Number: RS21956
Title: Botswana: The San (Bushmen) Rights Case
Authors: Jeff Townsend, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division 
Abstract: In November 2004, the San people of Botswana are expected to continue their court case against the government of Botswana. The San argue that they were illegally removed from their ancestral land within the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). International human rights groups contend that the manner in which the San were removed violated international human rights laws. The discovery of diamond reserves within the CKGR has led advocacy groups to argue that the San have been removed to allow diamond mining to go ahead in the CKGR. Both the government of Botswana and leading diamond mining companies deny this accusation. How the court case is resolved could potentially have regional and global implications for disputes involving other first peoples of the world. The case is an issue of concern to the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, which held a Members briefing on it in September 2004.
Pages: 6
Date: October 19, 2004