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| Bushman women, Namibia
© Mark Håkansson/Survival |
Kenneth Good, professor of political science studies at the University
of Botswana for 15 years, has been ordered to leave Botswana. Late last
Friday three men arrived at his home with handcuffs to inform him he
had been declared a prohibited immigrant and had 48 hours to leave the
country. Professor Good's legal team went to the high court on Saturday
and obtained a stay of execution from a judge, who ordered him to
appear before the court on 7 March. Duma Boko, an attorney on Good's
legal team, has received a death threat, reportedly from Botswana's
intelligence service. Dr Boko is a well-known human rights attorney who
is acting for the Bushmen of the Central Kalahari, whose case against
the government for evicting them from their land is being heard in the
high court now.
Professor Good is due to present a paper he co-authored entitled
'Presidential succession in Botswana: no model for Africa' at the
university today. The paper is a critique of what the authors see as
growing autocracy in the so-called 'model for Africa'. It is believed
the paper may have been leaked to the president, who then ordered the
deportation.
Professor Good is a noted academic who has not shied away from
commentating on controversial government polices. He has written about
the evictions of the Bushmen from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve,
and questioned Botswana's reputation as Africa's 'shining light of
democracy'. Stephen Corry, director of Survival, said today, 'This is a dark day
for democracy in Botswana. The country's international reputation can
only be further tarnished by this blatant attempt to restrict the
freedom of speech of a well-respected, independent academic. Those who
still believe that Botswana is a beacon of democracy on the continent
must surely question this government, which is becoming increasingly
authoritarian and intolerant of any dissent or criticism.'
For more information contact Miriam Ross on (+44) (0)20
7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org
