an attempt to exterminate the herero unama people in german south west africa today namibia resulted in the murder of at least eighty thousand people out of fears of costly reparations german parliament has never officially recognized the murders as genocide but the government has promised us several assessment of the country's colonial history. germany's commissioner to africa is involved in the process doesn't. we are of course holding reconciliation talks with namibia right now. trying to formulate what happened a hundred years ago or more so that we as europeans can apologize for the terrible things that and take responsibility. but also so that this is accepted by the african side so that our future is not because we talk about the past. but what we can do together now as we it's. but for israel talks excluding herero unama people count for nothing some activists have gone as far as filing a lawsuit in new york against the german government calling for that participation . their return however of some twenty herero unama human remains at a ceremony in balance french church is be

an attempt to exterminate the herero unama people in german south west africa today namibia resulted in the murder of at least eighty thousand people out of fears of costly reparations german parliament has never officially recognized the mud as genocide but the government has promised if ever assessment of the country's colonial history well i'm joined now here at the big table by a kuwaiti is the paramount chief of the over herero people it's good to have you here in the studio with this we saw the remains being returned to namibia what are your thoughts about that will. flow for it's a step in the right direction. that's one of the months. and therefore we are delighted. to be here and receive the remains and yes it's. your delighted are you are you satisfied do you feel that a sense of justice has been carried out. in a small measure indeed yes. they don't belong here they shouldn't have been here in the first listening. and therefore. it's it was a good day there are demands for a full apology from the german government. and recognition of the genocide and reparations how much p

today's herero unama communities still mourn the deaths of the eighty thousand people were slaughtered is they're battling for the german government to pay for the crimes committed it's you know what people want to commit holocaust. and then you simply claim to be sick. on that use. my and you apologized and then you beat the traditions. but because we happen to be of a different skin color africa to. the german government you see for us. it's only. an apology. and that's it. even the apology came a century later with a german economic cooperation and development minister close to tears when she spoke about it in two thousand and four. we germans acknowledge our historical political moral and ethical responsibility and the guilt the germans brought upon themselves but the government stepped in saying the minister was speaking as a private citizen and not representing jamie's position it took over a decade more for belin to officially acknowledged the crimes of the past the war of extermination in the media from nine hundred forty nine where it was a war crime and genocide the movie has