Ambassador Professor Peter H. Katjavivi’s delivered the following comments at a media conference organised by the parliamentary caucus the LEFT PARTY on 13 June 2007 in the German Parliament Berlin on the occasion of the 1st reading of the Motion: „Acknowledgement of and, Reparations for German Colonial Crimes in the former German South West Africa”:
We have noted with interest the motion on German colonial crimes in the former German South West Africa – today’s Namibia – presented by the parliamentary caucus of the LEFT PARTY to the German Parliament.
This motion deals with the question of the terrible atrocities committed in Namibia in the name of Germany by the German troops between 1904 – 1908.
It goes without saying that tonight’s 1st reading of the motion in the German Parliament is a matter of great significance to Namibia, and we welcome the opportunity that this matter is being discussed at the heart of German democracy.
However, because of the importance of the subject matter, it might have been more beneficial if this motion was brought before the Bundestag on an all-party basis. Nevertheless, we will follow tonight’s Bundestag debate with keen interest.
As a matter of fact, it is Chief Kuaima Riruako, MP, who brought a similar motion before the Namibian National Assembly which won the support of all political parties in parliament. This is because our country’s colonial history is a matter that affected everybody and touches all the Namibian people, not just the affected communities of the South and Centre of the country.
It is the duty of the Namibian Government to help to facilitate a process that contributes to reconciliation and harmony firstly within us and our society, and secondly between Namibia and its partners, in this case the Federal Republic of Germany.
We believe today Namibia enjoys good and friendly relations with Germany based on mutual respect and understanding. Therefore, we are confident that the discussion of this matter can move forward and help to heal the wounds of the past.