Renewed call for inclusion
METUSALEM NEIB WRITES:
Research done by the Cross-Cultural Trust of Namibia (CCTN) highlighting the atrocities suffered by the San and the Damara population during the genocide has a potential of causing tension with the groups that claim exclusive claim to it.
The perspective followed by the motion of the two ethnicities through history is not formally fully abandoned with the introduction of the universal franchise by the special envoy.
The German and Namibian special envoys found in the principled negotiation the atrocities suffered by the San and Damara. It should much more than at the present use its mandate in a progressive way to put into perspective and restrict the claim of a two-tribe (Herero and Nama) reparation for atrocities that so evidently affected also the San and the Damara.
Evidently, a theoretical discussion on this is not enough. There needs to be a well-researched argument and an academic discourse to support this claim.
However, it should be noted that the ancient San and the Damara ethnicities suffered dual atrocities at the hands of the Herero and Nama by the turn of the 19th century as well as the German genocide in the 20th century and it is imperative that the special envoys bring this into the negotiations on reparation for atrocities. The San and Damara ancients were involved as foot soldiers used by late paramount chief Samuel Maherero of the Herero against the Germans. Their children, adults, were also massacred during the genocides of 1904 – 1908.
The special envoys should therefore use the power of their mandates and take advantage of its unique position as bilateral governments and address this concurrently to the two group’s reparation claim. They are in an exclusive position to support, affect and contribute to alternative ways of thinking about the atrocities suffered by the San and the Damara.
The German and Namibian government's special envoy must not see the San and Damara populations as victims and burdens but instead as assets and capable subjects. The levels of conversations have complex meanings.
Apparent disagreements between the special envoy and the Herero/Nama claims hid some of the deeper division on reparation. The concerned groups must be given support to obtain not only technical know-how, but also engage in an inclusive and constructive process with the German and Namibian special envoys.
These engagements should take place with the CCTN, San, Damara traditional authorities and chiefs. The representatives of each of these groups have enough authority to speak on behalf of their group and commit it to a course of action.
Despite clear evidence the two tribes are not included. Both the German and Namibian government’s special envoys must make a principled decision to accommodate the San and Damara in their discussions.
Research done by the Cross-Cultural Trust of Namibia (CCTN) highlighting the atrocities suffered by the San and the Damara population during the genocide has a potential of causing tension with the groups that claim exclusive claim to it.
The perspective followed by the motion of the two ethnicities through history is not formally fully abandoned with the introduction of the universal franchise by the special envoy.
The German and Namibian special envoys found in the principled negotiation the atrocities suffered by the San and Damara. It should much more than at the present use its mandate in a progressive way to put into perspective and restrict the claim of a two-tribe (Herero and Nama) reparation for atrocities that so evidently affected also the San and the Damara.
Evidently, a theoretical discussion on this is not enough. There needs to be a well-researched argument and an academic discourse to support this claim.
However, it should be noted that the ancient San and the Damara ethnicities suffered dual atrocities at the hands of the Herero and Nama by the turn of the 19th century as well as the German genocide in the 20th century and it is imperative that the special envoys bring this into the negotiations on reparation for atrocities. The San and Damara ancients were involved as foot soldiers used by late paramount chief Samuel Maherero of the Herero against the Germans. Their children, adults, were also massacred during the genocides of 1904 – 1908.
The special envoys should therefore use the power of their mandates and take advantage of its unique position as bilateral governments and address this concurrently to the two group’s reparation claim. They are in an exclusive position to support, affect and contribute to alternative ways of thinking about the atrocities suffered by the San and the Damara.
The German and Namibian government's special envoy must not see the San and Damara populations as victims and burdens but instead as assets and capable subjects. The levels of conversations have complex meanings.
Apparent disagreements between the special envoy and the Herero/Nama claims hid some of the deeper division on reparation. The concerned groups must be given support to obtain not only technical know-how, but also engage in an inclusive and constructive process with the German and Namibian special envoys.
These engagements should take place with the CCTN, San, Damara traditional authorities and chiefs. The representatives of each of these groups have enough authority to speak on behalf of their group and commit it to a course of action.
Despite clear evidence the two tribes are not included. Both the German and Namibian government’s special envoys must make a principled decision to accommodate the San and Damara in their discussions.
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