News archive » 2003
Botswana: Iman backs company which opposes indigenous rights
19 November 2003
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supermodel Iman is backing a company which opposes indigenous peoples' rights, despite press reports that she had withdrawn her support.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. 
Australia: Martu win back their land
17 November 2003
Half a century after being driven from their land, the Martu Aborigines in Western Australia have finally won recognition of their ownership of most of their ancestral land. 
Central Africa: Songs from a forest in danger
12 October 2003
From October 19th, English audiences will be enjoying the wonderful music of a group of Aka 'Pygmies' from the Central African Republic (CAR)*. These beautiful sounds come from a people whose way of life is threatened with destruction. Botswana: Helpful letter from the European Council
5 October 2003
Five European Heads of Mission [Ambassadors] to Botswana recently
produced a report on the Bushmen's relocation. All Survival's attempts to see a
copy of this report have been rebuffed. The following is typical of the replies
rece 
Bangladesh: Violence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
30 September 2003
Several communities of Jummas, the tribal peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh, have been attacked by Bengali settlers. The settlers, with the tacit support of soldiers, attacked Jumma villages in the Khagrachari Hill District area on 
Botswana: EU supports indigenous rights in Africa
14 September 2003
The European Parliament has this month adopted strong new resolutions
supporting indigenous peoples' rights in Africa. The parliament announced it
'strongly' supports the demands of the Pygmies, 'Bushmen' ('Basarwa') and 
Botswana: Persecution of Bushmen stepped up
16 June 2003
At least ten Bushmen from Molapo, in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR), Botswana, have been charged with entering a game reserve without a permit. Botswana police issued the charges yesterday, June 16. The Bushmen have to appear in court on June 23 Botswana: Botswana president: Bushmen can't go home
11 June 2003
President Mogae of Botswana told a protester in the UK this week that the
Gana and Gwi 'Bushmen' who have been forced off their land in the Central
Kalahari Game Reserve will not be allowed to go home. 
India: Andaman authorities defy India's supreme court
2 June 2003
The administration in India's Andaman Islands is defying a supreme court order to close a road running through the reserve of the isolated Jarawa tribe. Until the road is closed, the Jarawa are at great risk of catching fatal diseases. 
India: Isolated tribe faces destruction
31 May 2003
The recently-contacted Jarawa tribe of the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean was given new hope in 2002. In a courageous and unprecedented ruling, the supreme court of India ordered that the Andaman trunk road cutting through their reserve be closed, 
Australia: Mirrar win veto over mine
31 May 2003
The Mirrar Aborigines of Australias Northern Territory have for many years opposed the construction of a uranium mine on their land. 
Paraguay: Uncontacted Indians in danger
31 May 2003
The Ayoreo-Totobiegosode Indians of western Paraguay are the last uncontacted Indians south of the Amazon basin. They now face a real crisis, and Survival considers this one of the most urgent cases in the whole of South America. Botswana: Bushman land carved up for diamond exploration
31 March 2003
The Government was justified in removing the Basarwa [Bushmen'] from the Reserve... It is sensible of Government to take such action. Otherwise who would always want to remain in the Dark Ages while others move forward?' 
Brazil: Killings of Indians highlight land crisis
31 January 2003
In the first two weeks of 2003, three Indians have been murdered in Brazil. Behind these deaths lies the fact that Brazil remains the only country in South America apart from Suriname which does not recognise Indian land ownership rights. 
Brazil: Indian leader who toured Europe killed
14 January 2003
Marcos Veron, one of the most important leaders of the Guarani-Kaiowá tribe in Brazil, has been killed by gunmen. Veron, aged approximately 70, is the third Brazilian Indian to be murdered since the New Year. He was the head of a community who had been tr 
Cameroon: Campaign of terror against herders
6 January 2003
The Mbororo cattle herders of Cameroon's Northwest Province are suffering a campaign of terror master-minded by one unscrupulous individual using government agents and structures to dominate and rob them of their pasture land.
