Dr Ian Taylor of the School of International Relations, University of St. Andrews
St. Andrews Fife Scotland KY16 9AL United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1334 472926
Fax: +44 (0)1334 462937 has requested us to protect academic freedom
Professor Kenneth Good (of the Department of Political and Administrative
Studies, University of Botswana) and I have co-authored an academic paper
"PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION IN BOTSWANA: NO MODEL FOR AFRICA". It was due to be
presented to a departmental seminar this week.
The paper is a critique of what we both see as growing autocracy in the
so-called "model of Africa" - which many of you may be familiar with through
the idyllic portrayal in the Mma Ramotswa books by Alexander McCall Smith.
On Friday evening (18th) around 5 three men arrived at Ken's house, did not
identify themselves, were carrying handcuffs, and told Ken that he had a
message from the President - Ken was now a Prohibited Immigrant and was
given 48 hours to leave the country. Someone had presumably leaked the paper
before it could be presented.
If you don't know Ken, he is 72 and has a young daughter who is still at
school. They live alone together.
The only other time when has been deported was by Ian Smith in Rhodesia.
Smith gave him longer to leave than government of Botswana did.
Ken has prepared an urgent submission to the High Court. The judge has
ordered Immigration not to harass Ken and his daughter
in the interim, and that the government must appear on 7 March to consider
all this.
PLEASE publicise this as much as possible in the interests of free speech
and academic integrity. This is an attack on scholarship and liberty - and
it is being done by the so-called "shining beacon of African democracy".
ANY publicity you can get for this would be very helpful. A letter, e-mail
etc to the papers etc.
These two addresses might be good to start at:
Office of the President
P/Bag 001
Gaborone
op.registry@gov.bw
Tel: +267 3950800
Fax: +267 3950858
Mr. R.O. Sekgororoane
(Chief Immigration Officer)
P. O. Box 942
Gaborone
rsekgororoane@gov.bw
Tel: +267 361-1301
Fax: +267 314-286
Many thanks for your time.
Best,
Ian
Dr Ian Taylor
School of International Relations
University of St. Andrews
St. Andrews
Fife
Scotland KY16 9AL
United Kingdom
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Toyin Falola
Department of History
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station
Austin, TX 78712-0220
USA
512 475 7224
512 475 7222 (fax)
www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa