SAN DISPUTE ALLEGED LINK BETWEEN DIAMONDS AND

UNCLAS GABORONE 001002

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

AF/S FOR MUNCY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BC SAN CKGR
SUBJECT: SAN DISPUTE ALLEGED LINK BETWEEN DIAMONDS AND
RELOCATION IN BOTSWANA

REFERENCE: GABORONE 913


1. (U) SUMMARY: The Working Group on Indigenous Minorities
in Southern Africa (WIMSA),which represents San communities
in Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Angola, has spurned
the argument that plans to mine diamonds prompted
relocations from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve(CKGR).
WIMSA asked British NGO Survival International (SI),which
has attacked the Government of Botswana's policies regarding
the San, to cease its campaign unless it agrees to
coordinate its message with San organizations. This
statement, and the support for it by other groups working
with the San, exposes as dubious SI's claims that an
intention to mine diamonds motivated the relocation and
indicates that San groups hope to revive dialogue with the
GOB to improve their situation. END SUMMARY

WIMSA REBUFFS SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL


2. (SBU) WIMSA asked SI to halt its advocacy campaign on
behalf of the San until such time as SI is prepared to
coordinate its message with San organizations. WIMSA
observed that SI was not mandated to speak for the San and
that the San of southern Africa "do not want to close the
door to negotiations with the Government of Botswana." The
group expressed particular concern that SI is focusing
attention on the dubious claim that an intention to mine
diamonds within the CKGR led the Government of Botswana to
relocate its residents to settlements outside the Reserve.
WIMSA went on to describe diamond mining as an opportunity
to further support rural development in Botswana. The
statement explained that the San would like to enjoy the
advantages of their traditional way of life while having
access to modern facilities in villages and towns.


3. (SBU) In a July 13 conversation with PolOff, Matambo
(uses first name only) of WIMSA/Botswana explained that
public jousting between SI and De Beers had forced his
organization's hand. He explained that SI had recently
approached the National Museum of History in London to alter
an exhibit about diamond mining in southern Africa to
include content about its social costs, particularly about
the relocation from the CKGR. When the Museum balked, SI
staged a protest. De Beers, which had contributed to the
exhibit, then issued a press statement describing how
diamond mining has benefited the people of southern Africa.
According to Matambo, the corporation's statement indicated
that groups representing the San subscribed to this argument
and specifically named WIMSA among others. As a result, he
said, WIMSA decided to issue the statement described above.

OTHER NGOS SUPPORT WIMSA'S STATEMENT


4. (SBU) Bram Leroux, of the Kuru family of San
organizations, told PolOff on June 20 that he had been
engaged in an ongoing e-mail correspondence with Mr. Stephen
Corry at SI over the wisdom and honesty of focusing on
diamond mining as a causal factor behind the relocation.
Mr. Leroux shared with PolOff his frustration that SI's
approach was "all about marketing" the plight of the San to
potential supporters and donors. Leroux suggested that most
of the San and their advocates in Botswana disagreed with
the strategy of trying to connect the relocation with
diamond mining.


5. (SBU) Alice Mogwe of the Botswana Center for Human
Rights (also known as Ditshwanelo) told PolOff that a group
of organizations working with the San had met two weeks ago
to discuss ways to refocus attention away from the fight
over diamonds and onto development. She said that they also
discussed how to revive negotiations with the Government,
which other groups except for First People of the Kalahari,
advocated. Officially, the GOB has declined to enter into
such talks while the matter is before the High Court.

FIRST PEOPLE OF THE KALAHARI SI'S ONLY LOCAL ALLY


6. (U) First People of the Kalahari (FPK) appears to have
been further isolated in its alliance with SI by this
development. Since SI is funding FPK's court case
challenging the relocation, it is unlikely to break that
connection. The price of this support, however, is likely
to be the marginalization of FPK in any post-trial efforts
to advocate effectively on behalf of the San.

COMMENT


7. (SBU) The GOB will be most satisfied to see its arch-


antagonist Survival International rebuffed by the very
people it claims to represent. This statement by WIMSA,
which is supported by other groups working with the San such
as Kuru and Ditshwanelo, exposes as dubious SI's claims that
the CKGR relocation policy was driven by the intention to
mine diamonds there. By publicly rejecting SI's arguments,
WIMSA has preserved the possibility of playing an active
role in any revived negotiations between San representatives
and the Government. Embassy views this as more constructive
than the confrontational and distorted approach of SI, which
even FPK's Roy Sesana criticized in the past.

HUGGINS


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