BOTSWANA BUSHMEN BASHED
In Botswana, a clash between one of the most ancient tribes on earth and the forces of modern civilisation. Around 30 Kalahari Bushmen have been arrested and at least one injured following clashes with police. The Bushmen, known as San, were trying to get back onto the tribal homeland they were forced to leave 10 years ago. The Government in Botswana has denied that their eviction had anything to do with the discovery of diamonds in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. This is the village of New Xade, home for the last 10 years to many of the San evacuated from their ancestral home. It's about 70km from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
MMUTLA GABOBELWE, BUSHWOMAN (TRANSLATION): I would like to go back to my home, because I knew the way of life there. I could go out and pick wild berries, nuts and fruits, but there's nothing to pick here. This life is very difficult.
While the people in New Xade live largely on handouts, the few tribesmen still in the game reserve continue to live a traditional life. The government justifies its mass removal of the San, saying it couldn't provide them with basic services in the wild.
PORTIA ASQUITH, SAN BUSHMAN CAMPAIGNER: They're determined to get the Bushmen out. They see them as savages. They want to so-called 'develop' them. They are ashamed of these people, who they see as dogs.
SIDNEY PILANE, BOTSWANAN GOVERNMENT LAWYER: There was a time when we also were hunter-gatherers in Africa, maybe a long time ago, but there was a time when we were that. We evolved socially to what we are.
A court case challenging the evictions has dragged on since 2002. Frustration with the case caused this week's attempt by a group of Bushmen to re-enter the reserve. After that was stopped by police with rubber bullets, they staged this protest, demanding food and water supplies. The advocacy group Survival International, based in London, says it's diamonds, not a desire to civilise the Bushmen, that is behind the government's actions.
JONATHAN MAZOWER, SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL: Soon after diamonds were discovered there, there started to be pressure put on the Bushmen for them to leave that area. And the ministers at that time were fairly open about the fact that the Bushmen had to leave because diamonds had been discovered.
While the people in New Xade live largely on handouts, the few tribesmen still in the game reserve continue to live a traditional life. The government justifies its mass removal of the San, saying it couldn't provide them with basic services in the wild.
PORTIA ASQUITH, SAN BUSHMAN CAMPAIGNER: They're determined to get the Bushmen out. They see them as savages. They want to so-called 'develop' them. They are ashamed of these people, who they see as dogs.
SIDNEY PILANE, BOTSWANAN GOVERNMENT LAWYER: There was a time when we also were hunter-gatherers in Africa, maybe a long time ago, but there was a time when we were that. We evolved socially to what we are.
A court case challenging the evictions has dragged on since 2002. Frustration with the case caused this week's attempt by a group of Bushmen to re-enter the reserve. After that was stopped by police with rubber bullets, they staged this protest, demanding food and water supplies. The advocacy group Survival International, based in London, says it's diamonds, not a desire to civilise the Bushmen, that is behind the government's actions.
JONATHAN MAZOWER, SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL: Soon after diamonds were discovered there, there started to be pressure put on the Bushmen for them to leave that area. And the ministers at that time were fairly open about the fact that the Bushmen had to leave because diamonds had been discovered.
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29 Septembre 2005 à 13:18 dans
- English
