COLONIAL REPERCUSSIONS - Panel 'Crimes committed by colonial Germany against the Herero and Nama'

Symposium I "(Post-)Colonial Injustice and Legal Interventions" of the "Colonial Repercussions/Koloniales Erbe" event series at the Akademie der Künste, Berlin (26 and 27 January 2018)

On 2 October 1904, General Lothar von Trotha gave the order for the genocide of the Herero in what was then German South West Africa. Tens of thousands of Herero and Nama were murdered and driven into the desert by the Schutztruppe (colonial troops in the African territories). Logistically, they were supported by private companies and individuals. These colonial crimes are largely unknown in Germany, as is the systematic sexual violence against women by the military and the resulting forced pregnancies. The land that was forcibly taken from the Herero and Nama and resold for profit at that time has not been given back to the descendants of the Herero and Nama to this day. Against this background, a land reform is thus required. The German government has an obligation to finally recognise the genocide, to formally apologise and to pay reparations.

Ester Muinjangue (Chairperson, Ovaherero Genocide Committee, Namibia)
Gesine Krüger (Professor of History, Universität Zürich, Switzerland)
Bernadus Swartbooi (former Deputy Minister of Land Reform, Namibia)
Moderation: Andreas Schüller (Lawyer, ECCHR Germany)

© Akademie der Künste, Berlin

[freddiekustaa]

Bernadus has a point my fellow It’s time to wake up.

[costakarumendu]

Am very impressed by Mr Swartbooi depth of knowledge in this matter.. very important time to be alive.

[ismaelzaaruka]

Good to speak the truth Mr. Swaartbooi, we are behind you, the truth must be spoken.

[monunu]

Swartbooi brilliant man actually both representatives were very brilliant and well informed..

[godwinweahtjizoo]

Swartbooi jys foken slim jong wish you more life young man Namibia and the world needs more smart leaders like you dont know what you were seeking in Swapo you sure didn't belong there Eye opening staff I have seen it we being fooled all along but jooo thanks age mate

[ferdinandmwandingi]

swaartbooi makes good points. its true that oshiwambo speakers have a tendency to dismiss the genocide but his vile and hateful attitude to an entire language group is pathetic. you can make your point without impugning the history of other language groups. oshiwambo people are just as impoverished ad the rest of the black majority, he makes it appear as though owambos are well off. its true that the past 2 presidents did not take the genocide issue with the seriousness it deserves unlike the current president who clearly has a different attitude, but he should not fault an entire group because of a small clique of political elite with the attitude of the namibian government

[joaskamudulunge]

It's plain painful truth. Cheap Labour (okaholo kOndangwa). 100% senseful and persuasive. Well presented discussion. Also well researched, and the guy is just well very informed. Speaks confidently.

[shillaamagulu]

The Germans should not have her on the panel!

[lee-yalliangarises]

This is a complex discourse for all parties to have. Not because things are difficult to understand but because the truth now sits intertwined with exaggerations and propaganda. I urge all parties to come clean and speak in total honesty if resolutions are to be found.

[alphakasuto]

Anything about us without us is against us.

[ndjuluwanakale]

I wonder why he didn't tell the audience that he's forefathers willingly sold some of the land to the German settlers they were naive enough to let strangers come in their midst

[tulongahenoch]

Haaaahaaa, "jy is nie ge-fire nie jy het self ge-resign", mbuae switch the microphones off

[vekandjo]

HAHAHA "jy was nie gefirer nie" hahahahahah

[vekandjo]

STOP TELLING LIES ABOUT OUR COUNTRY. YOU REALLY SHOWING THAT YOU DONT KNOW POLITICS OF YOUR OWN COUNTRY. NO WONDER....