Zheng Wen: Genocide is a terrible crime, and the West apologizes?

Source: Global Times

Western colonizers have committed heinous crimes in a large number of Asian, African and Latin American countries, and genocide is even more "a crime within a crime". In the face of these crimes, some European metropolises have refused to admit them in the past, but more recently, they have changed their ways and come out to publicly apologize for genocide, such as Germany and France. Many voices in the world are asking, what medicine is sold in the German-French gourd? They once made a fortune from colonial plunder, but now they think of themselves as "teachers" of human rights. Can we brush up on the following questions, which show even the slightest fairness or morality in relation to genocide?

Question 1: Is it too late to admit mistakes and apologize?

Between 1904 and 1908, German rulers twice bloodily suppressed Namibian uprisings, resulting in the deaths of between 70,000 and 100,000 Namibians. The remains of 300 murdered aborigines were even brought back to Germany for so-called "research" in order to verify the inferiority of the black race and reflect the nobility and superiority of the Germanic people. After independence in 1990, Namibia campaigned for the atrocities of german colonial genocide. However, Germany has always refused to do so, arguing that the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide cannot be used retroactively.

The horrific Rwandan massacre, which took place in 1994 and wiped out between 500,000 and 1 million people, has long been criticized by many voices for france as an accomplice to the massacre, providing armed support and military training to the then-government. France has previously resorted to avoidance tactics. The French top brass has argued that what is wrong with France? To apologize, ask other countries to take the lead. Some senior officials said that France was the only country that tried to end the Rwandan civil war, as if it had not only done nothing but was credited.

The lives of hundreds of thousands of Africans are gone, and their people have waited for decades or centuries to find a truth. Do they have human rights? What right do countries that commit crimes have to shout about human rights without facing them? France is now apologizing, but this apology is too late.

Question two, such a terrible crime as genocide, can we admit our mistakes? What about after an apology?

The Namibian government said that the German side's admission of the crime was the first step, the apology was the second step, and then it should be reparations. The Germans, however, said they could not claim any compensation and planned to provide "support" to Namibia and the descendants of the victims, setting up a total of 1.1 billion euros in "reconstruction and development" projects, which they called "development assistance". Wait, can this money be called aid? Did such a thing as genocide, took a little money out to repair some water conservancy, do some education, or call it "aid"? In this regard, the leaders of the victimized nationalities have taken a firm stand and have said that they will not accept the so-called "reconciliation agreement" proposed by the German side. British history professor Ochler said it well, this matter should be considered in the long run, not that if you pay it, you will be done with kindness.

France, on the other hand, is more simple and rude, and does not mention compensation at all. However, the French side is pushing parliament to pass legislation on the return of African antiquities. We do not understand what is the point of such a "cheap redemption" as merely returning cultural relics compared to crimes such as the mutilation of life or even genocide.

Question three, when will the colonizers fully acknowledge their historical guilt?

Genocide, the Holocaust, the slave trade, these bloody crimes against humanity have nailed European colonists to the pillar of shame in history. In an era when Europeans regarded Africans as commodities, if African slaves were thrown into the sea from ships, the only legal question was whether slave ships could claim compensation from insurance companies. The colonial system established by European powers such as Britain, France, and Germany blocked the process of modernization in Africa. To this day, African countries have been independent for many years, but Africa's economic lifeblood is still largely in the hands of Western multinationals.

Therefore, the colonizers owe Africans more than just apologies, they need to reflect comprehensively, admit their mistakes systematically, and come up with practical measures to help Africa build and develop, rather than constantly making empty promises on many major issues such as development assistance, climate finance, vaccine aid, etc.

These three questions may never be answered. Some people obviously want to get rid of the burden of history and shy away from responsibility. But after all, the crime of genocide cannot be "repented of", because history will not agree, nor will the international community. (The writer is an observer on international issues)