The congress in Berlin from 14-16 October 2016 will bring together, in solidarity and common purpose, people of African and non-African descent with numerous descendants of the victims of the Ovaherero and Nama genocides 1904-1908 from all over the world. More information here.
Tag Archives: Namibia
Immediately recognize the genocide of the Ovaherero and Nama!
Press release of the alliance “Völkermord verjährt nicht!” from 13.06.2016:
The alliance “Völkermord verjährt nicht!” welcomes the criticism of the President of the German Bundestag Prof. Norbert Lammert on the lack of an official recognition of the German genocide against the Ovaherero and Nama 1904-08 by the German Bundestag expressed on 12.6.2016 in the ZDF program “Berlin direkt”.
With his reference to regret and embarrassment, the Bundestag president addresses, albeit in highly restrained language, serious failures of official German policy. The longstanding refusal of successive federal governments to recognize the genocide in Namibia remains an indictment of the Federal Republic of Germany and in no way fits its self-image as the “world champion of remembrance” and the associated exemplary critical approach to its own history. It is shameful that German politicians have to accept this omission from Turkish President Erdoğan in the same breath as his racist and abusive insults of members of the Bundestag. Here, the German government, as well as successive majorities in the Bundestag, have been shockingly caught flat-footed by decades of refusal to deal honestly with Germany’s colonial past.
Representatives of Herero and Nama visit Berlin
Following the Armenia debate, civil society and the opposition are calling for recognition of the genocide committed by the German “Schutztruppe” in 1904-08 in what is now Namibia. Herero and Nama leaders are expected in Berlin for the presentation of an appeal, public commemorations and discussion sessions. Continue reading
Recognition of the Genocide against the OvaHerero and Nama in Sight
Appeal “Genocide is Genocide!”
Following Germany’s insistence that Turkey recognize the genocide against the Armenian population, numerous public figures are also demanding that Germany officially recognize and apologize for the 1904-08 genocide against the OvaHerero and Nama people in what is now Namibia.
On the occasion of the 100th On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the end of the colony “German Southwest Africa” on July 9, 2015, more than 150 renowned representatives from politics and science, churches and culture, from the Black community and NGOs went public with the joint appeal “Genocide is genocide!
The appeal can be signed here and there is more information on the campaign website.
Petition concerning Hereros’ & Namas’ Genocide Reparations from Germany
Today, activists are delivering a petition to Germany Embassies and General-Consulates all over the world to support the just quest by Herero representatives for reparations from Germany for the German colonial genocide. In Berlin, the petition is handed over by the NGO alliance
“Genocide has no statute of limitations!” (see the press release). On this occasion, the German-Namibian website www.genocide-namibia.net is launched.
Reception of looted bones boycotted by Herero and Nama people
The international NGO alliance “Genocide has no statute of limitations!” reported last week:
“Scandal in Windhoek: Herero and Nama Boycott Reception of Bones from Berlin
Around 7 a.m. today, the bones of 35 African people – among them victims of the genocide against the Herero and Nama – who were taken to Germany for racist research during the colonial era, arrived in the Namibian capital Windhoek. At 10 a.m., government had invited the concerned ethnic groups and their traditional leaders to the Parliament Garden, where about 300 people gathered. Nevertheless, half of the chairs remained empty.