botswana: PROTESTS MAR VISIT OF BOTSWANA PRESIDENT
Peaceful protests are expected to dog President Mogae of Botswana throughout his visit to Britain this week. The Botswana government has evicted hundreds of Gana and Gwi Bushmen from their ancestral land and dumped them in bleak resettlement camps, earning worldwide condemnation.
SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELEASE
9 June 2003
PROTESTS MAR VISIT OF BOTSWANA PRESIDENT
Peaceful protests are expected to dog President Mogae of Botswana
throughout his visit to Britain this week. The Botswana government
has evicted hundreds of Gana and Gwi Bushmen from their ancestral
land and dumped them in bleak resettlement camps, earning worldwide
condemnation.
There will be a peaceful vigil outside the Botswana High Commission
from 2pm Monday to 12 noon Thursday, while the President is in the
country.
Where: Botswana High Commission, Stratford Place (opposite Bond Street tube).
When: Monday 9th June 2pm-5pm
Tuesday 10th June 9am-5pm
Wednesday 11th June 9am-5pm
Thursday 12th June 8am-12pm
Botswana's persecution of the Bushmen has brought the President
international notoriety; he even features in the Imperial War
Museum's permanent exhibition on Crimes against Humanity, where he is
quoted warning the Bushmen they face extinction.
The Bushmen opposed to the evictions have sent an open message to the
President, and the government-appointed representatives of the
resettlement camps accompanying him while he is in the UK, 'We cannot
read nor write, we do not have money to board a plane to come to
London to tell you our story... We hope that you will support our
struggle to be heard by our government before it is too late to
prevent the total extinction of our culture.' The full text of their
message is available from:
http://www.survival-international.org/mogaevisit.htm
More information: Sophie Thomas on (+44) (0)20 7687 8731 or
[email protected]
Photos and digital footage available.
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