Archillaus Namaseb
Please allow me to bring forth the concerns and reservations the Damara people have regarding the 1904-1908 genocide.
There is ample historical evidence that the Damara people were highly affected by the genocide of 1904-1908.
It is pathetic that the Namas, Hereros, the German government and the current Namibian government find it convenient to ignore this historical reality.
In fact, the systematic extermination of the Damaras dates as far back as the 19th century when the Germans invaded Namibia, then German-South West Africa.
The Germans, while invading our territory, clashed with the Damaras and San people, the original inhabitants of vast geographical areas of South West Africa. Unfortunately, this historical fact is not captured in all modern written history, but some story-telling, oral and written history reflections are proof thereof.
The Damara people, unfortunately, and regrettably, were let down by the lack of proactiveness on the part of the Damara traditional leadership when the talks on genocide were initiated.
This has led to the non-recognition of the Damara people. It is highly illogical for anyone to state that the original inhabitants, the Damaras, could not have been affected by the genocide.
Some serious questions and factors need to be examined and explored to substantiate our position, obviously to the discomfort of some ill-informed, false and fake historians.
The historical truth is that 65 000-80 000, which was about 80% of Hereros, more than 17 000 Damaras (about 57%) and 10 000 Namas, which was about 51%, were killed.
In addition, a substantial number of San people were also killed.
The German government has acknowledged that, indeed, the Damara and San communities were also massacred, as indicated in the declaration.
It is our stance that the killing of 57% Damaras over four years was no massacre, but an act of genocide.
It is, however, regrettable that the Namibian government and the negotiation team have, to this date, failed to correct the false narrative that the 1904-1908 genocide was committed only against the Nama and the Herero.
The 1904-1908 genocide was systematically and intentionally targeted against Damara and the San communities.
The killing of 57% of the total Damara population was no coincidence of mistaken identity or them being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or them being amongst the Hereros and Namas.
In conclusion, we emphasise that we do not seek any confrontation or conflict situation against anyone.
The only intention of Damaras is to have justice, and to restore our dignity for the genocide of 57% of Damaras.
In no way should our pursuit for justice be seen as a threat to take away or diminish the heinous crime of genocide equally committed against our fellow countrymen – the San, Namas and Hereros.
In our struggle for justice and dignity, some progressive-thinking Nama and Herero counterparts expressed their full support and sympathy towards our just cause.