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| Bushman boys, Namibia
© Mark Håkansson/Survival |
The postmortem report of Bushman
woman Qoroxloo Duxee has confirmed that she died of dehydration,
starvation and shock in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana.
The government's blockade of the reserve has now lasted for three
months, during which time armed guards have prevented Bushmen inside
from hunting, gathering or obtaining water. Bushmen who have tried to
bring food and water to their relatives in the reserve have been
arrested.
Qoroxloo Duxee died earlier this month near Metsiamenong, where Bushmen
continue to resist government efforts to evict them. Her relatives
obtained copies of the official postmortem report last week.
Duxee had told the BBC in June, When I was young the men hunted and we
got our water from the roots of plants. We lived well and people only
died of old age.'
Almost all the Bushmen who had returned to their reserve since the 2002
evictions have been re-evicted since its closure on 1 September. They
told Bushman organisation First People of the Kalahari that wildlife
guards threatened to kill them if they tried to hunt and gather. They
are now living in the bleak resettlement camps. Police fired bullets
and teargas at Bushmen who tried to take food and water into the
reserve, and then arrested them.
Survival's director Stephen Corry said today, 'We fear for the lives of
those Bushmen still resisting eviction. More and more organisations are
sure to take up this cause if this campaign of starvation and violence
continues.'
To read the postmortem report, click here
For more information call Miriam Ross on +44 20 7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org
