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Forget Reparations, Says Massing

New Era (Windhoek)
NEWS
August 18, 2004
Posted to the web August 18, 2004

By Kuvee Kangueehi
Windhoek
THE Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Namibia, Wolfgang Massing,
has said in no uncertain terms that the Ovaherero must forget about
reparations, as his government is not prepared to have any dialogue with them
on the subject.
Speaking on Monday to New Era after the Herero Genocide Commemoration at
Ohamakari that was also attended by the German Minister of Economic Coope-
ration and Development Heidemarie Wiezorek-Zeul, Massing said no negotiations
would take place between Germany and the Ovaherero, adding the Namibian Govern-
ment remains their only partner when it comes to negotiations.
The German Ambassador also noted that Wiezorek-Zeul apologised to the Ovaherero
and since reconciliation is a two-way process, Germany now expects them to
withdraw the civil suit they initiated in a New York court. Massing said the
court case is creating tension between the Ovaherero and the Germans, and is
not promoting mutual reconciliation.
The German Ambassador said his government would be prepared to help the
Ovaherero with small projects as it will with any other group in the country
and no special preference will be given to them. He said his government is
still committed to assisting Namibia develop positively, adding that
reparations to the Ovaherero would open up a Pandora's box.
Massing, who did not entertain any thought of reparations or compensation,
questioned who would bene-fit from the compensation and how it would be
effected. He believes that compensation to a specific society would not be in
the best interest of the country and could be interpreted as Germany
interfering in the internal affairs of Namibia.
He noted that his govern-ment would continue helping with land reform through
the Namibian Government.
When approached for comment on Massing's re-marks following the German
minister's visit to Ohamakari, Herero Paramount Chief Kuaima Riruako who has
been spearheading the geno-cide case, said he felt insulted by Massing's
statement to the effect that the Hereros should forget about reparations.
He said he would person-ally take up the matter with the ambassador. Riruako
declined to comment on whether the Ovaherero would withdraw the case and said
the Ovaherero would definitely hold talks with the Germans on the reparation
issue.
Festus Muundjua, a prominent Herero, said if the German Ambassador had said
that compensation for the Ovaherero was out, this confirmed his views on the
Namibia Broadcasting Cor-poration (NBC) talk show 'Talk of the Nation' on
Monday. He noted that he was con-cerned about the sincerity of the German
apology and challenged the German am-bassador to come out publicly on an open
platform or singly explain the true position of the German government.

   

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