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German family's Namibia apology German family's Namibia apology
(about 13 hours later)
The descendants of a German officer responsible for mass killings in 1904 in Namibia have met the representatives of the Herero people to seek pardon.The descendants of a German officer responsible for mass killings in 1904 in Namibia have met the representatives of the Herero people to seek pardon.
Descendants of Lothar von Trotha, who ordered the killing of Herero people, expressed deep shame over their ancestor's actions and apologised.Descendants of Lothar von Trotha, who ordered the killing of Herero people, expressed deep shame over their ancestor's actions and apologised.
Tens of thousands were killed or died of starvation when the general tried to crush an uprising over land ownership.Tens of thousands were killed or died of starvation when the general tried to crush an uprising over land ownership.
The German government has declined Herero demands for an apology. Germany's government offered a general apology but refuses to pay reparations.
The chiefs of six Herero royal houses met representatives of the von Trotha family in the central Namibian town of Omaruru.The chiefs of six Herero royal houses met representatives of the von Trotha family in the central Namibian town of Omaruru.
"We, the von Trotha family, are deeply ashamed of the terrible events that took place 100 years ago. Human rights were grossly abused that time," Wolf-Thilo von Trotha said as he addressed the gathering. Our family cannot become involved in the demand for reparations from a government Ulrich von Trotha href="either url here">Unfinished business href="either url here">Germany 'regrets' killings "We, the von Trotha family, are deeply ashamed of the terrible events that took place 100 years ago. Human rights were grossly abused that time," Wolf-Thilo von Trotha said as he addressed the gathering. Our family cannot become involved in the demand for reparations from a government Ulrich von Trotha href="/1/hi/world/africa/4623516.stm">Unfinished business href="/1/hi/world/africa/3388901.stm">Germany 'regrets' killings
"We say sorry, since we bear the name of General Lothar von Trotha. We however do not only want to look back, but also look to the future.""We say sorry, since we bear the name of General Lothar von Trotha. We however do not only want to look back, but also look to the future."
This is the first time anyone has publicly apologised for the 1904 killings, the BBC's Frauke Jensen in Namibia says.
The von Trotha representatives travelled to Omaruru at the invitation of Herero Supreme Chief Alfons Maharero, the grandson of Samuel Maharero, who led the uprising in 1904.The von Trotha representatives travelled to Omaruru at the invitation of Herero Supreme Chief Alfons Maharero, the grandson of Samuel Maharero, who led the uprising in 1904.
Chief Maherero used the occasion to draw attention to the unresolved demand for reparations from the German government.Chief Maherero used the occasion to draw attention to the unresolved demand for reparations from the German government.
"We demand a dialogue with the present German government to obtain restorative justice," he said."We demand a dialogue with the present German government to obtain restorative justice," he said.
Another member of the von Trotha family, Ulrich von Trotha, emphasised that his family was on a private visit.Another member of the von Trotha family, Ulrich von Trotha, emphasised that his family was on a private visit.
"Our family cannot become involved in the demand for reparations from a government," he told AFP news agency."Our family cannot become involved in the demand for reparations from a government," he told AFP news agency.
Although the German government has previously expressed "regret" at the killings, it has stopped short of an apology. The German government has expressed "regret" at the killings, and a visiting minister apologised in 2004 in general terms, but she avoided specifically saying sorry for the massacres.
Our correspondent says the German government feels that an apology might bring new demands for reparations, and says its obligations to Namibia are fulfilled by its current role as Namibia's main aid donor. Our correspondent says the German government feels that a formal apology might bring new demands for reparations, and says its obligations to Namibia are fulfilled by its current role as Namibia's main aid donor.