20 March 2014: URGENT APPEAL: SUPPORT TO ATTEND BONELA CASE ON ACCESS TO ARV FOR PRISONERS
Yesterday on the 19th March 2014 the Attorney General of Botswana served us with an urgent application for rescission of the order that was granted on the 17th of March 2014 which ordered the provision of ARV’s to foreign prisoners. As you may recall, the order was granted based on default due to failure by the AG’s to file papers and to appear before the court. Their current application is that they be given a chance to respond to the papers. The application is therefore scheduled to be heard today at 2pm in Gaborone High Court.
BONELA together with its partners SALC have agreed with our Attorneys, Rantao Kewagamang that we consent to the rescission application with intent to allow the court to set the precedent and jurisprudence on this matter. The prisoners adversely affected by government’s decision to deny them ARV’s are currently receiving treatment from a donor hence it is not unfavourable for their health. We strongly believe we have a good case and hence we look forward to the court’s decision on the matter.
This is a public interest matter. We are therefore appealing for your support to attend the court proceedings today at 2pm at the Gaborone High Court in the CBD.
Thanking you in advance for your anticipated cooperation.
Kindly contact Rodgers Bande, John Machara or Cindy Kelemi on 3932516 or 71407069 / 72385054 or
cindyk@bonela.org / rodgersb@bonela.org / johnm@bonela.org