Honorable
Samia Suluhu Hassan
President
United Republic of Tanzania
Otterlo Business Corporation
We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, express our profound concern and outrage over the continuing attacks and grave human rights violations committed by the State of Tanzania against the Maasai indigenous pastoralists in Loliondo and the larger Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). The customary land of the Maasai is, among others, the source of their livelihoods, their identities, ways of life, culture, and knowledge. It is fundamental to their survival as an Indigenous People, a people with reciprocal relations to their lands and resources.
Tanzania is systematically attacking the Maasai, using excessive and unwarranted force, misusing and abusing its criminal laws against the Maasai. It is also deceiving and misinforming the population with the objective of taking over the customary lands, territories and resources of the Maasai. These actions are generating a humanitarian crisis with the impending forced eviction of at least 150,000 Maasai pastoralists. Women and children suffer disproportionate effects as many of them are facing or already experiencing hunger and malnutrition.
The recent judgement of the East Africa Court of Justice is hugely disappointing and an appeal is being prepared. Justice will be sought internationally. The State has an obligation, under international law, to respect and protect the rights of the Maasai, including an obligation to not forcibly displace them from their ancestral lands. The State must not violate the rights of the Maasai, and it cannot disregard the deep concerns raised by UN experts and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Those who are defending their rights are being criminalized. 27 Maasai were falsely accused of killing a police officer. To date, only three (3) have been released, while 24 (2 women) remain in jail. In addition, over 90 Maasai were charged as illegal immigrants and 45 (over 30 are women) remain detained as illegal immigrants in their own country. Furthermore, 40 Maasai women were wounded in the violent attacks by State forces. The Maasai have had to pay more than $86,000 USD (200,000,000 TZS) to claim back over 3,500 livestock confiscated by the State.
The aim of establishing the “Pololet Game Control Area” is also unjust and discriminatory. There is no rational basis for their eviction or otherwise in the name of “conservation”. On the contrary, it is outrageous that their rights are being violated and their very survival is put at risk so that the Otterlo Business Corporation (OBC) can manage this wild game area for rich foreigners to hunt in.
We also appeal to the UAE-based Otterlo Business Corporation to respect the rights of the Maasai. You cannot be complicit to these human rights violations. The land rights of the Maasai pastoralists also need to be respected by business groups. Any contract or agreement with the government should be invalidated as there was no consent provided by the traditional Maasai landowners. The plan to evict them and use their customary lands for the recreational pursuits of the rich is deplorable, all the more, as they have cared for those lands since time immemorial.
We urge you, as President of the United Republic of Tanzania, to stop these unjust, illegitimate and discriminatory actions and to ensure that Tanzania complies with its international human rights obligations pertaining to the Maasai’s individual and collective rights. Stop criminalizing the Maasai for defending and exercising their rights. Immediately release those who have been imprisoned under trumped-up charges; provide access to justice to all the victims, including just compensation. Cancel any concession or permits granted to the OBC for the establishment or management of the “Pololet Game Conservation Area.” Engage with the Maasai pastoralists, including women, and obtain their consent prior to any further actions and to address their needs for sustainable livelihoods, basic social services, food security and to ensure peace in their territory.
We urge the Otterlo Business Corporation to desist from further engaging with Tanzania for the establishment or management of the “Pololet Game Conservation Area.” The collective and individual rights of the Maasai must be respected, including by business enterprises.
c.c. Former President, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete
Secretary-general of Chama Cha Mapinduzi, Abdulrahman Omari Kinana
Conservation Commissioner, Freddy Safiel Manongi
Samia Suluhu Hassan
President
United Republic of Tanzania
Otterlo Business Corporation
We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, express our profound concern and outrage over the continuing attacks and grave human rights violations committed by the State of Tanzania against the Maasai indigenous pastoralists in Loliondo and the larger Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). The customary land of the Maasai is, among others, the source of their livelihoods, their identities, ways of life, culture, and knowledge. It is fundamental to their survival as an Indigenous People, a people with reciprocal relations to their lands and resources.
Tanzania is systematically attacking the Maasai, using excessive and unwarranted force, misusing and abusing its criminal laws against the Maasai. It is also deceiving and misinforming the population with the objective of taking over the customary lands, territories and resources of the Maasai. These actions are generating a humanitarian crisis with the impending forced eviction of at least 150,000 Maasai pastoralists. Women and children suffer disproportionate effects as many of them are facing or already experiencing hunger and malnutrition.
The recent judgement of the East Africa Court of Justice is hugely disappointing and an appeal is being prepared. Justice will be sought internationally. The State has an obligation, under international law, to respect and protect the rights of the Maasai, including an obligation to not forcibly displace them from their ancestral lands. The State must not violate the rights of the Maasai, and it cannot disregard the deep concerns raised by UN experts and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Those who are defending their rights are being criminalized. 27 Maasai were falsely accused of killing a police officer. To date, only three (3) have been released, while 24 (2 women) remain in jail. In addition, over 90 Maasai were charged as illegal immigrants and 45 (over 30 are women) remain detained as illegal immigrants in their own country. Furthermore, 40 Maasai women were wounded in the violent attacks by State forces. The Maasai have had to pay more than $86,000 USD (200,000,000 TZS) to claim back over 3,500 livestock confiscated by the State.
The aim of establishing the “Pololet Game Control Area” is also unjust and discriminatory. There is no rational basis for their eviction or otherwise in the name of “conservation”. On the contrary, it is outrageous that their rights are being violated and their very survival is put at risk so that the Otterlo Business Corporation (OBC) can manage this wild game area for rich foreigners to hunt in.
We also appeal to the UAE-based Otterlo Business Corporation to respect the rights of the Maasai. You cannot be complicit to these human rights violations. The land rights of the Maasai pastoralists also need to be respected by business groups. Any contract or agreement with the government should be invalidated as there was no consent provided by the traditional Maasai landowners. The plan to evict them and use their customary lands for the recreational pursuits of the rich is deplorable, all the more, as they have cared for those lands since time immemorial.
We urge you, as President of the United Republic of Tanzania, to stop these unjust, illegitimate and discriminatory actions and to ensure that Tanzania complies with its international human rights obligations pertaining to the Maasai’s individual and collective rights. Stop criminalizing the Maasai for defending and exercising their rights. Immediately release those who have been imprisoned under trumped-up charges; provide access to justice to all the victims, including just compensation. Cancel any concession or permits granted to the OBC for the establishment or management of the “Pololet Game Conservation Area.” Engage with the Maasai pastoralists, including women, and obtain their consent prior to any further actions and to address their needs for sustainable livelihoods, basic social services, food security and to ensure peace in their territory.
We urge the Otterlo Business Corporation to desist from further engaging with Tanzania for the establishment or management of the “Pololet Game Conservation Area.” The collective and individual rights of the Maasai must be respected, including by business enterprises.
c.c. Former President, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete
Secretary-general of Chama Cha Mapinduzi, Abdulrahman Omari Kinana
Conservation Commissioner, Freddy Safiel Manongi
Signatures*
Organizations
- Action Batwa pour le Développement Intégral et l'Assistance aux Vulnérables (ABDIAV)
- Afri-Environment plus Rights Action (AfERA) Alliance
- AGAmazoniaIsLife (P4F Ger)
- Amnesty International
- ANAPAC-DRC
- association Paysanne pour la Réhabilitation et Protection des Pygmées PREPPYG asbl
- Barisan Pemuda Adat Nusantara (The Indigenous Youth Front of the Archipelago)
- CEDEUAM UniSalento
- Children's Environmental Health Foundation (CEHF) Zambia
- Coalition of Pastoralist Civil Organisations
- Community Care for the Environment in Timika Papua
- Community Development Association (CDA)
- Comunidad Autónoma Indígena Shipibo Konibo Flor de Ucayali
- Comunidad Indígena Shipibo Konibo Flor de Ucayali
- Dialogo y Movimiento, A.C.
- Dynamic Agro-pastralist Development Organization [DADO]
- Ecosystem for Social Economic Development Organisation
- Empuan for the disabled
- Fanos Ethiopia
- FEDERAÇÃO DOS POVOS E ORGANIZAÇÕES INDÍGENAS DE MATO GROSSO-FEPOIMT
- Focus Droits et Accès
- Global Forest Coalition
- Growing Together
- ILC Africa
- Indigenous Environmental Network
- Indigenous First Nation Advocacy South Africa
- Indigenous Peoples and Sustainable Development Cameroon
- Indigenous Rights Advocacy Centre
- Indigenous Taiwan Self-Determination Alliance
- Indigenous Women And Girls Initiative
- Indigenous Women League Nepal (IWL Nepal)
- Instituto AmazoniAlerta
- Integrated Rural Community Empowerment (IRUCE)
- International Indigenous Fund for development and solidarity "Batani"
- International Indigenous Women's Forum
- ITWN
- ITWN/JKTI
- Jatiya Adivasi Parishad (JAP), Bangladesh
- Land is Life
- Land Rights Now
- Lawyers’ Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples (LAHURNIP)
- Le grand royaume dé Asturÿ et principauté de Francie-Walonie et Cantoubria ainsi que le Grand Duché de Nancy et Empires de Lotharangy. Píkardy. Wisygothie
- LELEWAL FOUNDATION
- Ligue Nationale des Associations Autochtones Pygmées du Congo
- LILAK (Purple Action for Indigenous Womsn's
- Livestock Direct Concern
- Lof llollowenko.Comuna los sauces araucaníac
- Luokta Mavas Sami Community
- Maasai Center for Regenerative Pastoralism
- Malaya Movement Melbourne
- Movimiento indígena lenca la Paz Honduras, MILPAHH
- Narasha Community Development GroupK
- National imndigenous Disabled Women Association Nepal
- Network of Indigenous Peoples in Thailand
- Not1More
- Perspectivas Interdisciplinarias en Red, asociación civil
- PIDP
- Porgera Red Wara (River) Women's Association Incorporated (PRWWA INC)
- RED ONG´s AMÉRICA LATINA
- SAP-AU Internationale,
- Solveig Sortino Normann
- sonia FOR A JUST NEW WORLD
- South Vihar Welfare Society for Tribal
- Sri Lanka Nature Group
- The Kuan Mnasi foundation
- The New Dawn Pacesetter
- The Oakland Institute
- Timuay justice and governance (TJG)
- UNION NACIONAL DE TRADUCTORES INDÍGENAS AC
- Water Justice and Gender
- Women Working Group (WWG)
Individuals
- Alexandra Tomaselli
- Anabela Carlon
- ÁNGELES AGUAYO CASADO
- Atina Pamei Gaare
- Ayesha
- Azul98
- Barbara Hermanns
- Bhim Rai
- Casey Box
- Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn
- Chris Chapman
- Christopher Thiele
- Citlalli Hernández Saad
- Claudia Teresa Caceres Dominguez
- Cornelia Flora
- Cynthia Marie Reyes Tablang
- David Sixto
- DAVID TUITOEK
- Denise Musni
- Dr P A Azeez
- Elaine Pereira
- Emil Siren Gualinga
- Emily Duncan
- Florence Carling
- Gaynor Paradza
- Gregory B. Davis
- Guadalupe Hernandez M.
- Henrik Brunding
- Jacob Schonfield
- james meshami
- Jessica Sousa
- Jessika Eichler
- JORGE E. HORBATH
- Joseph Moses oleshangay
- Joshua Laizer
- Juan León
- Justine Hranicky
- KAMALA THAPA
- Kambale Kakevire Buthelezi
- Kamtungtuang Suante
- Karen Lanipao
- Karl Salvador
- Karla Bailey
- Kathy sanchez
- Kelly Askew
- Kézha Hatier-Riess
- Lalchhuansanga Pachuau
- Lars-Anders Baer
- Liban
- Liban Golicha
- LOKIMA
- LOKIMA RAMAZANI
- Mahmudul Sumon
- Mamata Tharu
- Mamta Lukram
- MANUEL MAY CASTILLO
- Marah Alagon
- Margarita Pineda Rodríguez
- Margot Toussaint
- Mari Corkery
- Maria beldi Alcântara
- MARY JOYCE MANTIAS SEGUIN
- maslah rompado
- maud salber
- Md. Mahamudul Haque
- Meena Kumari Lama
- Michael Musenga
- Miguel Ángel Ibarra García
- Mina Beyan
- Miyo Tanaka
- Monika Rajput
- Nakiru Lilly
- Neil M Dawson
- Nukila Evanty
- Nuria Halake
- Olepurko kileto
- Olga Murashko
- Patience Strutton
- Paulus Rahmat
- Prince Albert Solomon Turtogo
- Princess Monique Aldaba
- Rachel Sieder
- Rajani Maharjan
- Richard Ssenyondo
- Rigan
- Rodrick Moyo
- Rosalee Gonzalez
- Rowena Foote
- Sam
- Sandra Marie Llarenas
- Sven-Erik Soosaar
- Tony Abuso
- Tulaja Baing Rai
- Vilma S. Tuno
- Wilfred ole mejooli
*as of 16 November 2022
**plus 105 undisclosed individual endorsements and 21 undisclosed organization endorsements
