San Bushpeople Attack Survival International Campaign

Advocacy group Survival International, which has organized heavily publicized demonstrations against De Beers recently, has been criticized by some of the Botswana bushpeople whose rights it claims to be defending, calling them to cease their campaign.

In a statement, the San of southern Africa, who are among the bushpeople removed from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR), said they welcome international assistance with raising awareness about human rights abuses, but said Survival International (SI) "has not been mandated to speak on behalf of all the San".

Survival International organized a picket last Wednesday of the opening of a major new exhibit called Diamonds at London's Natural History Museum. The exhibition is partially sponsored by De Beers' sales and marketing arm the Diamond Trading Company. In late June, Survival International staged a picket at the opening of a store in Manhattan's Fifth Avenue by the De Beers LV venture.

The Working Group of indigenous Minorities in Southern Africa, an umbrella organization that represents the San said it "objects strongly to the fact that Survival International seeks to give the impression that they speak on behalf of all "the Kalahari Bushmen when they handpick quotes from a few San only".

"We, the San from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Angola request SI to understand that the CKGR San do not want to close the door for negotiations with the Botswana Government.“

The statement says that the CKGR San "are still prepared to negotiate their rights with the Government of Botswana" and "regard diamond mining in the CKGR as an option for development as long as their rights are respected".

The San launched a stinging rebuke against Survival International and its international campaign against De Beers and the Botswana government for allegedly removing the bushpeople to enable diamond exploration: "The San question that the diamonds are the reason behind the removal of the residents from the CKGR."

The Botswana government claims the removal of the bushpeople was carried out to be able to provide them with services such as healthcare, education and welfare. The San would seem to agree with those aims, saying in the statement: "The San would like to enjoy the advantages of both traditional life in the CKGR and modern amenities provided in villages and towns.

The Botswana High Court is hearing the case against the government's removal of the bushpeople but has yet to reach a decision.

"We appeal to SI to immediately cease their campaign on our behalf until such time as they are prepared to co-ordinate with our representative organizations."

Survival International Director Stephen Corry was unavailable for immediate comment.