua proposed 28 May as National Genocide Remembrance Day, saying it was the day all surviving victims of the war were set free from concentration camps.
-Nampa
Anna Salkeus
Germany awaits the second hearing in a New York court on 21 July, but is still mum on whether it would appear for the hearing after failing to make a first appearance in March this year.
Speaking to Nampa recently, the head of research at the Hamburg University's Department of History, Dr Jürgen Zimmer, indicated that the justice secretary of Berlin has not officially handed over the lawsuit by Namibia to the German government.
Correctly remembering the genocide would mean that the German society at large would engage with the reality of what happened over 110 years ago in Namibia and other African countries like Tanzania, Burundi and Cameroon.
Germany would then have to think about how they would want to remember it.
“We are far from this. What we have achieved in the meantime is that most people have heard of the Ovaherero and Nama, and they have heard of them in a critical way,” Zimmer said. He said a memorial in Germany was needed to commemorate general colonial history as well as the Ovaherero and Nama genocide. Zimmer said that in addition to a formal apology from the German government, the first step to truly coming to terms with the 1904-1908 genocide, would be to hold global broader scientific discussions with Africa and other countries, including former colonies.
“However, the German government has only half-heartedly acknowledged that genocide took place, and there is a lot to be discussed on whether it is recognised or not. It would have to be developed in a close dialogue with Namibia and I cannot see that dialogue happening at the moment,” he said.
He explained that to acknowledge any duty to make up for the past wrongs is what the German government is shying away from, as this could set as example for other former colonies to sue for reparations as well. Meanwhile, Kim Todzi, research assistant at the same university, said having a Genocide Remembrance Day would be a huge achievement for both countries, as it would be part of the process of dealing with the past.
“It would be a huge achievement, because then it means that it is acknowledged and is part of the political calendar for both countries,” Todzi said.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs in Namibia held public consultations with various stakeholders in May and June 2017 to determine the enactment or declaration of a Genocide Remembrance Day. Parliamentarian Usutuaije Maamberua proposed 28 May as National Genocide Remembrance Day, saying it was the day all surviving victims of the war were set free from concentration camps.
-Nampa
Anna Salkeus
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