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<Whillebrecht@mec.gov.na> The definition forwarded by Catherine Coquery-Vidrovitch still raises the question whether certain forms of forced labour cannot rather be defined as temporary slavery. Take the example of Herero and Nama prisoners of war in the German-Namibian war, 1904-1908. These prisoners, including women and children, were treated as property of the German state, who were put to work either in government operations, or rented out to private companies and individuals against food rations and a monetary payment to the state - not to the labourers. This condition however ended (with some exceptions) with the end of the war, when they became, technically, "free labourers" - although forced to work because of the confiscation of their land, prohibition to own cattle, the pass regime, etc. Werner Hillebrecht - National Archives of Namibia P/Bag 13250, Windhoek, Namibia tel.+264-61-2935215, fax 2935217 whillebrecht@mec.gov.na
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