The Kalahari Bushmen of Botswana have made a desperate appeal for help to Leonardo DiCaprio, who stars in the forthcoming film The Blood Diamond. The appeal appears today as a full-page advert in Variety magazine.
As the final arguments came to a close in the Kalahari Bushmens court case against the Botswana government on Friday, the court announced that a judgement will be made on 13 December.
As a group of Bushmen arrived in court this week to hear the final legal arguments in their case against the Botswana government, their attorney argued that they have the legal right to occupy and use their land.
Botswanas high court began hearing the Bushmens lawyer present his final arguments yesterday. Lawyer Gordon Bennett argued that the eviction of the Bushmen was unlawful, unconstitutional and was done without their consent.
The Swedish Network Leave the Bushmen alone! held a demonstration today outside the Embassy of Botswana in Stockholm, in support of the Gana and Gwi Bushmen.
The Gana and Gwi Bushmens landmark court case against the Botswana government has been adjourned until 4 September. The lawyers were due to present their final arguments to the court this week.
One of Botswanas main opposition parties, the Botswana National Front (BNF), has branded the Botswana governments eviction of the Gana and Gwi Bushmen from their land as indefensible.
The Kalahari Bushmens landmark court case against the Botswana government will reach a crucial stage at the end of August as the lawyers present their final arguments to the court.