Help Protect ELAW Partner in Swaziland

September 23, 2008

Dear Friends:

Swazi environmental lawyer Thuli Brilliance Makama, her family, and her organization are facing intimidating threats because of their work to protect the rights of local communities.

Thuli is Director of the organization Yonge Nawe (SiSwati for "you too must conserve the environment," meaning that everyone shares responsibility for conserving the environment). Thuli and Yonge Nawe protect the rights of local people, who report that they are regularly terrorized by game rangers and employees of Big Game Parks (BGP), a private company that owns and manages two large game reserves in Swaziland. Yonge Nawe documented serious acts of violence against members of local communities in 2004 and 2005. This violence was allegedly committed by BGP staff and some private game farm owners in the name of wildlife conservation. According to some people, BGP and their game rangers are immune from arrest and prosecution under the Game Act. Yonge Nawe has defended members of the Nhlantambita community, who were forcibly evicted from their homes by BGP. Musa Gamedze, a member of this community, was shot and killed in front of his family and young children on August 8, 2008. The Swazi Weekend Observer reports that police officers and Jubela Reilly, a game ranger and the son of BGP Trustee Ted Reilly, were involved in the killing. Yonge Nawe is calling for an independent investigation into this killing.

Since 2004, Yonge Nawe staff members have been threatened and harassed for their advocacy on behalf of local communities. A number of unresolved incidents have occurred: Yonge Nawe's office was broken into and computers were stolen; and staff have been robbed and terrorized as they left the office. In response to public calls for the arrest of Musa's killer, BGP has sponsored full-page advertisements in the local newspapers attacking Yonge Nawe, Thuli and her family.

Please help us make these threats stop and ensure that no one is physically hurt or worse. Swaziland's king recently stated that Swaziland needs to move towards community-based conservation and natural resources management. Please write to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice to:

1. Express your concern about the safety of Yonge Nawe staff and their families;
2. Call for an immediate, independent investigation into the killing of Musa Gamedze; and
3. Call for the repeal of section 23 of the Game Act.

Please send your letters by fax. Their email accounts have been disabled.

Prime Minister:
His Excellency Themba Dlamini
Fax: +268 404 3943

Minister for Justice:
His Royal Highness Prince David
Fax: +268 404 3533

Thank you for your efforts to ensure the safety of environmental and human rights advocates in Swaziland!

Sincerely,

Jennifer Gleason
Africa Program Director
Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide