Prof. Good Deported from Botswana for Criticism

Professor Kenneth Good, an Australian citizen and Professor in the Department of Political and Administrative Studies at the University of Botswana, has been deported from Botswana, the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics informs. The country’s President, Festus Mogae, declared Professor Good an unwanted immigrant in February after he criticised the government during a lecture.

He was served with an expulsion notice in February 2005 but allowed to remain in the country while his appeal was been discussed.
Professor Good who is 72 and lives alone with his young daughter, was led away from the court by plainclothes police and put on a plane to South Africa. He has been a lecturer at the University of Botswana for more than 15 years.
During an interview outside the court Prof. Good stated: "I did not anticipate this kind of judgement. I still believe I did nothing wrong and I did not deserve this".
In his academic paper, Mr Good told a packed university lecture theatre that Botswana was run by an elite that made decisions, particularly on the presidential succession, behind closed doors, and manipulated state media.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Professor Good’s case represents an attack on free speech and academic integrity. PLEASE publicise this as much as possible.

APPEALS TO:

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

Professor B.K.Otlhogile
Vice Chancellor, University of Botswana
UB 0022, Gaborone, Botswana
Fax: +267 395-6591

PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

Natalie Nicora
NEAR
Technopark
90 London Road, SE16LN, London, UK
Fax: +44 20 7021 0881
natalie.nicora@nearinternational.org'

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 60 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

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Alert - Botswana

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