Namibian Protesters Call for Talks Before Accepting Berlin’s Deal

Hundreds of people have protested outside parliament in Namibia’s capital where an agreement with Germany, in which Germany acknowledged it committed genocide during its colonial occupation, was due to be debated. The crowd of some 400 chanting and placard-carrying, mainly opposition activists marched on Tuesday to the parliament building in Windhoek to protest against the agreement penned earlier this year between their government and Germany. “Say no to the fake genocide deal,” read a placard. “The blood of our ancestors was not in vain” and “proper reparation now,” read others. Germany in May acknowledged it had committed genocide in colonial-era Namibia against Herero and Nama people between 1904 and 1908 and promised a $1.3bn in financial support to descendants of the victims. Activists have rejected the offer as insufficient. A pro-government faction of the Herero and Nama provisionally accepted Germany’s offer, one of its leaders, Gerson Katjirua, said at a news conference. The sum will be paid across 30 years, according to sources close to the negotiations and must primarily benefit the descendants of the Herero and Nama.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA