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Current Situation Among the San People in Botswana
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| March 13, 2008 SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE Dear Readers, I was one of millions who loved the Alexander McCall Smith books (The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency). But the book seems, now that I know more, to have left out how life is for the Bushman. And the Botswana Government is promoting this film adapted from the book, because it is so good for tourism and for the diamond business - a feel good picture. Nothing wrong with feel good, but we who believe in peace and justice need to remember that the government is removing Bushmen from their home lands on the Kalahari Desert - starving, repressing, and murdering the first people. Please include this reality in your discussions of the books, the film, and the country Botswana. Thanks. Holly Near SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE, London, 13 March 2008 Human rights group, Survival International, is holding a protest outside the premiere of Anthony Minghella and Richard Curtis's latest film, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. The film, adapted from the best-selling book by Alexander McCall Smith, has been written by Richard Curtis, and will be shown on BBC1 this Easter Monday. It was filmed in Botswana. Botswana's tourism authorities are hoping that the film will encourage a friendly and peaceful image of the country. It is being heavily promoted by the Botswana Tourism Board, whose chief executive has said that it will 'provide a platform to promote Botswana diamonds and restore the image tarnished by the CKGR issue'. Hundreds of Bushmen have been relocated from their ancestral lands in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). Although Botswana's High Court ruled that their eviction was unlawful, the Botswana government is doing everything it can to stop them returning home. In particular, it refuses to allow them access to a water borehole in the reserve, meaning they must journey hundreds of kilometers just to get water. Survival's Director Stephen Corry said today, 'McCall Smith's books portray Botswana in a very rosy light, but the reality for the Bushmen is very different. Their experience is one of repression, bullying and persecution by a government which seems determined not to let them go home, despite what their courts say.' To read this press release online, go to http://www.survival-international.org/news/3134 Survival International 6 Charterhouse Buildings London EC1M 7ET UK Tel: (+44) (0)20 7687 8700 Fax: (+44) (0)20 7687 8701 http://www.survival-international.org |
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| 4 October 2007 BOTSWANA: BUSHMEN REPORT FURTHER ARRESTS, BEATINGS A Bushman human rights organisation today reported that at least ten men in Kaudwane resettlement camp have been arrested and beaten by wildlife officials for hunting. At least one man, Motsoko Ramahoko, was tortured as officials attempted to force him to admit that he had been hunting without a permit. Ramahoko was a witness in the landmark legal case in which the Botswana high court held that he and hundreds of other Bushmen had been evicted illegally from their land in the central Kalahari. The court also held that the government had broken the law in refusing to issue them with hunting permits. Despite the ruling, at least 43 Bushmen have been arrested for hunting this year. At the time of the December 2006 court judgment, Ramahoko told Survival, 'I am just so happy and I am wanting to go back to my land'. However, ten months later he and many others remain unable to return home. Besides refusing to issue hunting permits, the government has refused to provide transport for the Bushmen to return. It has banned them from using their water borehole, and will not let them take their small numbers of livestock back with them. Survival's Director, Stephen Corry, said today, 'Beatings by wildlife scouts used to be routine. They eased off around the time of the judgement, now they're back. Not a single one has ever been properly investigated by the authorities. This makes of a mockery of the high court judgment, the government's vote for the UN indigenous peoples' declaration, and its declarations of respect for human rights. Botswana's reputation sinks yet further and the country's non-Bushman NGOs remain silent.' -ENDS- For further information contact Miriam Ross on (+44) (0)20 7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org To read this press release online visit http://www.survival-international.org/news/2510 Watch Survival's short film, 'Uncontacted Tribes', narrated by Julie Christie: http://www.survival-international.org/campaigns/uncontactedtribes We help tribal peoples defend their lives, protect their lands and determine their own futures. Survival International 6 Charterhouse Buildings London EC1M 7ET UK Tel: (+44) (0)20 7687 8700 Fax: (+44) (0)20 7687 8701 http://www.survival-international.org |
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| SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE 19 March 2007 BOTSWANA: WATER BAN - BUSHMAN LEADER TRAVELS TO LONDON The Botswana government has banned the Kalahari Bushmen from using their own water as UN World Water Day approaches on 22 March. A Bushman leader is travelling to London this week to protest against the ban. Botswana's Attorney General has written to the Bushmen's lawyers turning down their request for permission to install a pump at an existing borehole on their land in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). The reason given was that the borehole is the property of the government. Botswana's High Court ruled in December that the Bushmen had the right to live on their land, and that their forceful eviction from the CKGR in 2002 had been illegal. They now wish to organise their own water supply, at their own expense. Jumanda Gakelebone of Bushman organisation First People of the Kalahari said today, 'The court said we could go back to our land, but now we see that the government is doing everything it can to stop us. Why else would it stop us using a borehole that nobody else is using? Without water we cannot live in the Kalahari.' The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, refers to the right to water as a 'fundamental human need and therefore a basic human right'. Gakelebone will be in London from 20 to 26 March, and is available for interview. -ENDS- For further information contact Miriam Ross on (+44) (0)20 7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org To read this press release online visit http://www.survival-international.org/news.php?id=2289 |
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| FIRST PEOPLE OF THE KALAHARI PRESS RELEASE 3 January 2007 BUSHMEN DENIED RIGHT TO GO INTO THE CKGR We, as First People of the Kalahari, inform that the first group of Bushmen who tried to return to their land in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) have been stopped. This happened two weeks after we Bushmen won a historic court case. The judgement says that we were forced off our land by government and that by the constitution and law of Botswana our lands in the CKGR are rightfully ours. The judges ruled that we Bushmen can go back to live on our lands and do not need permits to enter and leave. In spite of the ruling, the wildlife scouts would not let wives and children of Bushman applicants, who won the court case, go in to the reserve. We are all angry and surprised that people were turned away at the gate. We are asking why can we not go back to our lands as the court says? We are very worried and sad. We have been separated from our land and ancestors’ graves for too long. Many applicants in our court case have died. How much longer do we have to wait to go home? We say to the government please please respect the law and the court ruling and just let us go home. For any questions please ring Jumanda +267 7190 9972 -- FPK Botswana fpkbotswana@fastmail.fm Website: www.iwant2gohome.org |
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| SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE 19 December 2006 BOTSWANA: SURVIVAL WELCOMES GOVERNMENT'S DECISION NOT TO APPEAL COURT RULING Survival International today welcomed the statement by the Botswana government that it would not appeal last week's historic High Court ruling in favour of the central Kalahari Bushmen. Survival's Director Stephen Corry said today, 'As we have always stressed, only the government will decide the fate of the Gana and Gwi Bushmen. We are encouraged by the government's decision not to appeal the ruling, and also by their confirmation that they will seek to apply the spirit of the decision. It would after all be a huge mistake if the government were advised that the judgement should be applied selectively and unfairly. 'The Bushmen have the legal right to occupy their ancestral homeland without further harassment. They must be able to live there freely: that means to hunt and gather, keep their small herds of goats and handful of donkeys and horses, cultivate their tiny fields, and use the available water resources. In other words, to return generally to the situation before the evictions. They must also be able to come and go freely - the CKGR is not a prison. 'Survival International will now carefully analyse the government's response to the judgement, as it develops over the next few weeks. We pray that its deliberations will be considered and centred around the rights of its people. We will consult the Bushmen and listen to what they themselves want, and then make a decision, hopefully about ending the campaign, which we will announce as soon as possible.' For further information contact Miriam Ross on (+44) (0)20 7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org To read this press release online visit http://survival-international.org/news.php?id=2142 We help tribal peoples defend their lives, protect their lands and determine their own futures. Survival International 6 Charterhouse Buildings London EC1M 7ET UK Tel: (+44) (0)20 7687 8700 Fax: (+44) (0)20 7687 8701 www.survival-international.org |
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| SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE 13 December 2006 BOTSWANA: JOY AS BUSHMEN WIN LANDMARK LEGAL CASE Scenes of jubilation greeted the Botswana High Court's ruling today in favour of the Kalahari Bushmen. The court ruled today that the Botswana government's eviction of the Bushmen was 'unlawful and unconstitutional', and that they have the right to live on their ancestral land inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The court also ruled that the Bushmen applicants have the right to hunt and gather in the reserve, and should not have to apply for permits to enter it. One of the judges, Justice Phumaphi, said the government's refusal to allow the Bushmen to hunt 'was tantamount to condemning the residents of the CKGR to death by starvation.' However, the judges also said that the government is not obliged to provide services to Bushmen in the reserve. Bushman spokesman Roy Sesana said outside the court, 'Today is the happiest day for us Bushmen. We have been crying for so long, but today we are crying with happiness. Finally we have been set free. The evictions have been very, very painful for my people. I hope that now we can go home to our land.' Survival's director Stephen Corry said today, 'The court's ruling is a victory for the Bushmen and for indigenous peoples everywhere in Africa. It is also a victory for Botswana. If the government quickly enacts the court ruling, then the campaign will end and the country really will have something to be proud of.' The court case has been the longest and most expensive in Botswana's history. An online press file about the court case, including summaries, biographies, legal precedents, photos and video clips, is available at http://www.survival-international.org/bushmenpresspack |
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| Below is information as it unfolded up to May 2006. For more recent updates go to http://www.iwant2gohome.org/index.htm http://kalaharipeoples.org/ http://survival-international.org/ http://www.ihcenter.org/groups/ilrf.html |
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| Fri, 19 May 2006 First People of the Kalahari and all the many hundreds of people who have been evicted from their homes in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve are very pleased that all the evidence in our court case has now been finished. We now only need to wait a few more months for the lawyers to give their arguments and for the judges to make a decision. This case has been going on since the beginning of 2002 so it is the longest case in Botswana. We the people of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve would like to thank all the thousands of people who have helped us to pay for this case. We would not have been able to continue without support from people all around the world and we are thanking them for helping us. Our lawyers will be arguing that we have the right to live on our land and to hunt and gather there as we have been doing for thousands of years. We took the court case against the government because they refused to have real negotiations with us, even though we tried for many, many years to have proper talks with them. We feel it was the only thing to do as to continue to try to negotiate was pointless. Even during the court case when we have tried to talk to the government they have refused to do so, even when they have said in public that they would. We remain willing to talk to the government any time and come to a solution. Any negotiations should be done through our legal representation. While the case has been going on the situation has been getting worse and worse for our people. The reserve has been sealed for many months and many families are separated. People have had their goats and donkeys and chickens confiscated and are not allowed to hunt and gather inside the reserve so they have nothing to eat. People who have come outside to visit relatives are not allowed to return to their homes and their belongings are inside with no one to take care of them. Some people have been arrested and tortured. We are hoping for a quick and successful outcome to the trial. No matter what happens in the trial we the people of CKGR will continue to campaign through the media in Botswana and internationally to get back on our land. We will never stop the struggle until we are back on our land. For questions please contact Jumanda Gakelebone (+267 7190 9972), Sunday night or Monday. -- FPK Botswana fpkbotswana@fastmail.fm |
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| 22 March 2006 BOTSWANA: MYSTERY DISEASE KILLING EVICTED BUSHMEN At least fifteen Bushmen have died suddenly of unknown causes this year in New Xade resettlement camp and three remain in a critical condition. The deaths come as British Baroness Jenny Tonge and other peers insist in the House of Lords that the evictions have benefitted the Bushmen. Gaseitsiwe Gaorapelwe died very suddenly after spots appeared all over his body. After being tortured by wildlife guards in 2000 for hunting, he said to a Survival researcher, 'Who will look after my children? The government is killing me.' Gaorapelwe was evicted from his ancestral community of Molapo in February 2002. In July that year he told Survival, 'I want to go back to Molapo. I did not ask to relocate?. So I'm going back.' He did return to Molapo despite government harassment, but was evicted once again by armed police in October 2005. Bushman organisation First People of the Kalahari said in a press release last week, 'Since the middle of January even more people have been dying [in New Xade] than is usual since our evictions from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). They have been dying quickly with vomiting, and difficulties to breathe. The authorities know about this but so far we are not aware that any doctor has been to New Xade to find out what is wrong? This shows that what the government says about New Xade being a place to develop the Bushmen is not the truth.' Baroness Tonge called the Bushmen 'stone age' and 'primitive' in a House of Lords debate earlier this month, and claimed the Botswana government had evicted them to provide them with 'education and development'. Lord St John of Bletso added, 'Many of the Bushmen have objected, but I take the view that it has been in the best interests of many of the Bushmen.' The catastrophic health implications of removing tribal peoples from their land are well documented. Among the Innu of northern Canada, who were moved by the government in the 1960s, the suicide rate is at least twelve times the national average. Over 50% of Innu have diabetes. Both suicide and diabetes were unknown before the Innu lost their land. Survival International |
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| December 2005 BUSHMAN "ALTERNATIVE NOBEL" LAUREATE: WITHOUT OUR LAND WE ARE DYING Kalahari Bushman Roy Sesana will receive the "Alternative Nobel Prize" on 9 December, and will tell the world, "My people love their land, and without it we are dying." Sesana and First People of the Kalahari (FPK), the grass-roots organisation of the Gana and Gwi Bushmen of Botswana, have won the Right Livelihood Award for "resolute resistance against eviction from their ancestral lands." The Gana and Gwi have been evicted from their land by the Botswana government. They have been arrested, beaten, tortured and banned from hunting and gathering, and all the FPK"s leadership were arrested in September and are being charged for trying to enter the reserve. At least one Bushman is known to have died of starvation inside the reserve, which has been sealed off by the government. Sesana will tell journalists and fellow laureates at the award ceremony in the Swedish Parliament, "They said we had to go because of diamonds. Then they said we were killing too many animals: but that"s not true. They say many things which aren"t true. They said we had to move so the government could develop us. "I say what kind of development is it when the people live shorter lives than before? They catch HIV/AIDS. Our children are beaten in school and won"t go there. Some become prostitutes. They are not allowed to hunt. They fight because they are bored and get drunk. They are starting to commit suicide. We never saw that before. It hurts to say this. Is this "development?" "We are not primitive. We live differently to you, but we do not live exactly like our grandparents did, nor do you. Were your ancestors "primitive?" I don"t think so. We respect our ancestors. We love our children. This is the same for all people. We now have to stop the government stealing our land: without it we will die. "If anyone has read a lot of books and thinks I am primitive because I have not read even one, then he should throw away those books and get one which says we are all brothers and sisters under God and we too have a right to live." To read Roy Sesana's acceptance speech in full visit: http://www.survival-international.org/related_material.php?id=340 For information about the award go to: http://www.rightlivelihood.org/news/event05.htm |
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| December 2, 2005
Dear friends from America, |
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SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE 10 November 2005 BOTSWANA: BUSHMAN WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN RESERVE The latest victim of the Botswana government's eviction of the Gana and Gwi Bushmen died last week in the Central Kalahari. Qoroxloo Duxee is thought to have starved to death after wildlife scouts blockaded the reserve and stopped the Bushmen gathering food. Qoroxloo Duxee told the BBC in June, 'When I was young the men hunted and we got our water from the roots of plants. We lived well and people only died of old age.' She died near the community of Metsiamenong, where Bushmen continue to resist efforts to force them out. The Bushman organisation First People of the Kalahari (FPK) said in a press release on Monday, 'FPK suspects that she died of hunger and thirst as wildlife scouts would not let her gather food, or that the scouts killed her.' Bushmen evicted from the reserve in recent weeks say that wildlife scouts threatened to kill them if they tried to hunt or gather food. Police fired teargas and bullets at Bushmen who tried to take food and water into the reserve in September, and then arrested them. Diagnosed cases of HIV/AIDS in New Xade resettlement camp rose five-fold between 2001 and 2004. The local nurse believes that the true number of people affected is much higher than those diagnosed. Two Bushmen have died since the evictions began following torture by wildlife scouts, while many more have died of unknown causes in the resettlement camps. Survival's director Stephen Corry said today, 'The shocking tide of death and disease among the Bushmen is no surprise. Depriving tribal peoples of their land has always been disastrous for their health - just look at the Innu in Canada, who have the highest suicide rate in the world as well as widespread solvent abuse and diabetes. Few governments today would, however, contemplate the Botswana government's practice of actually starving the Bushmen off their land.' For further information, please contact Miriam Ross on +44 20 7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org To read this press release online visit http://survival-international.org/news.php?id=1149 Survival International 6 Charterhouse Buildings London EC1M 7ET UK Tel: 020 7687 8700 Fax: 020 7687 8701 http://www.survival-international.org |
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| SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE 10 November 2005 BOTSWANA: INTERNATIONAL NGOS CONDEMN BUSHMAN EVICTIONS Five non-governmental organisations have issued strong statements condemning the eviction of the Gana and Gwi Bushmen from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The statements, from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Germany, Switzerland and France, reflect increasing international outrage at the shootings, beatings, eviction and arrests of recent weeks. RETENG, the Multicultural Coalition of Botswana, says, 'The continued force employed by the government is a clear violation of [the Gana and Gwi's] human rights, and government is further in contempt of court. We therefore call upon the international community to condemn the Botswana government for these acts of violence and non-adherence to the rule of law.' The Namibian National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has slammed the government of neighbouring Botswana for waging a 'campaign of terror' against the Bushmen. 'The incessant persecution of these two vulnerable groups exposes the false image of Botswana as one of Africa's most democratic countries,' says the society's director Phil ya Nangoloh. FIAN, the Germany-based international human rights organisation campaigning for the right to adequate food, is calling for supporters to write to President Mogae of Botswana demanding an end to his government's 'deliberate starvation policy and hunger blockade' of the Bushmen's reserve. 'The survival of this group that is resisting removal is now at stake and their death is imminent if the Botswana government does not immediately end this grave violation of the right to food,' reads the bulletin. The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), an international NGO with its headquarters in Switzerland and an office in South Africa, has written to President Mogae expressing its 'grave concern' over the forced eviction of the Bushmen. ACAT-France, part of the International Federation of Action by Christians Against Torture, has issued an action bulletin requesting its members to write to President Mogae demanding an enquiry into the recent torture cases, and highlighting the violence, death threats and arbitrary detention faced by the Bushmen. To read RETENG's press release visit http://survival-international.org/related_material.php?id=290 To read the NSHR's 13 September press releases on this issue visit http://www.nshr.org.na/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=500 To read the NSHR's 10 October press release visit http://www.nshr.org.na/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=517 FIAN's urgent action bulletin will be available at http://www.fian.org from next week. To read COHRE's letters visit http://www.survival-international.org/related_material.php?id=286 To read ACAT-France's urgent action bulletin visit http://survival-international.org/related_material.php?id=292 For further information, please contact Miriam Ross on +44 20 7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org To read this press release online visit http://survival-international.org/news.php?id=1148 'Everyone must know that the Botswana government is rude to the Bushmen and they are shooting us.' Jumanda Gakelebone, First People of the Kalahari, October 2005. We help tribal peoples defend their lives, protect their lands and determine their own futures. Survival International 6 Charterhouse Buildings London EC1M 7ET UK Tel: 020 7687 8700 Fax: 020 7687 8701 http://www.survival-international.org |
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FIRST PEOPLE OF THE KALAHARI PRESS RELEASE
7 November 2005 DEATH IN THE CKGR First People of the Kalahari has learned that an old woman died in the bush in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve last week. Wildlife scouts say they found Qoroxloo dead near Metsiamenong. FPK suspects that she died of hunger and thirst as wildlife scouts would not let her gather food, or that the scouts killed her. The Bushmen who have recently been evicted from Metsiamenong, Molapo and Mothomelo in the CKGR say that wildlife scouts told them to stay in their huts. The scouts told them they would kill them if they tried to go out hunting or gathering. So we are worried that Qoroxloo might have been followed and killed by the scouts, or killed by hunger and thirst after scouts stopped her even from gathering tubers for water. FPK and other Bushmen from New Xade tried to help by taking food and water to the people inside CKGR. But the police fired teargas at us, shot at us and arrested us. This proves that the government of Botswana is really fighting the Bushmen of the CKGR. They are trying to end the Bushmen of the CKGR. So we are appealing to the whole world to hear what is happening in the CKGR. We are really worried about the scouts. In 1995 one person was killed by the scouts. In 2000, Roy Sesana’s brother Mathambo was killed by the scouts, and in 2005 Selelo Tshiamo was killed. So we are worried they might also have killed Qoroxloo. So we are appealing to the world to help us stop the suffering of the CKGR. Let the Bushmen go home to the CKGR, and let others visit those who return. The government used the diseases of the Bushmen’s goats as an excuse to stop people going inside the CKGR and visiting those who live there. To FPK, it seems this is just an excuse to close the game reserve and kill the Bushmen, keeping it a secret so that only government officials will know about it. Otherwise, why will the government not even let local journalists go in? People are dying of thirst and hunger in CKGR. Is this not forceful removal? Is this not genocide? We don’t believe Qoroxloo died by herself. If she was sick, she would have died in her hut. She could only have died in the bush because of thirst and hunger or because she was killed. If her relatives and friends had not been prevented from going into the reserve, they could have brought her food and water, or taken her to hospital if she was sick. For more information contact: Jumanda Gakelebone on (+267) 7190 9972 Roy Sesana on (+267) 7274 5398 Dauqoo Xukuri on (+267) 7183 0664 -- FPK Botswana fpkbotswana@fastmail.fm |
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25 OCTOBER 2005
FPK PRESS RELEASE BUSHMEN OF NGAWATLE MOVED - AGAIN 25 OCTOBER 2005 FPK PRESS RELEASE BUSHMEN OF NGAWATLE MOVED - AGAIN It is not just the Bushmen of Central Kalahari Game Reserve who are tired of being moved by the government. The Bushmen of Ngawatle are being threatened to be moved again. A while ago they were made to move from the Gemsbok National Park. From there they were taken to Hukuntsi. After Hukuntsi they were taken half way between Ngawatle and Hukuntsi and then after that chased to Ngwatle, which is next to the Gemsbok Park. They are being threatened to be moved again. We appeal to this govt that our people are tired of being moved and being made to be stupid all the time. They do have land rights like everyone in this country. Also, the people have been threatened for talking with First People of the Kalahari. The CID (Criminal Investigation Officers) of Jwaneng are threatening people with our name and promising to arrest them for talking to us. In the last elections, people from Ngawatle tried to refuse to vote. They said the new councillor should be someone who brings development to them, but what is the use of voting for a person if they are about to be pushed off their land. Development means nothing if you are never sure of your land. At that time also, the District Commissioner for Hukuntsi came and threatened people that they would be arrested if they didn't vote. FPK represent all the Bushmen in this country. We invite the Jwaneng Criminal Investigation Officers to talk to us. Our people are not going to be threatened. And we let our people which we represent in Ngwatle know that they don't have to fear anything. We are going to represent them. We will talk about their problem and do whatever needs to be done, in spite of any threats. -- FPK Botswana First People of the Kalahari |
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| On our journey, we visited a relocation camp. These are places where the Botswana government puts the Bushmen that they have moved off the desert, often forcibly and without thought for tradition or family ties. We spoke with many people who said they were bored, depressed, and hungry. They have no jobs or income. They are living with violence, rape, alcoholism, and rising incidents of HIV/AIDS. They feel humiliated when they go to the clinic for help because often the health workers don't speak the language or carry with them long-standing disdain for the Bushmen. Then we went to a Bushman community on a private farm where traditional life is respected and honored. The people were happy, busy, and productive. They had healers within the community helping them with health issues. They filled their day with art, music and the gathering of food. Their families, even if they lived outside the community, came freely to visit, easily crossing over the distance between traditional life and contemporary life. Rather than small degrading "welfare checks" the farmer supplies beef on a monthly basis which allows the community to honor current hunting restrictions. It seemed absolutely clear to me that the government should support traditional life communities and immediately close down the costly, dangerous, and degrading relocation camps. Holly Near -- |
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| A Relentless Fighter Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone) October 11, 2005 Posted to the web October 11, 2005 Ryder Gabathuse Francistown To many people, the leader of the First People of the Kalahari (FPK) -the grassroots organisation of the Gana and Gwi Bushmen of Botswana-Roy Sesana -is a relentless fighter. Whilst his critics condemn him as a "loud-mouthed opportunist" who does not deserve any praise, some view him as a committed human rights activist, fighting for a just course. Depending on which side one falls, those close to him continue to heap praise on him whilst his critics condemn him for a "dirty campaign" against the government. On September 29, Sesana and the FPK were nominated for the prestigious Right Livelihood Award also known as the 'Alternative Nobel Prize' for the Bushmen's "resolute resistance against eviction from their ancestral lands and for upholding the right to their traditional way of life." The award is presented annually in Stockholm at a ceremony in the Swedish Parliament and is usually shared by four recipients. One of them may receive an Honorary Award, given to a person or group whose work the jury wishes to recognise but who is not primarily in need of monetary support. Others share the prize money of 2,000,000 Swedish kronor (approximately US$230,000). The presentation of the award is in December and FPK shares the award with Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke from Canada and Irene Fernandez from Malaysia. The awards were introduced in 1980, "to honour and support those offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing us today." Botswana Congress Party (BCP) publicity secretary and the party's sole MP, Dumelang Saleshando, says Sesana and the FPK deserve the award. "Batswana are people who are submissive, but Sesana is an example of a real fighter". In fighting for his land, Saleshando says Sesana fights the highest office in the land - the Office of the President - without any fear. He adds that Sesana fights even fiercer than opposition parties combined as his voice is even heard internationally. He points out that Sesana has literally made a joke out of the government's attempts to present its case. "The government's attitude and approach to the issue is wrong and disregards fundamental issues like the right to land and resorts to politics of exclusion instead of dialoguing with the people concerned." Despite the fact that he is up against a powerful enemy like government, Saleshando says Sesana's voice continues to be heard. He adds that logic dictates that Sesana is a perfect partner for the London-based Survival International, whose campaigns have irked the government. Saleshando asserts that Sesana and the FPK deserve the award, given their resilience. He encourages the state to swallow its pride and say, "Sesana, we have heard you and open dialogue with the people on the disputed relocation issue". Leader of Opposition in Parliament and Botswana National Front (BNF) MP for Gaborone South, Akanyang Magama says the award was given in recognition of Sesana's contribution to the struggle for the Bushmens' rights. He describes the struggle as a human rights issue not just an ordinary case. He argues that the government has no right to abuse people in the name of providing services for them. "I think Sesana and the FPK deserve the award in totality. I wonder why the Botswana government has not ratified the ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal peoples in independent countries. It supports people to accept changes to their lives," Magama points out adding that only 20 countries have ratified the convention and Botswana is not one of those countries. Survival International campaigner based in London, Josephine Bobb happily says Sesana deserves the prestigious award. She sees the award as a confirmation of the struggle Sesana and the FPK have been undergoing on behalf of the people. She describes Sesana as an incredibly dedicated and hardworking man, a charismatic fighter who fights incessantly. "I met him in Botswana. When he walks into a room, you just want to talk to him and he has a good sense of humour," she asserts. Bobb says Sesana is passionate about the plight of his people and his land and she is certain that he will never stop fighting until he gets the land back. "I think that's why he and FPK have won the award in the face of insurmountable difficulties. A lot of people tell lies about him - that he is very rich and that he drives fancy cars and his children go to the best schools. That's a lie as Roy cannot even drive a car." What she knows is that Sesana has a hut like the rest of the Basarwa. She also feels that the government is upset because Sesana exposed it to the world by telling the truth that they were hiding. Foreign Affairs ministry spokesperson, Clifford Maribe argues that in his view, Sesana and the FPK do not deserve the prestigious award. He points out that it was given on the basis of misleading information. "From our investigations, it is SI who recommended FPK for the award. It is unfortunate that those who awarded it did not know the other side of the issue," he says. Maribe adds that FPK and Sesana falsely allege that the government is tampering with their way of life. "In a nutshell, the award was given on the strength of misleading and deceitful information about the relocation of the Basarwa and there is nothing like forced removals as SI and its partners claim to the world." He appeals to the organisation that issued the award to come to Botswana and see for itself and gather as much information as possible to establish the truth. Maribe points out that SI is not honest in its campaigns in Botswana as it is only targeting the diamond industry as it has intentions of harming it through false and misleading information that it continues to circulate. "SI is not interested in the resolution of the Basarwa issue and we are convinced that they continue raising this issue so that they can raise funds that they direly need for their survival. The information that they are using is all falsehoods." He says it will be pointless for government to dialogue with people who have sinister motives. He says whilst SI continues to cash in on the issue, government has duly consulted with the people for a period of 12 years and it was the residents who selected their new places and residents are allowed special permits to hunt wild animals in recognition of their way of life. Generally, he says it is clear that the lifestyles of the Basarwa have changed as this was chiefly in conflict with conservation in the game reserve. "Our issue is that these people should lead life like any other Motswana as they cannot live like Basarwa of the ancient times," argues Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) executive secretary, Dr Comma Serema. He is worried by some of the awards given to people as he says that they can be confusing at times. His view is that it is possible the award could be part of the government enemy number one - Survival International's campaigns. He points out that as long as the Bushmen of the CKGR live like Basarwa of ancient times, the government will always find means and ways of improving their lives whether some people receive awards or not. Amogelang Segoetsane, a member of the FPK describes Sesana as a capable leader who fights relentlessly for his people. "This man is only interested in seeing Basarwa free like other tribes, fully recognised by even the government. We met in 1991 when he started the FPK," says Segoetsane. He describes Sesana as a well-behaved and selfless man. He is impressed by the man's fighting spirit even when the odds are stacked against him. "We need many Sesanas in order to win the struggle against the government," says the 62-year-old Segoetsane. "He is a true fighter and nothing will stand in his way. This is a man who respects his culture so much that he cannot trade it for anything. He is not prepared to allow the government to trample on our rights just because we are a minority tribe that is often despised," observes Solomon Phetsolo, a registered member of the FPK. The 33-year-old Phetsolo credits Sesana for putting Botswana on the world map through the award. Sesana has never been to school, but points out that it is the realities of life that taught him to stand up for his people. "I was educated right from my mother's womb. I feel like I have a diploma and those educated people that fail our rights will always have a tough time debating issues with us," declares Sesana proudly. He has travelled extensively in Europe, USA and within Africa. He claims that he is prepared to die for the rights of his people. "I was recently confronted by some government officials - police, military and others whilst I was taking water and food to people remaining in the CKGR and I was beaten for defying their orders." He dismisses government's claims of taking developments to people as deceitful means as developments can simply be taken to where people are without necessarily relocating them. |
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| Sello Motseta Gaborone Correspondent Business Day, Jo'burg October 10, 2005 A BID to force the last remaining Bushmen, or Baswara, from the Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve intensified last week as reports emerged that police had sealed off their camp, including their water supply, and were starving them out. A small group of Bushmen evaded a police cordon erected around their settlement, and walked for three days to report late last week that their water had been cut off and they were starving in the camp. One of the men, Kangotla Kanyo, said: „The others and I came out of the reserve to tell the outside world that we are really suffering from thirst and hunger.‰ He said they were not permitted to hunt, nor to receive supplies from outside the camp. Those attempting to bring in supplies were being shot at and arrested. Botswana police commissioner Edwin Batshu, responding to earlier reports that the police had fired on Bushmen protesting against the state crackdown and trying to get supplies to the camp, said last week the Botswana police had fired rubber bullets to disperse a group of about 35 Bushmen. He said the group were trying to enter the game reserve forcibly to take food and water to those Bushmen who would not relocate to New Xade settlement. First People of the Kalahari spokesman Jumanda Gakelebone backed up claims by those who had evaded the police cordon and escaped from the Molapo camp. He said old people were dying of thirst and hunger in the reserve. Allegations have also emerged of police brutality against Bushmen to end demonstrations organised by their leaders and human rights watchdog Survival International. |
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| 7 October, 2005
OUR PEOPLE ARE EVICTED AND OUR HUTS ARE BURNED |
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| 28 September 2005 BUSHMEN LEADERS ARRESTED AND BEATEN - THE REAL STORY The news in the government newspaper about what happened to us is not the truth. What happened is that a group of Bushmen (about 30 people) from New Xade were very worried about their families inside the reserve and wanted to take them food and water. Four kilometres from New Xade, we saw Sidney Pilane, Jan Broekhuis and the police. All of the police were high ranking, starting from the senior superintendent. There were also six soldiers with them. The soliders had come with Mr Pilane in a military helicopter in the morning. We were told that we can't come into the reserve. They were all wearing bullet proof vests. We all got out of cars and said "Let's talk - we want to go in to feed our parents. They are dying of thirst and hunger. We know you have closed the Game Reserve and sent army forces in there to stop our parents doing gathering. There is nowhere they can get water and food". But we were told "no one is inside CKGR". We said "that is not the truth. We are worried about our families. We want to go and see them and give them water and food and then come back out". Then Sidney Pilane authorised us to be handcuffed. They tried to arrest a Bushman called Mokgakala Gaoborekwe. He got shot in his lower jaw by Ishmael, superintendent of Ghanzi police. He is in a very serious position in hospital now. Then they started shooting everywhere. Three bullets just missed FPK's field worker Jumanda Gakelebone. The police started throwing tear-gas everywhere. All this time, no Bushmen were being violent. No one on the Bushmen side had any weapon. No evidence was shown in court about that either. We are really not violent people. They were violent to us because they didn't even want to listen to us. Then from there they were shooting at us and chasing us with guns. Roy Sesana was sitting in the car. He put up his hands. They handcuffed him the Ishmael punched him on his thighs after he was handcuffed. When he was down they were jumping on him with big boots. After they arrested the people, everyone in New Xade was very angry. The District Commissioner went there yesterday for a meeting and the people told him they will not have a meeting until he brings back the people who were arrested. Five people were beaten in custody by the police. Four of those work for First People of the Kalahari. It is obvious that the government is targeting us. Also a seven month baby has been in custody for 4 days along with a five years and three year old babies. The conditions were very bad. It was very dirty and smelling bad of urine. This was very bad for the health of the babies and an abuse of human rights. In the newspapers it says that we must respect the court case. We ask that the government do the same. This means they should not starve our people from the reserve. They should let them gather food and water. That is a human right. It is the court that must decide whether we can stay on their land, not Sidney Pilane and the wildlife scouts. No matter what they do to us we will keep on peacefully fighting for our land rights. For further information, please contact First People of the Kalahari on +267 7165 6457 or +267 7183 0664 -- -- FPK Botswana fpkbotswana@fastmail.fm |
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