|
Brutal repression of Maji Maji revolt was unacceptable — German envoy
2006-02-28 08:33:31
By Guardian Reporter
The brutal and unacceptable repression of the Maji Maji revolt 100 years ago will always remain one of darkest chapters of the German colonial history.
This has been stated by the German Ambassador to Tanzania, Wolfgang Ringe, in a special message on the occasion of commemorating the Maji Maji War yesterday in Songea.
In commemorating the event, the Government of Germany has pledged 8.5m/- to facilitate the renovation of the Maji Maji Memorial Museum in Ruvuma Region.
’100 years ago this place witnessed one of the most cruel punishment operations of the German colonial troops against insurgents in the so-called ’Maji Maji War,’ says Ring in the statement.
’The last victims of this operation against the Ngoni people and their chiefs were buried in mass graves here on 27 February 1906,’ reads part of the statement.
He explains that the reasons that prompted the war were many-fold, including the structure and the process of insurrection itself, which was very complex.
’The German rulers were confronted for the first time with insurgents from different tribes united in their will to resist the inhuman German colonial system,’ says Ringe.
However, there is no justification and no excuse for the brutal repression and the collective punishment used by the German forces, he states, adding: ’In the end even more people died of hunger than on the battlefield.’
During the Maji Maji War a lot of critical voices, i.e. in liberal and left political circles, were raised in Germany at the time, says Ringe.
They questioned the inhumanity and the necessity of having colonies as a civilized nation, he adds.
However, he clarifies, the conservatives prevailed and the colonial system was maintained, adding;’the collective identity of modern Germany is based on the assumption that a nation will only be able to create the future if she is aware of her past.
In this sense, he adds; ’the Maji Maji War will always remain part of the German collective memory as yet another example of inhumanity, which should never happen again.
On the other hand, it will always be remembered as a positive example of the fight against inhumanity by the Tanzanian people.’
Ringe adds in his message: ’I am grateful that within 100 years the relations between our two countries have developed so intensively in a positive direction. 100 years ago, nobody would have projected the friendship which prevails between our two countries today.’
|
