Update on the violence surrounding the strike in Botswana:
The deaths were rumors apparently, sorry if that scared anyone but that's the only information that was being stated at the time. When people in your village (students, teachers and friends) and other Peace Corps Volunteers are all saying stories about deaths and violence, what they've seen and/or heard and you have no real way to get correct information, sometimes you tend to believe what is being said. Also, miscommunication between Volunteers and Peace Corps can also cause major problems.
We are awaiting more information but we have been told everything is ok and we are not in any harm here. The strike however is still on going and the violence did in fact occur so still praying for things to be resolved.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Deaths, riots, violence? Peaceful country?
There has been a civil service strike in Botswana for 5 weeks now. Teachers, nurses, etc have been striking to get a raise. Students have been left in empty classrooms and are expected to pass exams at the end of the year, with no guidance. On Friday, the students finally got fed up with teachers not being at school so they decided to counterstrike. Unfortunately this has led to violence on that day and continued today.
Today Botswana government shut down all schools in Botswana. Apparently, the riots have gotten out of control since Friday. Students being tear gassed, students beating teachers with bricks, one teacher was stabbed in Gaborone which is only 25K from my village. Police cars lit on fire, school's trashed...and it's only Monday. Of course, rumors can spread like wildfire and no one is sure as to what is true and what isn't.
Deaths, riots, and vandalism? If so, my safety is in jeopardy, the safety of fellow volunteers are in jeopardy, the safety of students, teachers and innocent by standers are in jeopardy. I feel crippled.
Though I feel safe I live close to Gaborone and Molepolole where the violence has been the worst. Who is to say that the people in my village will not react just as the others in surrounding places have been acting. Students were told to go home today and that schools are closed indefinitely, they were told to go peacefully. Now, all over Botswana there are students who will not be in school, students who are frustrated that their education has been stripped from them and we expect that they will just stay silent? One can only hope that they make the right choice and stay calm but the worry is that they will follow suit and become violent like the students in other villages have been.
I will stay safe by laying as low as I possibly can. However, I was due to go to Gaborone to get much needed groceries tomorrow. I have 1 apple, about 2 cups of rice and half a jar of peanut butter.
I hope the students and civil servants find a way to make their points without violence. I hope the police learn how to stop all this destruction and madness. I hope we all remain safe. I hope.
Today Botswana government shut down all schools in Botswana. Apparently, the riots have gotten out of control since Friday. Students being tear gassed, students beating teachers with bricks, one teacher was stabbed in Gaborone which is only 25K from my village. Police cars lit on fire, school's trashed...and it's only Monday. Of course, rumors can spread like wildfire and no one is sure as to what is true and what isn't.
Deaths, riots, and vandalism? If so, my safety is in jeopardy, the safety of fellow volunteers are in jeopardy, the safety of students, teachers and innocent by standers are in jeopardy. I feel crippled.
Though I feel safe I live close to Gaborone and Molepolole where the violence has been the worst. Who is to say that the people in my village will not react just as the others in surrounding places have been acting. Students were told to go home today and that schools are closed indefinitely, they were told to go peacefully. Now, all over Botswana there are students who will not be in school, students who are frustrated that their education has been stripped from them and we expect that they will just stay silent? One can only hope that they make the right choice and stay calm but the worry is that they will follow suit and become violent like the students in other villages have been.
I will stay safe by laying as low as I possibly can. However, I was due to go to Gaborone to get much needed groceries tomorrow. I have 1 apple, about 2 cups of rice and half a jar of peanut butter.
I hope the students and civil servants find a way to make their points without violence. I hope the police learn how to stop all this destruction and madness. I hope we all remain safe. I hope.
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