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| Bushman elder, CKGR, Botswana 2004
© 2004 Stephen Corry/Survival |
In an astonishing slip, Botswana's Foreign Minister last week admitted that
his government had relocated the Bushmen to 'where we want them to
be.'
Questioned by students after a talk at London's School of Oriental and
African Studies, Gen Mompati Merafhe at first denied that the Bushmen of the
Central Kalahari Game Reserve had been forced off their land, but then admitted
'We put these people… where we want them to be.'
The Minister faced hostile questioning by several students over his
government's forced eviction of the Bushmen. In response, Gen Merafhe claimed
his government's aspiration for the Bushmen was for them to 'enjoy the
better things in life, like driving Cadillacs… Why must they continue to
commune with the flora and fauna?' The shocked students have passed the
General's comments to Survival.
Stephen Corry, Director of Survival, said today, 'The Minister has
finally admitted what everybody else has known for months – that the Bushmen
have been evicted from their ancestral land against their will.'
More information: Miriam Ross on (+44) (0)20 7687 8734 or mr@survival-international.org
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