botswana: CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE CARVED UP FOR DIAMONDS

SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELEASE

20 February 2003

CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE CARVED UP FOR DIAMONDS

Government maps show diamonds rush on 'Bushmen's' ancestral land

Maps from the Botswana Government's own Department of Geological
Survey show a massive increase in diamonds exploration concessions on
the ancestral land of the Gana and Gwi Bushmen and Bakgalagadi, just
months after the government evicted them from the region.

The exploration boom comes in the face of government denials of any
link between diamond interests and the evictions. In spite of the
government's decision to parcel out almost all of the CKGR in
concessions, and the recent World Bank funding of a diamonds
prospecting project to take place over parts of the CKGR, it still
denies it has any interest in diamond mining in the Reserve.

In April 2002 Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Minerals,
Energy and Water and deputy Chairman of Debswana, Dr Tombale, stated,
'We are not aware of any diamond mining prospect in the CKGR other
than the uneconomic Gope... You cannot show there is mining in the
CKGR, nor that there is a likelihood of any mining anywhere in the
CKGR'. However, by May 2002 most of the CKGR had already been given
out in concessions.

In November 2002, President Mogae of Botswana claimed, 'There is
neither any actual mining nor any plan for future mining inside the
Reserve.'

Full colour maps of the concessions boom from the government's
Department of Geological Survey can be downloaded from:
http://www.survival-international.org/diamonds.htm
Two sample maps are attached.

Maps, photos and footage available. Contact for journalist enquiries:
Sophie Thomas tel (+44) (0)20 7687 8731 or email
[email protected]

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