Von Trotha out, Herero Street in

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Cool.

-----Original Message-----
>From: Ya Sam <takoitov at hotmail.com>
>Sent: Nov 12, 2006 8:48 AM
>To: pynchon-l at waste.org
>Subject: Von Trotha out, Herero Street in
>
>Von Trotha out, Herero Street in
>
>HENNING HINTZE
>
>THE City Council of the Bavarian capital Munich has decided to change the 
>name of what has been called Von Trotha Street.
>
>The coalition of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Green Party 
>passed a motion on Thursday to change the name to Herero Street.
>
>The two major opposition parties in Munich, the conservative Christian 
>Social Union (CSU) and the liberal party FDP, voted against the motion.
>
>The initiative for this name change was started in June 2003 by a councillor 
>of the Green Party, Siegfried Benker.
>
>He felt it was a shame for Munich to still have a street bearing the name of 
>a man who was notorious for the extermination order he issued on October 2, 
>1904.
>
>General Lothar von Trotha, who served as German Governor from 1904 to 1905, 
>was one of the key figures of the German genocide committed against the 
>Herero and Nama people in Namibia.
>
>At the commemoration of the battle Hamakari in August 2004 the German 
>Minister for Technical Cooperation and Development, Heidemarie 
>Wieczorek-Zeul (SPD), apologised for the German genocide and she made 
>mention of Von Trotha.
>
>Referring to the atrocities that took place under his command, she said that 
>if the genocide had occurred now, Von Trotha would have had to face trial 
>and "would be sentenced".
>
>During the debate in the Munich City Council the chief whip of the CSU, Hans 
>Podiuk, justified the use of the name 'Von Trotha', saying the street name 
>is not meant to honour General Von Trotha but the entire family.
>
>He referred to a decision of 1993.
>
>However, if ordinary Germans see the name 'Von Trotha' they automatically 
>think of the notorious General.
>
>Many young Germans do not even know the name Von Trotha.
>
>The older generation, particularly when they saw the junction of Von Trotha 
>and Waterberg Street, immediately thought of General von Trotha.
>
>When officials of the Nazi Party in 1933 named the street after Von Trotha, 
>the General was widely regarded as a colonial hero.
>
>CSU councillor Podiuk expressed his party's view that if the street had to 
>change its name he would not be in favour of the name Herero Street.
>
>Without mentioning any names, he referred to historians who claimed the 
>Hereros, long before the arrival of the Germans, had committed genocide 
>against the San people.
>
>This statement caused an emotional reaction on the part of Green councillor 
>Benker.
>
>He accused the CSU of trying to portray the Hereros as perpetrators in order 
>to distract attention from the German colonial crimes.
>
>All houses in Munich carry a visible plate on which the name of the street 
>is written, and so all houses in the former Von Trotha Street will need new 
>signs.
>
>The costs for the name change to 'Herero Street' will be covered by the City 
>Council.
>
>* Meanwhile, in Germany's capital Berlin, a seminar on possible ways of 
>making reparations to the Herero and Nama people will be held on October 13 
>and 14.
>
>The seminar is convened by Hueseyin Aydin of the Left party, together with 
>the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.
>
>Namibian MP Arnold Tjihuiko, as representative of Chief Kuaima Riruako, and 
>Rudolph Hongoze of the secretariat of the six Herero royal houses have 
>confirmed their participation.
>
>Aydin was invited by Chief Riruako to address this year's Herero Day.
>
>http://www.namibian.com.na/2006/October/national/064F6075AB.html
>
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