"Even if we are to lose that court case against government, we are not going to give up our fight for justice," he said. He added that government has been arrogant throughout the process.

He said that had government been more considerate from the start, the issue could have long been resolved. "We have tried several times to drag government to the negotiating table but in vain. It was in 1997 when the negotiating team comprising representatives from the First People of the Kalahari (FPK), two residents from each of the CKGR settlements and Ditshwanelo tried in vain to meet former president Sir Ketumile Masire on the issue," he said.

He accused former Minister of Local Government Daniel Kwelagobe and current minister Margaret Nasha of not bothering to listen to Basarwa despite the many occasions they tried to meet them about the issue. Gakelebone said that it is wrong for President Festus Mogae to try to divert people's attention by claiming that British NGO Survival International (SI) is influencing Basarwa's decisions.

"Mogae should stop accusing Survival because it was his arrogance that forced us to invite Steven Corry and Survival to help us. He should not put it as if Survival is poking its nose into this country's affairs. If our diamonds lose their market it will be only Mogae and his government to blame not Survival," he said.

He ruled out staying in New Xade even if government engaged them in dialogue. "All we want is our land so the issue will only be settled once we get what we deserve. And mind you the only place that we would negotiate at is the CKGR. If we are living in a democratic country, then we need to enjoy the same rights as other Batswana and be proud of that democracy," he said.

He said it is very easy to stop Survival's campaign against government. He said the campaign would stop when the Basarwa's rights are recognised and this means the government would longer to worry about people boycotting the country's diamonds.

Speaking at the dinner, Moupo of the BNF said his party believed that Basarwa have not been engaged throughout the relocation process. He said that government's shabby treatment of Basarwa is regrettable and that the BNF would continue to support them in the fight against the injustice.

"Our stand still remains the same that it was wrong for government to force the Basarwa out of CKGR and we still maintain that they were given that shabby treatment because they are marginalised," he said.

Moupo and the other BNF leaders present at the dinner maintained that there is no relationship between the party and SI. They say their party does not have the same agenda as SI. Moupo said there is no way SI could be stopped from complaining because Botswana is part of the global village and that everybody has the right to criticise the country for any human rights abuses. He maintained that government did not engage Basarwa in the relocation process and rushed into forcing them out.

"It is no excuse that these people cannot co-exist with wildlife in a game reserve. It is happening in other parts of this country. There are people living in the Moremi Game Reserve and Okavango which are also wildlife and tourism areas," he said. Moupo asserted that government should have taken developments to the people instead of taking them to places where there are development as per the United Nations declaration.