SOS Bushmen

First People of the Kalahari have read in the newspapers that the government wants to negotiate with the CKGR Bushmen about our land. We are pleased to hear this and will be pleased to speak with the government about that. We have been asking to do that for many years.

1) Before we speak, we need to be clear that the government is really serious when it says it will talk. Obviously, any meetings must be with us, FPK and the communities of the CKGR.

If the government is not talking to us directly, it will not mean anything because how will anyone know that the people are happy with what is being said? We will need lawyers to help us, just as the Government will, but the people can think and speak for themselves and are ready to do that.

2) Also, we think the government must see that if we start negotiations, and if we are able to come to an agreement at the end, then it must be a proper legal agreement. We do not want to agree something that will be torn up later. If we can make an agreement, we will stick to it. The government must agree to do that too.

3) The other thing that must be clear at the beginning is that the government cannot say that it will not even discuss whether people now outside the Reserve should be allowed to go home. We are worried it willsay that only 17 people can live in the reserve and everyone else must remain outside. If they don't want even to talk about this, then we are not interested because meetings like that will not resolve our problems.

These are all very small things to say at the start, but they are important. So if the government is happy, it should tell us now when we can meet. We will be very happy if we can do this.

First People of the Kalahari