Greg Stanton, a Namibian representative, was sitting in the front row of the visitor gallery this week in the Bundestag of Germany. He traveled from Namibia to witness this parliamentary debate and has been waiting for about 120 years for the return of the human remains of his ancestor, Cornelius Frederick, who led the Nama resistance against German colonial rule and died in the Shark Island, the first German concentration camp.
Call for Apology from Germany
Frederick was here representing his ancestor and as a member of the Nama Traditional Leaders Association to demand an "unconditional apology" from Germany. Next to him, Matind Katjiua, the head of the Ovaherero traditional government, was seated in formal attire and white gloves, stating: "We ask the Bundestag to firmly recognize the crimes committed against these two peoples."
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Historical Reviews and Political Reactions
Jürgen Zimmerer, a history professor at the University of Hamburg, stated that the Bundestag and the German government lack the will to confront this dark period of German history. He pointed out that while the Bundestag has responded to other crimes such as the Armenian genocide and the crimes against the Yazidis, it remains indifferent to the crimes committed against the Ovaherero and Nama.
The Socialist Left Party initiated this discussion by presenting a proposal for full recognition and compensation. Katjiua also rejected existing agreements between the governments of Namibia and Germany, stating: "Development aid cannot replace full compensation."
Challenges Ahead for Compensation
The German Foreign Ministry also warned that "legal claims for compensation cannot arise from the recognition of the crime." The ministry stated that through these negotiations, Namibia and Germany are opening a new path in confronting their colonial past.
Zimmerer also referred to the financial calculations related to compensation, saying: "If we want to make a commitment to compensate the families of the victims, due to the millions of victims of World War II, it would destroy us."
The coalition agreement of the current German government emphasizes efforts for reconciliation with Namibia, but some analysts believe this issue has received less attention compared to previous efforts by the German government.
The road ahead for the Ovaherero survivors is difficult, as there are still tens of thousands of human remains in Germany. Individuals like Greg Stanton have been striving to heal these wounds for generations.
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