A police officer was reportedly killed in the clashes, and hundreds of people are hiding behind protests in Loliondo, which borders Serengeti National Park. The protests began when police began demarcating 1,500 square kilometers of land to pave the way for the reserve, which will be run by a company owned by the United Arab Emirates. The Masai consider this land as their home. The leaders arrested last week have not appeared since they were arrested. The NGO Pan-African Living Cultures Alliance said it planned to hold a mass protest on Wednesday, unless released. A member of the Masai community, who refused to be named, said at 6am on Friday morning, police threw “many bullets” to the protesters. “They destroyed our boda-boda [motorcycles]he took our cattle and their property was destroyed. Protesters injured in the clashes reportedly had to travel to Kenya for medical treatment to avoid arrest. Photo: Brochure “Many women have been beaten. “There were so many women out there, I think they use women as a weapon.” He said security forces were going from house to house arresting people. “People are still being monitored by the police, especially the educated, those who have phones and data. Eight young people were fired because they posted photos on social media. “We are under a lot of pressure.” The injured in the clashes allegedly had to cross into Kenya to receive hospital treatment, as state medical care is not allowed to land defenders in Tanzania. Three people are reportedly in serious condition. A Maasai rights activist, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “Thousands of Maasai from Loliondo are crossing the border seeking refuge, especially women and children. They slept in the forest. “Victims can not go to the hospital in Tanzania – they will be arrested. “Kenyan doctors, paramedics and nurses take care of those who have crossed safely.” Previous attempts to oust the Masai from the area have been thwarted by local and international pressure. However, fears of a new attempt were raised in February when Tanzanian Tourism Minister Damas Dubaro said the Masai had no claim to their homeland. In April, community leaders sent letters to the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States and the EU, calling for help. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism announced that it wanted to classify more areas as game reserves. The Tanzanian government has denied that it was trying to oust anyone and said it was trying to keep the area. He maintains that the Masai will still have access to 2,500 square kilometers of land. However, Denis Moses Oleshangai, a Tanzanian human rights lawyer, called the government’s actions a “crime against humanity” and called on the international community to intervene. “The Tanzanian government is dependent on Western aid. “I urge the countries not to fund Tanzania because it is using this money to terrorize the people.” Samwel Nangiria, a local Masai community leader and director of the Ngorongoro NGO Network, agreed. “The international community must hold our government accountable,” he said. “This is brutal, they have used excessive violence against Maasai who have lived next to wildlife for a long time. “If left unmanaged, they can be left astray and lose the right path.” Activists gathered outside the Tanzania High Commission in London in February to protest the planned eviction. Photo: Vuk Valcic / Alamy Malik Hassan Shafi, a spokesman for the Tanzanian embassy in Washington, told the Guardian: “The government did not burn down any houses or attack anyone in Loliondo. “We want to assure you that the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania has never, and will never, harm its own people, which it has sworn to protect. “This is propaganda motivated by people with malicious intentions against the government.” He said the “exercise” for marking the area had been “mutually agreed” by the government and locals.
