Amnesty International files to join genocide reparations case

Renthia Kaimbi

Amnesty International (Amnesty) has formally applied to the High Court to participate as ‘a friend of the court’ in the legal challenge against the Namibia-Germany Joint Declaration on the 1904-1908 genocide.

Speaking to the Windhoek Observer yesterday, paramount chief Mutjinde Katjiua of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) affirmed that the organisation brings both international legal expertise and a historic friendship with Namibia to assist in securing justice for the Nama and Ovaerero people.

The international human rights organisation filed an application on Tuesday seeking permission to intervene as amicus curiae in the review case brought by Bernadus Swartbooi, the Landless People’s Movement, the OTA and 10 other traditional authorities representing various Nama and Herero communities.

On the opposing side are the Speaker of the National Assembly, the National Assembly itself, the President, the Cabinet, the Attorney-General, and a host of traditional authorities spanning Ondonga, Mbanderu, Damara, and San communities, among others.