Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. WikiLeaks: U.S. Ambassador Condemned Evictions of Botswanan Bushmen Joe DeCapua 21 January 2011 A human rights group says WikiLeaks has released information showing the U.S. ambassador to Botswana condemned the eviction of Bushmen from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Survival International says in 2005, Ambassador Joseph Huggins sent cables to Washington sharply criticizing the Botswanan government, calling the evictions a âspecial tragedyâ¦that could have been avoided.â Stephen Corey@Survival International Botswana Central Kalahari Bushman The Bushmen won a 2006 court case allowing them to return to the reserve. But since then theyâve been in a battle with the government, which has denied them use of a drinking well there. Survival International Field and Research Director Fiona Watson says, âI think Survival thought it was highly likely there would be something in WikiLeaks about Botswana because the issue of the forced eviction of the Central Kalahari Bushmenâ¦has been theâ¦number one international issue facing the Botswana government.â \She says the cables reveal that other foreign diplomats were also concerned about the plight of the Bushmen, as well. âWhat has come out from the U.S. ambassadorâs cable back to Washington is incredibly revealing and extremely condemning of the Botswana government treatment of the Bushmen,â she says. Huggins highly critical Watson says Ambassador Hugginsâ cables show he was very interested in the Bushmen and met with them and visited relocation camps. âFor example,â she says, ât he U.S. ambassador at the time, Joseph Huggins, says that they were âdumped in economically absolutely unviable situations without forethought and without follow-up support. The lack of imagination on behalf of the Botswana government is breathtaking.ââ Huggins goes on to say, âThe special tragedy of New Xadeâs (relocation camp) dependent population is that it could have been avoided.â What now? Watson says the cables support Survival Internationalâs position in the Bushmenâs case. âSurvival has been vilified by the Botswana government,â she says, âI think what this does is (offer) yet another proof or evidence that so many people reached the same conclusion independent of Survival, as in the case of the U.S. ambassador, that the Botswana governmentâs policies towards the Bushmen is shameful.â Watson says the cables also indicate that NGOs suspected the real reason behind the eviction was not to benefit the Bushmen, as the government says, but to allow mining in the reserve. âItâs very interesting that the appeals court has just been hearing the Kalahari Bushmenâs appeal to be able to access water on their own land. And the day after the appeal was heard in court the Botswana government has given a $3 billion concession to Gem Diamonds to mine inside the Central Kalahari in the Bushmen community,â she says. Face to face Watson says the WikiLeaks cables indicate Ambassador Huggins met with Ernest Mpofu, who was then Botswanaâs permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She adds that Huggins cable said that any attempt to talk about negotiating with the Bushmen was âmet with thinly veiled scorn.â A decision by Botswanaâs appeals court on whether the Bushmen can have access to the well on their ancestral lands is expected later this month. The Botswanan government says the Bushmen were relocated so they could have better access to education, health and other services. .