Botswana's Bushmen return to court
As Geographical went to press, the Gana and Gwi Bushmen and Bakgalagadi people of Botswana's Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) were returning to court to appeal against the Botswanan government's eviction policy. The case was originally thrown out of court on a technicality in April 2002.
"It could be of great significance, not only for the Gana and Gwi Bushmen and Bakgalagadi of the CKGR, but for the land rights of hunter-gatherer peoples across Africa," said Miriam Ross of Survival.
The last of the Bushmen were evicted from their traditional homeland in February 2002 following a 15-year campaign by the government to assimilate them into society. The government claims it has moved the Bushmen for their own good, but groups such as Survival claim that diamond mining is the underlying reason.
Earlier this year, Survival published on its website maps from the Botswanan government's Department of Geological Survey that show a marked increase in diamond exploration concessions on the ancestral lands since the Bushmen's removal.
The Bushmen have bean forced to live in resettlement camps where alcoholism, depression and HIV/AIDS are on the increase. According to Survival, their way of life and social fabric are now at risk.
Earlier this year, Survival published on its website maps from the Botswanan government's Department of Geological Survey that show a marked increase in diamond exploration concessions on the ancestral lands since the Bushmen's removal.
The Bushmen have bean forced to live in resettlement camps where alcoholism, depression and HIV/AIDS are on the increase. According to Survival, their way of life and social fabric are now at risk.
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01 Novembre 2003 à 13:48 dans
- English
