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| Bushman child, CKGR, Botswana 2004
© 2004 Stephen Corry/Survival |
Somali supermodel Iman is backing a company which opposes indigenous peoples'
rights, despite press reports that she had withdrawn her support. Iman is the
public 'face' of De Beers, and is reportedly being paid around US$1 million to
promote the company.
De Beers says that they oppose the idea of recognising the rights of
indigenous peoples, as doing so would lead to 'apartheid'. This idea has drawn
criticism from indigenous peoples around the world. Geoff Clark, head of
Australia's leading Aboriginal organisation – the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Commission – called it 'nonsensical and offensive'.
De Beers has been drawn into the controversy surrounding the Botswana
government's forced relocation of the indigenous Gana and Gwi 'Bushmen' of that
country. Many suspect that the rich diamond deposits under their land are the
reason for the Bushmen's eviction. Diamond mining in Botswana is controlled by
De Beers.
The head of De Beers's Botswana subsidiary has publicly welcomed the
Bushmen's forced removal.
