The Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI), once again, urgently calls on the State of Tanzania to cease and desist from criminalizing the leaders and defenders of the Maasai Indigenous Pastoralists with trumped-up charges. Instead of sowing fear and silencing them, the State must respect the collective and individual rights of the Maasai and release those detained immediately, in compliance with international law.
In June this year, 27 Maasai were falsely accused of killing a police officer. To date, only three (3) have been released, while 24 remain in jail. In addition, over 90 Maasai have been charged as illegal immigrants with the purpose of impeding their return to their lands and deterring them from defending their lands. Lawyers have been able to provide legal representation, but 45 Maasai still remain detained as illegal immigrants in their own country. Adding insult to injury, these detainees and their families are suffering from hunger as they need to fend for themselves because of this unjust action by the state.
This systematic attack on the Maasai is driven by the interest of establishing, on Maasai traditional lands, a 1 500 km2 wild game area for the rich named the “Pololet Game Control Area”. This so-called “conservation” area is to be managed by the Otterlo Business Corporation, a hunting company from the United Arab Emirates. This is happening without respecting the customary land rights, and outrightly disregarding the right to Free, Prior, and Informed consent of the Maasai people. In fact, the state is ignoring previous agreements that the Maasai would not be again dispossessed of their lands.
The Tanzanian government has deployed multiple attacks against the Maasai. Since July, government agencies have been confiscating hundreds of cattle. The owners had to pay more than $86 000 USD (200 000 000 TZS) to claim back their livestock. In addition, under the pretense of protecting the “conservation areas”, the government has stated that it cannot provide social services and ceased to supply them. Food supplies have also been limited, trucks carrying regulated food must pay to enter the area. Also, the state has deployed hundreds of police and military in the area, sowing fear and terror. The authorities have been destroying smartphones, motorbikes among others to limit the communication and mobility of the Maasai pastoralists in Loliondo.
All these are clear attempts by the government to force the Maasai indigenous pastoralists to leave their customary lands to justify their claim that they have voluntarily resettled. The government has been doing an aggressive misinformation and stigmatization campaign against the Maasai pastoralist to justify their attacks and pursue their plan to take over their customary land and transform it into an as wild game area for the rich. One of the Maasai leaders stated: “we are being treated by the government as obstacles to their plan to make profit from our customary lands and should thereby be evicted by all means, instead of treating us as their citizens entitled to our rights and treated with dignity”.
These unjust actions by the government have had a disproportionate effect on indigenous women, children, and elders, especially against those who were forced to displace. Two (2) women have been among the accused of the murder of the police officer. Over thirty (30) have been detained as illegal immigrants. At least 40 women have been wounded and denied medical attention; because of the lack of supplies in the medical facilities, women who are about to deliver must travel to Karatu and pay for attention. There are also two cases of miscarriages as a result of the extreme distress caused by the violent actions and their eviction from their homes and their traditional lands. Children have been deprived of their education and are suffering trauma because of the attacks; in addition, they are not receiving sufficient and healthy food. Maasai women are deprived of access to traditional medicinal plants needed to cure these ailments.
Indigenous Peoples Rights International urges the international community to again raise their voice against these grave human rights violations and demand that the State of Tanzania drop the false charges against the Maasai in jail and release them immediately; respect the rights of the Maasai over their customary lands, territories and resources; and provide access to basic social services and for the Maasai in Loliondo to live in peace in their territory. Conscientious visitors should stop traveling to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro areas, as the dispossession is aimed at opening up space for more tourism. Global solidarity and actions are needed to pressure the state of Tanzania to be held to account for its human rights obligations and commitments. We also call on the Otterlo Business Corporation to stop using the customary land of the Maasai for wild game hunting and for any other purpose. The company must fully respect the rights of the Maasai over their land, resources, and territories.
For more information:
Joan Carling –
Indigenous Peoples Rights International
