Survival International Press Release
10 November 2005
Botswana: International NGOs Condemn Bushman Evictions
Five non-governmental organisations have issued strong statements condemning the eviction of the Gana and Gwi Bushmen
from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The statements, from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Germany, Switzerland and
France, reflect increasing international outrage at the shootings, beatings, eviction and arrests of recent weeks.
RETENG, the Multicultural Coalition of Botswana, says, 'The continued force employed by the government is a clear
violation of [the Gana and Gwi's] human rights, and government is further in contempt of court. We therefore call upon
the international community to condemn the Botswana government for these acts of violence and non-adherence to the rule
of law.'
The Namibian National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has slammed the government of neighbouring Botswana for waging a
'campaign of terror' against the Bushmen. 'The incessant persecution of these two vulnerable groups exposes the false
image of Botswana as one of Africa's most democratic countries,' says the society's director Phil ya Nangoloh.
FIAN, the Germany-based international human rights organisation campaigning for the right to adequate food, is calling
for supporters to write to President Mogae of Botswana demanding an end to his government's 'deliberate starvation
policy and hunger blockade' of the Bushmen's reserve. 'The survival of this group that is resisting removal is now at
stake and their death is imminent if the Botswana government does not immediately end this grave violation of the right
to food,' reads the bulletin.
The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), an international NGO with its headquarters in Switzerland and an
office in South Africa, has written to President Mogae expressing its 'grave concern' over the forced eviction of the
Bushmen.
ACAT-France, part of the International Federation of Action by Christians Against Torture, has issued an action bulletin
requesting its members to write to President Mogae demanding an enquiry into the recent torture cases, and highlighting
the violence, death threats and arbitrary detention faced by the Bushmen.
To read RETENG's press release visit
http://survival-international.org/related_material.php?id=290
To read the NSHR's 13 September press releases on this issue visit
http://www.nshr.org.na/modules.php?op=modload=News=article=500
To read the NSHR's 10 October press release visit
http://www.nshr.org.na/modules.php?op=modload=News=article=517
FIAN's urgent action bulletin will be available at
http://www.fian.org from next week.
To read COHRE's letters visit
http://www.survival-international.org/related_material.php?id=286
To read ACAT-France's urgent action bulletin visit
http://survival-international.org/related_material.php?id=292
ENDS