botswana: AMAZON INDIANS DENOUNCE BOTSWANA'S 'BUSHMEN' CENSORSHIP
In its latest bid to suppress any discussion of the rights of indigenous peoples, the government of Botswana has banned Survival International's human rights education pack from the country's schools. The Gana and Gwi 'Bushmen' and their neighbours the Bakgalagadi were evicted from their land in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in 2002, and forced to live in grim resettlement camps.
SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELEASE
20 May 2002
AMAZON INDIANS DENOUNCE BOTSWANA'S 'BUSHMEN' CENSORSHIP
In its latest bid to suppress any discussion of the rights of indigenous peoples, the government of Botswana has banned Survival International's human rights education pack from the country's schools.
The Gana and Gwi 'Bushmen' and their neighbours the Bakgalagadi were evicted from their land in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in 2002, and forced to live in grim resettlement camps. The Bushmen's land has now been carved up into diamond exploration concessions. Survival, the BBC, SABC (South Africa Broadcasting Corporation) and the Gana and Gwi's own leaders have all come under fire from the Botswana government for highlighting its abuses of the Bushmen's rights.
Survival's human rights pack, 'We, the world', focuses on the lives of three tribal children from Brazil, Congo and Siberia, and includes a small section on the Bushmen. It has been distributed to schools in over 70 countries worldwide, including eight African countries.
Davi Kopenawa, a leader of the Yanomami tribe of Brazil and father of the Yanomami girl featured in 'We, the world' said today, 'We Yanomami don't like this news because the government of Botswana is against a book about the indigenous peoples of the world... This book is important because it guarantees our earth and culture. I am very sad when governments speak against indigenous peoples. The government of Botswana wants to finish off our brothers and sisters, the Bushmen, who have lived there for a long, long time like we Yanomami.'
Copies of the government's ban available.
For more information contact Sophie Thomas on (+44) (0)20 7687 8731 or email [email protected]
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