Twenty-one Botswana Bushmen arrested in June and July for hunting to feed their families were celebrating today after all charges against them were dropped.
They appeared yesterday before a magistrate in Gantsi. After an attorney had presented arguments on their behalf, the police withdrew all charges.
However, six Bushmen arrested last week, also for hunting, are still waiting for their case to be heard.
Last December the High Court of Botswana ruled that the Bushmen had the right to live on their ancestral lands in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and that the government had acted against the law in 2002 when it refused to issue them with hunting permits and then evicted them from their lands.
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Act now to help the Bushmen
Your support is vital if the Bushmen are to survive. There are many ways you can help.
- Writing a letter to the Botswana government is a quick and simple way to let them know of your concern.
- Donate to the Bushman campaign (and other Survival campaigns).
- Write to your MP or MEP (UK) or Senators and members of Congress (US).
- Write to your local Botswana high commission or embassy.
- If you want to get more involved, contact Survival…
- Visit the Bushmen’s own website…
