De Beers Slams Survival International Picket Plan
July 05, 05
De Beers has angrily condemned a planned picket by Survival International at the opening on Wednesday at London's Natural History Museum's of a Diamonds exhibition in support of a group of Botswana Kalahari Bushmen who claim they have been evicted from their traditional lands.
Bushman supporters will protest outside the exhibition's celebrity opening party. Celebrities invited to the opening are reported to include actresses Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Scarlett Johannson.
"They [Survival International] claim, quite wrongly, that diamonds are the root cause of the relocation of Bushmen from a small area in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve," De Beers said in a statement.
"This is absolutely not the case and Survival International knows this. De Beers has received assurances from the Government of Botswana that the resettlement of Bushmen is being carried out to provide welfare facilities, including health and education, enjoyed by the rest of the population of
"It has nothing whatsoever to do with diamonds and this view is confirmed by many who have visited the area, including leading members of the British Parliament."
De Beers said Survival International’s claims were "misleading and dishonest" and were based purely on "supposition and hearsay". De Beers said it challenged the group "to provide any credible evidence to support their claims".
"Through its confrontational approach, Survival International is advocating a boycott of diamonds produced by
"Survival International’s actions have prevented any constructive dialogue between Government, local NGOs and others who represent the majority of Bushmen in