Geingob’s genocide comments an insult – LPM
Swartbooi denounces Geingob's divisive remarks
LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi launched a strong critique against President Hage Geingob's views.
Landless People’s Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi has condemned comments made by President Hage Geingob that the Nama-Ovaherero genocide paled in comparison to the armed struggle against apartheid.
He described the president's comments as an insult against those who lost their lives during the genocide.
Geingob, during a public lecture in France, opined that apartheid South Africa's actions were more severe. He made the remarks at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, also known as Sciences Po, late last week.
Reckless views
Launching a salvo at Geingob, Swartbooi said he was insensitive towards the feelings of the descendants of genocide victims.
“When a head of state takes you down that route, he is basically telling those idiots in Swapo that are victims of the genocide who are still in Swapo, people like Kaire Mbuende, people like Bob Kandetu, he is showing them the middle finger and saying, 'I, as president of Swapo and as president of the country, think nothing of your struggle,'” Swartbooi said.
“In fact, I think your struggle was such a small thing that we had to take a bigger chunk of the responsibility to free you,” he added.
Geingob’s comments were also reckless, Swartbooi felt.
“That is very bad, most insensitive – why he even had to say it, I don’t know,” Swartbooi said.
Geingob placed the fight against apartheid above any efforts made to seek restorative justice, Swartbooi opined.
“For Geingob, because he was in the fight against apartheid, he thinks that the little fight he was involved in is so superior from a philosophical and human rights and historic point of view. He has the audacity to say, 'no, that one was small,'” Swartbooi said.
Worse
Speaking in France last week, Geingob said apartheid had inflicted far more harm on Namibia.
“Reconciliation of Germany and Namibia is there. We have diplomatic relations [with Germany], we have peace. This genocide happened how many years ago? Over a hundred years ago,” the president told his audience.
“Then the South Africans took over – they were worse, and then Swapo started to fight to free the country. After we freed the country, we now have the right to talk about genocide. Some people who talk about the time to reconcile were on South Africa’s side when we were fighting for freedom. Now, all of a sudden, the demand is that they must negotiate [for] themselves. Go and convince Germany,” he said.
He described the president's comments as an insult against those who lost their lives during the genocide.
Geingob, during a public lecture in France, opined that apartheid South Africa's actions were more severe. He made the remarks at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, also known as Sciences Po, late last week.
Reckless views
Launching a salvo at Geingob, Swartbooi said he was insensitive towards the feelings of the descendants of genocide victims.
“When a head of state takes you down that route, he is basically telling those idiots in Swapo that are victims of the genocide who are still in Swapo, people like Kaire Mbuende, people like Bob Kandetu, he is showing them the middle finger and saying, 'I, as president of Swapo and as president of the country, think nothing of your struggle,'” Swartbooi said.
“In fact, I think your struggle was such a small thing that we had to take a bigger chunk of the responsibility to free you,” he added.
Geingob’s comments were also reckless, Swartbooi felt.
“That is very bad, most insensitive – why he even had to say it, I don’t know,” Swartbooi said.
Geingob placed the fight against apartheid above any efforts made to seek restorative justice, Swartbooi opined.
“For Geingob, because he was in the fight against apartheid, he thinks that the little fight he was involved in is so superior from a philosophical and human rights and historic point of view. He has the audacity to say, 'no, that one was small,'” Swartbooi said.
Worse
Speaking in France last week, Geingob said apartheid had inflicted far more harm on Namibia.
“Reconciliation of Germany and Namibia is there. We have diplomatic relations [with Germany], we have peace. This genocide happened how many years ago? Over a hundred years ago,” the president told his audience.
“Then the South Africans took over – they were worse, and then Swapo started to fight to free the country. After we freed the country, we now have the right to talk about genocide. Some people who talk about the time to reconcile were on South Africa’s side when we were fighting for freedom. Now, all of a sudden, the demand is that they must negotiate [for] themselves. Go and convince Germany,” he said.
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