SOS Bushmen

The future of Botswana's Bushmen, ancient indigenous communities still living as hunters and gatherers, may be decided in July when they appeal their eviction from ancestral lands located in the heart of one of Africa's richest diamond fields, a London-based rights group said.

A case brought by 248 ethnic Gana and Gwi Bushmen families fighting the forced eviction from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve was dismissed in 2002, but they won the right to appeal and will be heard by a Botswana court on July 4, Survival International said.

The appeal will begin with an on-site inspection of the resettlement centers within the game reserve where nearly 200 people have returned in defiance of the government, it said in a statement Tuesday.

Of some 100,000 Bushmen -- more formally known as the Barsara or San -- living in southern Africa, those in Botswana face the worst persecution, said the group, which is dedicated to supporting indigenous people's rights.

Forced displacements in the Kalahari area began in 1997, and in 2002 the situation degraded when their water sources were destroyed and hunting and gathering were banned, the group said.

Around 2,000-strong in 2002, their communities have virtually disappeared from the reserve, it said.

Since their departure, the Kalahari reserve has been largely divided into diamond concessions, according to Survival documents.

Botswana is the world's largest producer of gem-quality diamonds, which in 2002 accounted for 77 percent of its earnings and 45 percent of its gross domestic product.

The Bushmen's cause drew international media attention two years ago when they launched their first, failed court effort. Survival International said the defendants were appealing to international observers to attend the resettlement center inspection in July out of "fear that their voices will not be heard".