Unfinished business for Namibia's Herero

[XXPANTHAXX]

On a dry, windswept slope overlooking the Namibian town of
Okahandja, a makeshift bell summons the local Herero
community.

There is a grey slate monument to the Herero chiefs who led
the failed uprising against the German colonialists in 1904.

Alongside in the sand, is a circle of white stones where
people come and talk to their ancestors.

These are important rituals for people to reflect on the
repression the Herero suffered at the hands of the Germans a
century ago.

Namibia's Herero community is seeking reparations from
Germany for the suffering experienced during colonial rule.

Genocide

The Herero say that German policy at the time amounted to
genocide.

Many Herero who rebelled, became prisoners of war. Starvation
and torture were widespread. Of an estimated 65,000 Herero,
only 15,000 survived.

Today, the pain is still felt acutely.

"Our fathers and mothers were killed like animals. It's a sad
story, all the atrocities, the way the Germans killed people,
starved them to death, and took them into concentration
camps," says 65-year-old Ujama Karuhumba who lives in
Okahandja.

Close to the centre of town, there is an old German church,
with a powerful reminder that the Germans too, took
casualties in the fighting with the Herero in the early years
of the last century.

The graves of more than 50 German soldiers are laid out in a
neatly kept cemetery, and on the granite headstones are
recorded the names of those who perished in a far-flung land.

Apology

Germany has offered an apology for the massacres that
occurred, and proposed a multi-million dollar development
deal for Namibia.

However, the Herero Genocide Committee is seeking millions of
dollars in compensation from the German government, based on
the atrocities committed.

Esther Utjiua who chairs the committee, says Germany wants no
mention of the word "genocide".

She describes the relationship with Germany as "hostile", and
says further dialogue is needed.

"They are too vague. We don't know where we stand with them.
We want to be involved. We don't want them to decide on our
behalf what it is we want.

"For two years, we've been asking the German government to
talk about the issue of genocide, and come to an agreement on
reparations that can be acceptable to both sides."

After a state visit to Germany at the end of last year by
Namibia's President Hifikepunye Pohamba, talks between the
two countries on bilateral development co-operation were
postponed.

Community sense

The Herero identity in Namibia today, is alive, not least
because of the unique sense of style adopted by the Herero
women. They are famous for their full-length coloured dresses
and unique hats. Ironically, it is a tradition that stems
from the influence of German missionaries.

At a recent fund-raising dinner in the capital, Windhoek,
influential members of the Herero community outlined
ambitious plans to raise money and write more books about the
events of 1904.

A young student made an impassioned plea to the assembled
guests: "It is against the background of the German
atrocities that the Herero community is seeking compensation
from the German government. I'm saying 'Push on' until the
long overdue victory has been attained".

Phil Ya Nangoloh of Namibia's National Society for Human
Rights says he fully supports the Herero claim for
reparations.

"There is enough documentation to prove that genocide has
taken place, as defined in the Genocide Convention. A token
sign of reparation must be given to the people who suffered
this genocide".

Against the odds, the Herero tradition has survived, and no-
one here is forgetting the unfinished business relating to
the events of more than 100 years ago.