 |
| Bushman elder, CKGR, Botswana 2004
© 2004 Stephen Corry/Survival |
The shots that killed democracy
Bushman child and two adults shot by Botswana police.
Family walk for days across desert to bring news to outside world.
Bushmen told that the government does not care if they starve to death.
Three Bushmen,
including one child, have been shot and wounded in recent days by
Botswana police during incidents designed to intimidate the Bushmen
still surviving inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and force them
out once and for all.
Kekailwe (aged 7) was shot in the stomach as the police arrested his
father when he refused to let them search his hut without a warrant. In
a separate incident, Kesodilo Ntwayamoga was shot from behind in each
leg as he stood with both hands raised. Witnesses confirmed that police
were trying to force him to admit to hunting.
In the third incident, Mokgakalaga Gaoberekwe was shot in the jaw on 24
September as he and others attempted to enter the Game Reserve to take
water and food to their families. He is badly wounded and still
recovering in hospital.
The Bushman party, including several babies and children, was attacked
by heavily armed police and soldiers under the personal command of
Sydney Pilane, the attorney acting for the government in the high court
case in which the Bushmen are claiming rights to their ancestral land.
The police fired teargas and bullets at the unarmed Bushmen. Many were
beaten and imprisoned for several days. The group included the 2005
alternative Nobel prize-winner, Roy Sesana, who was unaware that he and
his Bushman organization had won the award. The Bushmen have now been
charged with 'unlawful assembly'.
Police have been trying to prevent Bushmen returning to their
reserve. The Bushmen already in the reserve are forbidden to hunt and gather,
have had their water supply cut off, and are now threatened with
starvation after the government claimed their goats were diseased (a
claim rubbished by a group of eminent international vets). Officials
forcibly removed all goats from the reserve earlier this week.
Today, a small group of Bushmen emerged after evading the police who
had surrounded their huts and walking for three days through the
drought-stricken desert. Kangotla Kanyo said today, The others and I
came out of the reserve to tell the outside world that we are really
suffering with thirst and hunger. The police are camped at our
settlement and we are not allowed to gather or dig anything to eat. The
policeman called Dibuile told us, If you die, the government doesn't
care. This is the time to show you that you are nothing.' The police
said that we have to suffer thirst and hunger so that we will leave the
reserve.'
Officials told the Bushmen in 2002 that they had to abandon their land
because diamonds had been discovered there. All Botswana's diamond
mines are run by De Beers, which retains rights to a large deposit in
the reserve.
Stephen Corry, Survival's director, said today, 'Botswana's President
Mogae has drawn a veil across the great sand-face of the Kalahari so
that his henchmen can bully the Bushmen in secrecy. But the veil has
not muffled the shots which spilled the blood of a child and two
unarmed men guilty of wanting to live in peace on their ancient land.
These shots – ordered by a lawyer – have killed all pretence of a
democratic Botswana. People who care about the Bushmen should not
support this regime by buying De Beers's diamonds or by holidaying
there. These diamonds are bought with the blood of the Bushmen.'
For further information, please contact Miriam Ross on +44 20 7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org
