 |
| Bushman woman, CKGR, Botswana 2004
© Stephen Corry/Survival |
The Botswana High Court ruled on Friday 28 October that the government must allow Bushman
Amogolang Segootsane and his family to return to their land in the
Central Kalahari Game Reserve. It must also return his goats to him and
allow him to bring water into the reserve.
Segootsane brought his case after he was prevented from going back to
his home in the reserve. The government closed the reserve in September
and removed all the Bushmen's goats, claiming they were diseased. An
international panel of vets dismissed this reason as spurious'.
Dozens of Bushmen have been evicted from the reserve at gunpoint in
recent weeks. Three Bushmen, including a seven-year old boy, have been
shot and wounded. All the Bushmen involved in the Bushman organisation
First People of the Kalahari were arrested and beaten when they tried
to enter the reserve last month.
Tshatlha Ntwayamogala, who was evicted from the reserve this month,
told the Telegraph newspaper, "They told us, when you leave this
place, you leave as volunteers.' So we said if we are volunteers, we
don't want to go.' They began threatening us. They told us, if we stay
behind, they will end up killing us. One of the police said if you
don't move, you will all be killed'."
Survival's director Stephen Corry said of Friday's court victory, This
is great news. We're very pleased that the rights of the Segootsane
family have been upheld by the court, although it remains to be seen
whether the government will abide by the court's ruling. Now the
government surely must also allow all the other evicted Bushmen to
return home.'
For more information contact Miriam Ross on (+44) (0)20 7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org
