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| Bushman woman, CKGR, Botswana 2004
© Stephen Corry/Survival |
A senior MEP has publicly slated the Botswana government over their eviction
of the Gana and Gwi Bushmen from the central Kalahari. Richard Howitt, a member
of the European Parliament's Development Committee, labelled the government's
treatment of the Bushmen 'an abuse of human rights and the international
conventions on indigenous peoples.'
After visiting the few Bushmen holding out in the Central Kalahari Game
Reserve, Mr Howitt said, 'They've had their water supplies… cut off
since January and in one village, Kukama, I saw their last bowl of water which
was thick brown from being used and reused, but they said 'We will die of thirst
rather than being moved' – that is their determination.'
Mr Howitt went on, 'What I found were stories of violent
intimidation, named government officials saying soldiers would come in and
forcibly move them.' The government has denied the evictions were
forced, but numerous accounts from the Bushmen themselves tell a different
story.
Survival's Director Stephen Corry said today, 'The account of these
brutal evictions has now reached around the world, and many parliamentarians and
journalists are going to investigate for themselves. What they are finding out
is doing terrible damage to Botswana's reputation as a peaceful and democratic
country. We hope the government will see sense and allow the Bushmen back on to
their land.'
Photos and footage available to the press. For more information contact
Miriam Ross (+44) (0)20 7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org
