Popular Democratic Movement Member of Parliament Kazeongere Tjeundo has charged that the Namibian genocide negotiating team intends to protect bilateral relations with Germany at the expense of Ovaherero and Nama people.
Tjeundo, during his contribution on the joint declaration by the Federal Republic of Germany and Namibia on the Herero and Nama genocide on Tuesday, said: “We cannot be expected to celebrate Germany’s half-baked recognition of genocide, because it does not come with proper atonement in the form of reparations.”
He said the agreement requires that the parties involved take a step back and reconcile themselves with history.
“The test for this august House in the consideration of this agreement is the question of atonement, and whether the nature of the agreement speaks to proper and genuine atonement under international law and the historical context of the 1904 to 1908 genocide,” Tjeundo stated.
He added that the onus lies with those who support the agreement to convince them, beyond reasonable doubt, as to why they think the agreement shows atonement towards the Ovaherero and Nama people under international law and that it is genuine when taking into account the gross atrocities committed.
Tjeundo further said the joint declaration cannot be accepted as it does not fulfil what was envisaged in the motion adopted by the House in October 2006 and will “do nothing” to address the losses incurred by the Ovaherero and Nama people during the genocide.
“The objectives of the genocide negotiations were for the German government to concede that the atrocities committed constitute genocide and to issue an unconditional and unreserved apology to the Ovaherero and Nama people, including adequate reparations for the two affected groups for losses suffered because of the genocide,” he noted.
Tjeundo also called for a fresh start to the negotiation process, stating that the two parties must go back to the negotiating table, this time with the representation of Parliament and the affected communities, both in Namibia and the diaspora.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
