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| Africa: Southern | |
| Namibia: Whites could be killed | |
| 2004-01-12 | |
| A high-ranking representative of the Herero tribe in Namibia said there could be a Zimbabwe-style backlash against ethnic German whites if Berlin refuses to pay reparations. "Don’t forget, our young generation does not have the angelic patience of the elders," Mburumba Kernina, an advisor to Herero Paramount Chief Kuaima Riruako, told Berlin daily, Der Tagesspiegel. He said, stroking his beard looking wise. "If there is not agreement (on reparations), they will probably take matters into their own hands. What happened in Zimbabwe can easily repeat itself here," referring to the eviction of white farmers - sometimes violently - orchestrated by President Robert Mugabe in the name of land reform. "Those youngsters, so quick to fly off the handle and chop people's heads off. Of course, I’m against it, but what’s a learnered elder to do? So you can’t blame me when things go wrong, remember, it’s not my fault." Germany’s ambassador to Namibia, Wolfgang Massing, at a ceremony on Sunday expressed "regret" over the ruthless quelling of a Herero tribe uprising 100 years ago in which tens of thousands were killed by German troops. His statement is the closest a German government representative has come to an apology - a demand repeatedly made by the Herero - for what historians have described as a genocide. But he stopped short of offering reparations. The Herero have filed a lawsuit in the United States demanding payment from the German government and companies which allegedly benefited from German rule. Er, why is this in a US court? The european courts all backed up with war crimes charges against the US? "The future of this country - reconciliation, development and security - depends on the outcome of the suit against Germany," Kerina said. "So, pay up Germany, or we drag our country down to Zim-Bob-We." Namibia has a population of 1.82 million people, of whom about 25 000 people are German-speaking whites, most of them descendants of colonists. Better start making your travel plans. Since 1990, Germany, Namibia’s largest donor, has pumped $644m into the southern African country. But, of course, that’s not enough.
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| Posted by:Steve |
| #11 What German did against the Herero wasn't very good.But ever thought,why these countries were colonised.Lot of superstitious believes there before,so then such colonisings can happen.But..Herero's:don't make it worser.God will later justice all the things,which has pannened in history.Also,if you want to chase away and kill the whites.I am not racist.I am half Indonesian/half Dutch,but I know the whites gives a good contribution to Namibian economy. Look what happened in Zimbabwe.Chasing away the white farmers further deteriorated the economy.Some are now active in Zambia and they maise harvest was never so good. Hey;people of the world:I think already enough trouble,hate and killings in the world.Don't be stupid.Keep your dignity!I think,that with all these threatenings you won't succeed in much things.You want to chase away the whites?Than you won't get a thing.Aha,the Herero's want to have repairmoney themselves?I hope,that in due time German will give such money,but not by threatening.You can't undone all the bad things in history by money,money and money. DP Tick/Netherlands. |
| Posted by: dp tick 2004-2-8 6:19:36 PM |
| #10 Maybe they are suing them in Alabama or whatever state is notorious for handing down huge damages awards. They might also be hoping that blacks in the US, if they were on the jury, would be more sympathetic to their complaints than Europeans would be. Plus if they sue in many parts of Europe and lose, I think they would have to pay court costs. How they would get the $ if they win would be interesting....maybe they would slap a lien on the BMW plant in South Carolina? ;) |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2004-1-12 11:48:14 PM |
| #9 Has Jesse J. been over to Namibia lately? Think he dropped in on Mburumba to teach him the tools of the shakedown trade? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-1-12 8:59:34 PM |
| #8 >No blood for .... ummm what DO they have down there we don't want to go to war for??? Diamonds. Also a lot of desert. |
| Posted by: Mike Peck 2004-1-12 7:41:37 PM |
| #7 Old Patriot, you are preaching to the choir :) And you might be very right about Al Qaeda. I'm not convinced about that Armageddon crap, I think they are all lousy cowards. They like to boom things, kill some people... be a royal pain in the ass...but after 9/11 the terrorists with some brains probably thought about Yamamotos famous quote. I bet the Palestinians are able to stage an attack with chemicals in Israel that could kill hundreds if not thousands. But they know well enough that this would be their end. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2004-1-12 7:00:00 PM |
| #6 Like I said.... I know Barbarians.... and Arabs ain't in that league. ;) |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-1-12 6:43:38 PM |
| #5 TGA - the only way to stop a bully is to beat the crap out of him. I almost went to jail in high school for taking a baseball bat to a gang of mental midgets that thought I'd be an easy target. Five of the seven went to the hospital with broken bones, the other two may still be running for all I know... The only way to keep from being a victim is to be so da$$$$ mean no one will pick on you (or at least give that impression - 8^) ). I'm sure Al Qaeda is wishing very hard that 9/11 had never happened, in spite of all the verbal diarrhea to the contrary. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-1-12 6:30:03 PM |
| #4 Ahhh Old Patriot, with a red/green government in power? No blood for .... ummm what DO they have down there we don't want to go to war for??? |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2004-1-12 4:54:38 PM |
| #3 A much better solution would be to create a new "Afrika Corps" division, equip it with desert camoflaged equipment, build up sufficient sealift capability to deploy it, let it practice a few beach assaults, and videotape the entire process. Send two copies to Namibia with a note: "We will not allow you to cause harm to former German citizens in Namibia. We will return Namibia to its original uninhabited condition if our people are harmed. There will be no additional warnings." |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-1-12 3:48:44 PM |
| #2 What happened in Zimbabwe can easily repeat itself here... Kind of like having the school yard bully telling you to cough up your lunch money or he'll jam his own head in the toilet and flush. If I were Germany, I would want very badly to pay for a free tour of Bobland for Mburumba Kernina. There ought to be a special refugee status assigned - fleeing stupidity. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-1-12 3:47:51 PM |
| #1 Perhaps the Germans should send a chorus to sing the So Very Sorry Song.... I believe Calvin would be reasonable for a one time charitable use. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-1-12 3:00:37 PM |