botswana: BUSHMEN RELOCATION 'UNDEMOCRATIC'
The Youth League of the Botswana National Front - the left of centre main opposition party in Botswana - has issued a press statement condemning the treatment of the Gana and Gwi 'Bushmen' from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR).
SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELEASE
17 October 2002
BUSHMEN RELOCATION 'UNDEMOCRATIC'
Diamonds behind rights violations say Botswana opposition
The Youth League of the Botswana National Front - the left of centre
main opposition party in Botswana - has issued a press statement
condemning the treatment of the Gana and Gwi 'Bushmen' from the
Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR).
The statement labels the 'abuse, oppression and exploitation' of the
Bushmen (commonly known as Basarwa in Botswana) 'undemocratic and a
gross violation of the Basarwa's Human Rights'.
It continues, 'The real reason why Basarwa are forcefully removed
from their ancestral lands is to pave way for Debswana [De Beers's
joint mining venture with the Botswana Government] to mine Diamonds'.
The Youth League concludes 'We therefore as an organisation condemn,
the human rights violations of Basarwa by the Botswana Democratic
Party government and vow to fight along with the Basarwa for the
protection of their rights. What the Botswana Democratic Party
government is doing is a systematic extermination of the indigenous
people's socio cultural rights and as said in some quarters it
amounts to genocide'.
To contact the Botswana National
Front Youth League call Mephato Reatile on: +267 716 31050 or e-mail:
[email protected]