Senarai AJK JOAS 2011-2012

Belakang (kiri-kanan): Sintiah, Zurdi, Meseng, Matek, Ukim, Ramlan, Awang, Mohd.Shahrul, Tani

Depan (kiri-kanan): Normie, Hellan, Siew, Thomas, Yusry, Rusinah, Fancy, Lily


Presiden : Thomas Jalong

Timbalan Presiden I : Rusinah Sinti (Sabah)
Timbalan Presiden II : Ramould Siew (Sarawak)
Timbalan Presiden III : Yusry Bin Ahon (Semenanjung)

Setiausaha : Hellan Empaing

Timbalan Setiausaha : Normie Jamail

Bendahari : Fancy Magambai

Timbalan Bendahari : Lily Ak Busang

Ali Jawatankuasa Kecil:

Sabah:
1. Sintiah Samanding
2. Tani Kodoyou
3. Ukim Marindal

Sarawak:
1. Awang Ahmad
2. Meseng Magin
3. Matek Ak Geram

Semenanjung:
1. Ramlan Koyok
2. Mohd. Sharul Irwan Abdullah
3. Zurdi Baharu

JOAS condemns arrest of member and demands release

(Sila lihat terjemahan Bahasa Malaysia di bawah)

PRESS STATEMENT

22 October 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


JOAS condemns the unjust arrest of 7 villagers by the police for the crime of allegedly causing mischief by fire and blocking the company by erecting a blockade. They will be detained until Tuesday until further notice.

4 villagers were arrested last night, which include 2 headmen. They are Tuai Rumah Philip Anak Bakat of Kampung Tungkah Atap, Tuai Rumah Neli Anak Nipa of Kampung Bajong Ili, Bawi Anak Atman of Kampung Lubok Manta and Tinsi Anak Gunda of Kampung Lumut.

3 more villagers were arrested at 2.30 this afternoon. They are Tuai Rumah Sadun Anak Aton and Nicholas Mujah of Kampung Ensika and Numpang Anak Suntai of Kampung Bajong. Nicholas Mujah is also the Secretary General of the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) and a member of the Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia (JOAS).


Nicholas Mujah (pic) is currently assisting the Ibans in Sebuyau, who are also his community in their current native customary land dispute involving a logging company named Quality Concrete Holdings.

JOAS condemns the heavy use of force and intimidation against the community leaders and villagers and calls for neutrality of the state infrastructure in this legal dispute between the private company and indigenous peoples.


“Why do the police decide only to act now when before, numerous reports were lodged by the villagers against the encroachment of the logging company without any action being taken?” Mark Bujang, Executive Director of Borneo Resources Institute (BRIMAS) asked. “We believe that Nicholas Mujah and the 6 other villagers were wrongly accused and this is not the first time that indigenous communities in Sarawak who defend their land are accused of committing a crime just so that the police will find an excuse to arrest and detain them.”


Romuald Siew (pic), President of Jaringan Tanah Hak Adat Bangsa Asal Sarawak (TAHABAS) also condemns the arrest of the 7 Iban villagers. "Our communities have been oppressed and our rights neglected and trampled upon for too long. This is just another example of where the rich and powerful are bullying the natives so that they can become even richer at the expense of the natives," said Siew.

"We stand in solidarity with the communities in Sebuyau, and demand that the authorities would release the 7 Iban villagers immediately," said Siew.


Hellan Empaing (pic), President of Sarawak Rural Women Association (WADESA) pointed out, “The Malaysian police should take measures ensuring the protection of the villagers whom are the victims. Instead, they are arresting the villagers defending their forests and ancestral lands. This is an offensive act of misused power.”



Adrian Lasimbang (pic), President of Malaysia Indigenous Peoples Network (JOAS) which is now attending the Conference of Parties (COP 10) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Nagoya, Japan, stated that while the governments talk about conservation of biodiversity in Nagoya, the government continues destructions back home and disregards indigenous rights on land and resources.


“Indigenous peoples are first line of defense to biodiversity destruction and they are willing to go face to face with destructive practices for the sake of biodiversity conservation. This contribution can be seen practiced by the community in Sebuyau.”

The non-recognition of their rights to NCR land, will cause the loss of biodiversity and deforestation. And when they stand to fight this struggle of oppression, indigenous peoples are prosecuted by the government for protecting biodiversity and defending their customary rights to their land and resources.

Nicholas Mujah's case is just one of hundreds of land encroachment and conflict cases between indigenous peoples and logging companies in Sarawak.

With these statements, JOAS demands the immediate unconditional release of Nicholas Mujah and the six other villagers. JOAS also demands that police stop this practice of intimidating and harassing Sarawak’s indigenous leaders.

For more information please contact the JOAS Secretariat

+6088 726 413
joasmalaysia@gmail.com




KENYATAAN MEDIA

22 Oktober 2010


UNTUK KELUARAN SEGERA

“Bebaskan pemimpin kami! Siasat korupsi dan salah guna kuasa.”

JOAS menyeru salah guna kuasa polis terhadap penahanan 7 orang penduduk kampung yang disalah tuduh menimbulkan kekacauan dan kebakaran, dan menghalang syarikat dengan mendirikan 'blockade'. Mereka akan ditahan sehingga hari Selasa, sambil menunggu keputusan.

4 orang penduduk kampung ditahan semalam termasuk 2 Tuai Rumah. Nama-nama yang ditahan ialah Tuai Rumah Philip Anak Bakat dari Kampung Tungkah Atap, Tuai Rumah Neli Anak Nipa dari kampung Bajong Ili, Bawi Anak Atman dari Kampung Lubok Manta dan Tinsi Anak Gunda dari Kampung Lumut.

3 orang lagi penduduk kampung ditahan pada hari ini. Nama-nama yang ditahan ialah Tuai Rumah sadun Anak Aton, Nicholas Mujah dari Kampung Ensika dan Numpang Anak Suntai dari Kampung Bajong. Nicolas Mujah ialah setiausaha Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) dan juga ahli Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS).

Beliau sekarang membantu komuniti Iban di Sebuyau, yang juga merupakan kawasan kampung beliau sendiri, dalam perjuangan mempertahankan Tanah Adat mereka yang melibatkan syarikat balak yang bernama Quality Concrete Holdings.

JOAS menyeru untuk menghentikan penyalahgunaan kuasa dan layanan buruk menakut-nakutkan pemimpin komuniti dan penduduk kampung, dan mendesak kerajaan untuk bersifat adil dalam menangani isu konflik di antara syarikat swasta dan Orang Asal.

“Kenapa polis hanya bertindak sekarang apabila sebelum ini banyak laporan telah dibuat oleh penduduk kampung melaporkan kemasukkan syarikat balak, tapi tiada apa-apa tindakan diambil?” Mark Bujang, Pengarah Executive Borneo Resources Institute (BRIMAS) bertanya. “Kami percaya Nicholas Mujah dan 6 orang lagi penduduk kampung telah disalah tuduh, dan ini bukan pertama kalinya komuniti Orang Asal di Sarawak yang mempertahankan Tanah Adat, sebaliknya dituduh melakukan jenayah, ditahan dan ditangkap oleh polis, tanpa sebab.

Romuald Siew, Presiden jaringan Tanah Hak Adat bangsa Sarawak (TAHABAS) juga menyeru tindakan salah penahanan 7 orang penduduk kampung. “Komuniti kita telah ditindas dan hak kita dinafikan dan diketepikan, untuk jangka masa yang sudah terlalu lama. Ini merupakan satu contoh di mana yang kaya dan berkuasa, menindas Orang Asal untuk mendapatkan keuntungan dan kekayaan semata-mata, tanpa mengambil kira kesusahan yang ditimpa oleh Orang Asal.” kata Siew.

“Kami berdiri dan bersatu hati dengan komuniti di Sebuyau, dan menyeru pihak berkuasa melepaskan 7 orang penduduk kampung dengan serta-merta,” kata Siew.

Hellan Empaing, Presiden Persatuan Wanita Desa Sarawak (WADESA) mengatakan, “Pihak Polis seharusnya mengambil tindakan menjaga keselamatan orang kampung yang menjadi mangsa keadaan. Bukannya menangkap Orang Kampung yang mempertahankan tanah Adat mereka dari dirampas. Ini adalah tindakan salah guna kuasa.”

Adrian Lasimbang, Presiden Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS), kini sedang menghadiri Conference of Parties (COP 10) untuk Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) di Nagoya, Jepun,mengatakan bahawa pihak-pihak kerajaan membincangkan isu-isu konservasi di peringkat antarabangsa di Nagoya, akan tetapi kerajaan tetap meneruskan kemusnahan di negara sendiri tanpa mengambil kira hak Orang Asal ke atas tanah dan sumber mereka.

“Orang Asal berdiri paling depan untuk mempertahankan kepelbagaian biologi daripada musnah, dan mereka sanggup berdepan dengan amalan-amalan bahaya demi mempertahankan kepelbagaian biodiversiti dan konservasi. Ini boleh dilihat dari tindakan komuniti di Sebuyau.”

Tanpa pengikhtirafan Hak Orang Asal terhadap Tanah Adat (NCR), kepelbagaian biologi akan beransur musnah dan hutan akan musnah dibalak. Apabila Orang Asal berdiri dan berjuang untuk mempertahankan hak mereka, Orang Asal ditangkap kerana menjaga kepelbagaian biologi dan mempertahankan hak ke atas tanah dan sumber mereka.

Kes seperti kes Nicholas Mujah ini, merupakan salah satu daripada ratusan kes-kes konflik dan rampasan tanah di antara Orang Asal dan syarikat-syarikat balak di Sarawak.

Dengan kenyataan-kenyataan ini, JOAS menyeru untuk Nicholas Mujah dan 6 orang penduduk kampung yang lain, dibebaskan tanpa syarat dengan serta-merta. JAOS juga menyeru untuk menghentikan amalan pihak polis yang menakut-nakutkan dan menganggu Orang Asal.

Tangkapan 7 penduduk kampung di Sebuyau, tidak sepatutnya dilakukan.

Keyataan Persatuan Wanita Desa Sarawak (WADESA)

22 Oktober 2010

WADESA amat kesal dengan penangkapan 7 orang penduduk Sebuyau di Balai Polis Simunjan hari ini kerana atas tuduhan membakar lori, jentolak dan juga rumah pekerja kem.


Hellan Empaing, WADESA

WADESA megatakan bahawa pihak penguatkusa dan Polis langsung tidak membantu mengatasi masalah Orang Asal selaku mangsa, malah bertindak menangkap penduduk setempat, seolah-olah menyebelahi pihak Syarikat dan juga pengeluar lesen balak ke atas tanah Adat Orang Asal (NCR) penduduk Kampung Sebuyau.

Penduduk Sibuyau memang telah lama membuat bantahan kepada jabatan Perhutanan tentang pencerobohan hak ke atas tanah Adat mereka. Tindak balas Jabatan Perhutanan memberikan lessen kepada syarikat pembalakan Quality Concrete Holdings menyebabkan kehidupan para penduduk semakin terancam dan konflik semakin menjadi. Kenapa laporan demi laporan yang dibuat oleh penduduk kampung tidak diperdulikan?

Seharusnya tugas pihak polis menangkap mereka yang merompak(syarikat Quality Concrete Holding), kerana Syarikat Quality Concrete yang menceroboh kawasan tanah milik Orang Kampung. Kenapa Suruhanjaya Pencegah Rasuah Malaysia tidak menyiasat bagaimana Raziah Mahmud , adik kepada ketua Menteri Sarawak menjadi pengarah syarikat tersebut?

Pihak Polis seharusnya mengambil tindakan menjaga keselamatan orang kampung yang menjadi mangsa keadaan. Bukannya menangkap Orang Kampung yang mempertahankan tanah Adat mereka dari dirampas. Ini adalah tindakan salah guna kuasa.

Penduduk Kampung sebuyau sepatutnya diberikan hak untuk memiliki tanah adat mereka sendiri seperti yang terkandung dalam Deklarasi Hak Orang Asal Antarabangsa UNDRIP, Artikel 26: Orang Asal berhak k atas tanag, wilayah dan sumber-sumber yang telah dimiliki oleh kita secara tradisional dan kerajaan mesti mengiktirafkan dan megesahkan hak ini secara rasmi. Artikel 29 juga menyentuh tentang Orang Asal berhak kepada pemuliharaan dan perlindungan alam sekitar tanah dan sumber-sumber mereka.

WADESA meminta agar pihak Polis membebaskan tangkapan mereka terhadap penduduk kampung dengan serta merta. Dan minta agar Syarkat Quality Concrete Holding berhenti mengambil balak di kawasan tanah Adat penduduk kampung Sebuyau.


Kenyataan ini dikeluarkan oleh

Pn Hellan Empaing
Pengerusi WADESA
0198943191

Statement by IIFB to the COP 10

(Sila lihat terjemahan Bahasa Malaysia di bawah)


19 October 2010


Delivered by Adrian Banie Lasimbang

Statement by the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB)
Working Group 1
Agenda Item 5.4: Protected Areas
COP10, Nagoya, Japan

Madam Chairperson,

Indigenous peoples have been maintaining and protecting biodiversity as part of their daily lives long before protected areas came into being. We have also established a well-tested system of managing biodiversity and conservation practices including those of mobile indigenous peoples that are not necessarily compatible to mainstream conservation systems. We re-iterate that indigenous peoples have the fundamental rights to the environment and resources in our territories. We are Rights Holders in this process and not mere Stakeholders.

We are gravely concerned about the invasion of “market based mitigation schemes” from UNFCCC to the CBD. There is a danger that Protected Areas will be established in the name of climate change mitigation and completely ignore the fundamental rights of IPLCs (Indigenous Peoples and local communities). Many parties are already rushing to establish new Protected Areas, committing to REDD schemes and other conservation projects to get money available from climate change mitigation without the active participation and acquiring the Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) of IPLCs. All of this is for the sake of money and not really to stop the global climate crisis.

We are therefore very concerned about the rapid expansion of protected areas while the contribution of our customary sustainable use and governance systems to the conservation of biological and cultural diversity is not recognized. We demand parties to implement the UNDRIP as the minimum standard to ensure our rights to manage our territories and resources.

We remind Parties to give priority to the implementation of Programme Element 2 of the Programme of Work related to Governance, Participation, Equity and Benefit Sharing, which remains the least implemented aspect of the programme of work. We urge Parties to address the issue of restitution of lands and territories that were taken for protected areas without our Free Prior Informed Consent so that indigenous peoples can re-establish control over our lands and territories.

With regard to the review of implementation, the draft COP decision includes a reporting framework on the national implementation of the POWPA. We feel that the questionnaire does not sufficiently encourage governments to report on key issues related to indigenous peoples and protected areas (in the sections on Equity and participation). We suggest this questionnaire be improved.

Recognition of fundamental rights of IPLCs over their lands and territories is crucial in protected areas.  We welcome the diversification of governance types such as ICCAs as a tool to recognize our management practices but there must be a mechanism that ensures the IPLCs have full and effective participation in and control of these areas. We urge Parties to recognize customary laws and institutions as an important element in governance and management of ICCAs. We further urge Parties to take effective measures to facilitate training, capacity building and financial assistance to enable us manage our own traditional or customary protected area govenance systems.

Despite the establishment of protected areas in our territories, it is clear that biodiversity continues to be lost – in our opinion this is largely due to the lack of recognition of indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge and conservation systems. We believe that there are many benefits to gain related to the conservation of biodiversity if indigenous peoples are recognized at the custodians of biological resources and territories. Placing IPLCs at the centre of the management of PAs will save resources to monitor and conserve biodiversity because IPLCs perform this role as a natural part of our way of life.

We appreciate the efforts made by a number of Parties and civil society organizations to engage indigenous peoples in dialogues regarding the implementation of the Programme of Work but call for further engagement of IPLCs in protected area related processes at all levels.

We will submit the IIFB's preferred text for the draft decisions found in document UNEP/CBD/COP/10/add.2 to the Secretariat.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson.



Kenyataan oleh IIFB di COP 10

Disampaikan oleh Adrian Banie Lasimbang

Puan Pengerusi Majlis,

Orang Asal telah sekian lama menjaga dan melindungi kepelbagaian biologi sebagai sebahagian daripada kehidupan seharian kami sebelum mana-mana kawasan lindung mula diisytiharkan. Kami juga telah menubuhkan sistem-sistem yang telah diuji melalui amalan turun temurun untuk menguruskan kepelbagaian biologi dan amalan-amalan konservasi, termasuk golongan Orang Asal yang berpindah – randah, yang tidak semestinya selari dengan sistem konservasi arus perdana yang diamalkan oleh agensi kerajaan. Kami menekankan semula bahawa Orang Asal mempunyai hak mutlak ke atas persekitaran dan juga sumber-sumber yang terdapat di kawasan wilayah kami. Kami merupakan pemegang hak dalam proses ini, dan bukan hanya pemegang kepentingan semata-mata.

Kami amat runsing dan prihatin terhadap kemasukkan 'skim mitigasi berasakan pasaran karbon' dari UNFCCC ke CBD. Ini menjadikan Kawasan Lindung akan diisytiharkan atas nama mitigasi perubahan iklim dan langsung tidak mempedulikan hak-hak Orang Asal dan masyarakat tempatan. Kebanyakkan kerajaan sudah mula kelam-kabut mewartakan Kawasan Lindung, melibatkan diri dalam skim REDD dan projek-projek konservasi, semata-mata untuk mendapatkan keuntungan wang yang boleh didapati daripada skim mitigasi perubahan iklim, tanpa penglibatan penuh dan Izin Makluman Awal, Bebas dan Telus (FPIC) daripada Orang Asal dan masyarakat tempatan. Kesemua ini dilakukan untuk mengaut keuntungan kewangan semata-mata dan tidak akan membawa penyelesaian terhadap krisis iklim yang dihadapi oleh dunia kita masa kini.

Oleh yang demikian, kami sangat prihatin terhadap perluasan kawasan lindung yang secara mendadak, tanpa mengikhtirafkan sumbangan kami terhadap konservasi kepelbagaian biologi dan juga kepelbagaian budaya melalui amalan-amalan Adat dan sistem-sistem pemerintahan kami yang lestari. Kami mendesak Kerajaan untuk melaksanakan UNDRIP sebagai piawaian yang minimum untuk memastikan hak-hak kami untuk menjaga dan menguruskan kawasan wilayah dan sumber-sumber kami.

Kami mengingatkan Kerajaan untuk memberi keutamaan kepada pelaksanaan Program Elemen 2 dalam Program Kerja pengurusan Kawasan Lindung (PoWPA) berkenaan Pengurusan, Penglibatan, Kesama-rataan dan Perkongsian manfaat, yang masih kurang pelaksanaannya sehingga kini. Kami mendesak Kerajaan untuk membincangkan isu-isu pengembalian semula tanah dan kawasan wilayah Orang Asal yang telah diambil untuk dijadikan Kawasan Lindung tanpa Izin Makluman Awal, Bebas dan Telus (FPIC), agar membolehkan kami berhak semula ke atas tanah dan sumber-sumber kami.

Dengan mengambil kira penelitian semula pelaksanaan, draf keputusan COP juga memasukkan satu rangka kerja terhadap implementasi PoWPA di peringkat negara masing-masing. Kami mendapati bahawa borang soal selidik yang sedia ada tidak mencukupi untuk menggalakkan pihak kerajaan untuk melaporkan isu-isu berkaitan Orang Asal dan Kawasan Lindung (dalam seksyen berkenaan Kesama-rataan dan Penglibatan). Kami mencadangkan untuk memperbaiki lagi borang soal selidik ini.

Pengikhtirafan terhadap hak-hak mutlak komuniti Orang Asal dan tempatan ke atas tanah dan kawasan wilayah mereka adalah penting dalam kawasan lindung. Kami mengalu-alukan cadangan untuk mempelbagaikan jenis pemerintahan seperti Kawasan Konservasi Komuniti Orang Asal (ICCA) sebagai satu alat untuk mengikhtirafkan amalan-amalan pengurusan, tetapi mesti terdapat satu mekanisme di mana komuniti Orang Asal dan tempatan mendapat penglibatan yang efektif dan sepenuhnya dan mengurus kawasan-kawasan ini. Kami mendesak Kerajaan untuk mengikhtirafkan perundangan dan institusi Adat sebagai satu elemen penting dalam pemerintahan dan pengurusan ICCA. Kami juga mendesak kerajaan untuk mengambil jalan yang efektif untuk menjalankan latihan, pembinaan kapasiti dan bantuan kewangan untuk membolehkan kami menguruskan sistem-sistem pemerintahan kawasan lindung secara tradisional ataupun mengikut Adat kami.

Walaupun dengan adanya pewartaan kawasan lindung di kawasan wilayah kami, dengan jelas kepelbagaian biologi masih juga beransur hilang – pada pendapat kami, ini disebabkan oleh tidak ada pengikhtirafan terhadap pengetahuan tradisi dan sistem konservasi Orang Asal. Kami percaya bahawa terdapat banyak kebaikan dan hasil berkaitan dengan konservasi kepelbagaian biologi yang boleh didapati, sekiranya Orang Asal mendapat pengikhtirafan sebagai penjaga kawasan dan sumber-sumber biologi.

Kami berterima kasih kepada kerajaan dan organisasi-organisasi masyarakat sivil, yang telah melibatkan Orang Asal dalam dialog-dialog berkaitan dengan implementasi Program Kerja, akan tetapi kami menyeru untuk melanjutkan lagi penyertaan komuniti Orang Asal dan tempatan dalam kesemua peringkat proses-proses kawasan lindung.

Kami akan menghantar cadangan perubahan teks dari IIFB untuk draf keputusan yang boleh didapati dalam dokumen UNEP/CBD/COP/10/add.2 kepada Sekretariat.

Terima kasih, Puan Pengerusi Majlis.

UN expert urges aligning development with aspirations of indigenous people

18 October 2010

Indigenous people are entitled to their own institutions and self-governing structures to enable them to manage their own affairs and ensure that the development process is aligned with their own cultural patterns, values and customs, a United Nations independent expert says in a report.

"In the light of the extreme disadvantages that indigenous peoples have typically faced across a range of social and economic indicators, there are particular concerns. that must be taken into account with regard to development initiatives that affect them," James Anaya, the Special Rapporteur on the situation on the freedom of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, says in a report to the General Assembly.

He explains that policies and initiatives aimed at the development of the economy or infrastructure, and are purported to benefit citizens as a whole, can have negative effects on indigenous peoples.

"These include, inter alia, development programmes involving the extraction of natural resources and mega-projects such as the construction of dams and transportation facilities on indigenous peoples' territories."Such development programmes and projects, despite their specific effects on indigenous peoples and their territories, are often undertaken without adequate consultation with them or without their free, prior and informed consent," Mr. Anaya says.

He also noted that development projects targeted specifically at reducing the disadvantages experienced by indigenous people and improving their social and economic well-being often fail to properly incorporate their specific needs to advance their self-determination and their rights to maintain their distinct cultural identities, languages and connections with their traditional lands.

"Within both of these areas of concern, there is a need for governments to decidedly fold into development programmes the goal of increasing indigenous self-determination," Mr. Anaya writes in his report.

He calls for enhancing indigenous peoples' education and skills to empower them to engage and participate in the various elements of development programmes and projects that affect them.

The independent expert says that the participation of indigenous peoples in the broader public life of the State is often inadequate and not proportional to their numbers, recommending special measures to ensure that they participate on equal footing in public and political life.

"It is evident that throughout the world, indigenous peoples are not adequately consulted, nor is their consent obtained, when decisions affecting their rights or interests are made," the Rapporteur writes.

On indigenous people's participation in decision-making at the international level, Mr. Anaya points out that continued efforts need to be made to ensure their active involvement in the development of all international standards and programmes that concern them.

"Potential reforms within international institutions and platforms of decision-making that affect indigenous peoples' lives should be closely examined, and measures should be taken or strengthened to provide financial and other support to enable indigenous peoples to participate effectively at the international level," Mr. Anaya writes.

He exhorts indigenous peoples to continue to strengthen their capacities to control and manage their own affairs and to participate effectively in all decisions affecting them, in a spirit of cooperation and partnership with government authorities at all levels.

Mr. Anaya welcomes the adoption by the General Assembly of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well as recent statements of support or movement towards support, by the few States that originally voted against the adoption.

"Today, the Declaration serves more as a reminder of how far there is to go in bringing justice and dignity to the lives of indigenous peoples than a reflection of what has actually been achieved on the ground," he says.

Mr. Anaya's is the first of many reports to be presented by independent UN experts to the 192-member Assembly over the coming weeks.

source: UN News Service

TAHABAS slams Dr Rundi for discouraging natives for taking their NCR land disputes to court

13 October 2010

PRESS STATEMENT

MIRI – The Sarawak Native Customary Land Rights Network (TAHABAS) have slammed Sarawak’s Assistant Minister of Public Health and Utilities, Dr Stephen Rundi for discouraging the natives from exercising the legal rights by taking their native customary rights (NCR) land disputes to court.

According to TAHABAS President, Romuald Siew, the statement from Dr. Rundi shows how the state government under the current Barisan Nasional regime is not sincere about respecting and recognising the native’s right to their customary land and resources and continue to make statements aimed to confuse the natives for their own selfish political agenda.

“The natives have tried time and time again to get the government to recognise and respect our NCR, but most of the time the government could not be bothered,” said Siew.

“We have tried all the possible official channels including writing numerous letters, petitions and memorandums to get the state government to solve our land disputes and to get recognition and respect for our NCR. Some communities even did direct actions such as erecting blockades on their land or demonstrating peacefully, but until today, the government either ignored us or dismissed our claims,” said Siew.

“Now, where can the poor community seek redress for their NCR land problems? Of course, they have no choice but to engage a lawyer in order to seek redress through the legal channel. It is time consuming and costly for the natives, but what choice do they have when the government not only refused to entertain their claims but keeps on arbitrarily issuing provisional leases to the big companies over their NCR land,” lamented Siew.

“If the government is sincere, as a start Dr. Rundi should first look at the document titled, ‘Composite Plan Showing Distribution of Farming Land in Suai-Niah-Sibuti’ and use that as a reference to gazette the communal land boundaries of NCR areas in the Suai-Niah-Sibuti areas,” said Siew.

Mark Bujang, Executive Director of Borneo Resources Institute (BRIMAS), pointed out that in the Baram District, the Brooke and British Colonial Administrations had recorded the communal land boundary of the NCR lands of the longhouses there in the ‘Register of Land Boundaries’ kept in the District Office, Marudi until today.

Mark also echoed the sentiments of TAHABAS to urge the government to also gazette the communal land boundaries immediately based on the records in the Register.
“As for areas where the communal land boundaries are yet to be recorded, the government should make its own efforts to go to the ground and assist the natives to record and gazette their boundaries,” said Mark.

Mark added that, “Since the Courts have already decided that the communal land boundary of the NCR lands of the natives is based on or defined by the ‘antara’ or ‘garis menoa’ of their longhouses, the government should therefore comply with the said decisions by the Courts and immediately conduct joint ground surveys with the natives to identify and then gazette the communal land boundary of their longhouses.”

On the Borneo Post dated 12 October 2010, Dr. Rundi was quoted saying that claims for NCR done through the courts would only benefit lawyers and that the best solution (for the natives) which involves minimal cost is to apply to the government (to get their NCR claims recognised).

Press release issued by:
Flora Anak Tebiang
Media Liason, TAHABAS

STOP WATER IMPOUNDMENT PRIOR TO THE EMERGENCY RESCUE PLAN (ERP) FOR BAKUN DAM MAKE AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC

Immediate News Release


Miri (8 October 2010): Sarawak Conservation Alliance for Natural Environment (SCANE) calls upon the government, if any, the Emergency Rescue Plan (ERP) for Bakun dam be made public prior to action of impounding water for Bakun Dam.

SCANE warns the Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd not proceed with its flooding trial run for Bakun dam until an Emergency Rescue Plan (ERP) has been in place and the public at large have been adequately informed of the procedures laid down by the plan.

SCANE is deeply concerned with the safety and adverse impacts of the dam to the riverine communities living downstream and upstream of the dam. The downstream communities include the people of numerous longhouses along Rajang River who live directly below the dam and the residents of the Belaga township as well as other major towns such as Kapit, Song, Kanowit and Sibu. Within the impounding area, there are more than 100 native families living upstream, that is the Bakun dam’s reservoir and catchment area.

The Bakun dam, Malaysia's largest hydroelectric dam, is located on the Balui River in the upper Rejang River basin, some 37km upstream from Belaga township. Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd – a wholly owned subsidiary of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated is the owner and developer of the dam.

To this day, the government and the authorities concerns have yet to announce any plan that would take into account the environmental catastrophe consequences of Bakun dam on downstream communities. So far, there has been no preparation on the part of the authorities to design relevant action plans that are able to address the problems that may arise downstream in the immediate future, as a result of the water impoundment of Balui River by the dam.

SCANE is aware of the existence of an Emergency Rescue Plan (ERP), which has been drawn up to prepare the concerned areas for the possible occurrence of dam failure, however this ERP is already too outdated as it has been designed more than ten (10) years ago. Therefore, it is premature action of the government and the dam developer(s) to impound water for the dam if new ERP is non-existent.

In any action of river impoundment that created large man-made lake by large dam like Bakun, it will cause environmental disorder that may lead to an unstable ecosystem which impacts would be disastrous and far reaching to human beings, wildlife and natural environment in the area.

As experience had shown in other parts of the world where similar large dams were built, many communities living along the downstream terrains of large dams have had to face grave dangers and suffer economic losses as a result of the construction of the dams.

In Belaga District, as well as those downstream communities, considering their vulnerable location, which is positioned exactly downstream of the dam, it is only natural that they harbour anxiety about the possibility of the dam suffering from any form of structural or functional failure for such a misfortune would surely result in huge financial losses and pose a threat to their safety and lives.

Meantime, while the ERP is yet to be drawn up, the Government (both State and Federal) should immediately resolve some of the distressing issues pertaining to the to the effects of the Bakun Hydroelectric Dam on the communities living upstream and downstream with regards to outstanding compensation on lands and properties and the resettlement of villages to new sites as well as adverse water pollution and river navigation problems to downstream communities.

Therefore, SCANE strongly calls upon the Government and Sarawak Hidro to immediately stop the plan of impounding Balui River, and demand that:

1. The Government to comprehensively disseminate information on the content of the Emergency Rescue Plan (EPR) of the Bakun Hydroelectric Project to the people residing downstream of the dam.

2. Memorandum of undertaking to be signed and issued to the downstream riverine communities to guarantee that in the event of any incidence of dam failure or damage, the Government or the project developer will be held accountable for the destruction and loss of properties and the suffering inflicted onto the communities.

This means that in the event of such an incidence, the Government or developer will bear the responsibility to pay adequate monetary compensation to the affected residents.

SCANE also urges the Government to carry out comprehensive and meaningful consultation process with the downstream communities with regards to the ERP.

ENDs



Press Release and Statement Issued By:



Raymond Abin,

The National Coordinator

Sarawak Conservation Alliance for Natural Environment (SCANE)

H/P: MY +60 138449345 Call

IIPFCC Opening Statement at the UNFCCC meeting in Tianjin, China- October 4, 2010

INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS FORUM ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Tianjin, China, 4th of October-2010

Opening Statement of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Actions (AWG-LCA)

Madame Chairperson,

Thank you very much for allowing us to take the floor on behalf of the International Indigenous Forum on Climate Change (IIFCC)

We would like to thank the Parties which have made possible the inclusion of the rights, participation, resources and traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples in the current negotiation texts, despite the fact that it is still in brackets. I am sure if the brackets are removed, we will be able to provide important agreements and contributions to safeguard our Mother Earth. In this sense, and based on the agreements achieved in the International Workshop Between Indigenous Peoples and Government Representatives on Climate Change, celebrated in Xcaret, Quintana Roo, Mexico from 27-29 of September-2010, we express that any final negotiation text on climate change shall take into account the following proposals:

1. The recognition of rights of indigenous peoples consistent with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ( right to self determination, lands, territories and all resources, Free Prior and Informed Consent, Traditional knowledge and sustainable livelihoods, equitable benefit sharing, etc.) as well as other relevant international human rights norms and standards.

2. Ensure the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples in all mechanisms, bodies and procedures established under the UNFCCC (Mitigation, Adaptation, Finance, MRV, Technology Transfer, etc).

3. Ensure the inclusion, recognition and protection of indigenous peoples traditional knowledge, cultural heritage, spiritual beliefs, traditional cultural expressions, indigenous technologies and innovations.

4. Guarantee the direct and immediate access by indigenous peoples to finance, appropriate technology and capacity building.

5. Recognize the specific vulnerabilities of peoples, including Indigenous peoples, and not only countries regarding the impacts of climate change.

6. Specific references to indigenous peoples in the negotiation texts must include both developed and developing countries.

7. Ensure gender and inter-generational equity (children, women, and youth, elderly).

Madame Chairperson,

Indigenous Peoples together share the hope that this year the world will be able to give concrete steps to address the global crisis of climate change. We will continue to work hard in all parts of the world to express our concerns and proposals, so that together we can safeguard the life not only of Mother Earth, but also that of all human beings that inhabits it, especially this year in which we celebrate the international year of biodiversity.




Source : http://www.indigenousportal.com/Climate-Change/IIPFCC-Opening-Statement-at-the-UNFCCC-meeting-in-Tianjin-China-October-4-2010.html

Human Rights Council considers indigenous issues

A statement by Malaysian representative at the UN Human Rights Council regarding the Penan rape issues.

JOHAN ARIFF ABDUL RAZAK (Malaysia) said that the delay in communications mentioned in the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people was due to the fact that the Working Group had just been established and had been undertaking its own investigation on sexual violence against Penan women and children. Since achieving independence, most members of the Penan community had chosen settled life, while others who remained nomads were at great risk of human rights violations including sexual abuse. Additional measures to ensure the respect of the rights of the Penan, particularly their land rights, were included in the provisional Constitution. The Government remained committed to ensuring that the Penan were enjoying the same rights and other members of the society and regretted that the issue of the Penan was exploited at both national and international level.

Read the full news report on UN Human Rights Council website here.

Read the news on Malaysian government denying Penan rights here.

Malaysia Day Focus: Land, autonomy and empowerment for the Orang Asal

Written by Chua Sue-Ann
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 14:22



FOR Sabah indigenous rights activist Adrian Lasimbang, the key to his community’s well-being is the protection of their rights to the land. Lasimbang, who heads the Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia or Jaringan Orang Asal Se-Malaysia (JOAS), explains that the Orang Asal’s consuming battle for rights to their land leaves little time to focus on the other issues that matter.


Adrian Lasimbang giving a speech during the world Indigenous Peoples Day celebration in Selangor this year


In an email interview with The Edge Financial Daily, Lasimbang describes the marginalisation East Malaysian indigenous peoples often feel, despite having entered into “an equal partnership” to form Malaysia 47 years ago.

Lasimbang, who grew up in a farming village in Penampang near Kota Kinabalu, says he was exposed to community activism at a very young age and felt the calling to help.

“We have a huge role to play to help the rural poor to enjoy development that meets their aspirations. My contribution is merely to assist them to have better options and make informed decisions,” he said.

TEFD: Do you think the East Malaysian indigenous people feel that they are part of Malaysia or is there still a palpable East/West Malaysia divide?

Lasimbang: Generally, the Orang Asal in East Malaysia still feel marginalised. Their needs and aspirations are not given due attention.

Development plans continue to be dominated by West Malaysian models which are not really applicable in East Malaysia. The federal civil service’s top ranks are still dominated by West Malaysians who may not necessarily understand the social dynamics of East Malaysia.

(Decisions are often) made based on race — the ‘Melayu, India, Cina’ thinking. We can now see that type of thinking seeping into our society here and it is not good for anyone.

The New Economic Policy does not mean anything to the Orang Asal as we feel that we are second-class bumiputeras.

In Sabah’s case, the new ‘citizens’ under the Project IC (who are classed as bumiputera) have more rights and opportunities than the Orang Asal living in the interior.

(Project IC refers to the alleged granting of citizenship to immigrants by issuing them identity cards.)

The economic gap between West and East Malaysia also makes us feel marginalised.


What can be done to bridge East and West Malaysia?

Ensure equal opportunity and the Borneonisation of the civil service. That way, we can feel that we are an important part of the administration of our beloved country.

Bring more downstream industries to East Malaysia to create more quality jobs for us, not just back-breaking labour work.


What needs to be done to bring more of the necessary socio-economic development to East Malaysia?

Sabah and Sarawak should get a better deal in the oil and gas agreements because 5% (of oil and gas revenue) is nothing considering the vastness of the land. We want some autonomy to decide what kind of projects are suitable for development in Sabah and Sarawak.

We’d also like autonomy in deciding how to help our poor. Most of the federal government’s programmes for eliminating poverty have failed and are open to abuse and corruption.


What needs to be in place for indigenous people to live their lives?

Land rights is the most important. Without land, the Orang Asal will not survive. Land is the lifeline. If you take that away, you will kill the Orang Asal.

If you secure their rights to land, there will be a sense of security and communities can focus on other issues like health, infrastructure and education.

The Orang Asal are fighting for their land, day in, day out. They have no time to think about other things. You really can see the difference in communities with secured land rights. They are more prosperous and advanced.


What is your hope for indigenous East Malaysians? What is your outlook for the younger / future generations of Malaysia?

We hope the gap between the West and East can be reduced. East Malaysians would then be more empowered to contribute to the country and decide their own fate.

I hope the younger generations will continue to preserve their rich cultural heritage. I just hope that racial politics will not destroy our country.

We should learn to respect our differences because that is what makes us Malaysians. We are united in diversity. (This is) not a place where one race dominates while the others follow!


In terms of your East Malaysian heritage, what are you most proud of?

I am proud of our cultural diversity. Sabah has 39 ethnic groups and Sarawak has 25 — that’s 64 ethnic groups living in one place. If these 64 groups can live in harmony, why can’t the three dominant groups in West Malaysia live happily together?

I am also proud of the history of Borneo which unfortunately remains untold in our history books in schools. I am proud of our land and environment that we live in. We have the highest mountains, the biggest caves, the oldest rainforest and the cleanest rivers.


What lessons do you think can be gleaned from Malaysia Day?

Unity is a precondition to a strong nation. Let us be reminded that the formation of Malaysia is based on equal partnership between Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak with high mutual respect envisioned by our founding fathers and mothers.


This article appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, September 15, 2010.

eBario becomes Malaysia’s first community radio station

September 1, 2010

PRESS RELEASE

Issued by eBario Sdn Bhd



eBARIO SECURES CASP (CLASS) LICENCE FROM MCMC




eBario Sdn Bhd, has been granted the Content Applications Service Provider (CASP) Class license by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). With the CASP Class license, the company will be the first company to deploy a community radio station in Malaysia. eBario Sdn Bhd is a social enterprise that was established to operate the remote and isolated eBario telecentre located in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak. A community radio is a small scale, low cost, not for profit radio broadcasting system designed to deliver content that has specific interest to the community it serves.



“The concept is relatively new in Malaysia. With the registration of this license, we hope to transform the community radio services in Malaysia, and we are also pleased that this would allow us to play a part in delivering our innovative approach to the use of Information and Communications Technologies for the social and economic development of the people living in the remote Bario area” said John Tarawe, CEO eBario Sdn Bhd.



To ensure compliance to the new guidelines on community radio service issued out by MCMC, eBario as the community radio service provider will encourage members of the community that it serves to participate in both the operations of the service as well as in the selection and the provisioning of its programmes. Coverage of a community radio station should be limited to the particular geographical area of the targeted community and the service should not be operated for profit or as part of a profit-making enterprise, as stipulated in the guidelines.



Community radio stations have blossomed in much of Africa and Latin America and they are springing up in neighbouring countries in Asia. Within their limited reach of 15-30 kilometres and the relatively low cost of setting up and ease of use, they are used by communities to broadcast information of local interest. Broadcasts are usually prepared by the residents themselves and are often conducted in local languages or dialects that national media do not cater to.



The Bario Radio community radio station is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), under its Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility (IPAF). Mr. John Tarawe, CEO of eBario Sdn Bhd, a Kelabit resident of Bario and District Councilor, stated that “eBario’s proposal to set up the station was one of fourty successful submissions to the IPAF out of more than 800 from around the world. The station is intended to serve the people within the Forum of the Indigenous People of the Highlands of Borneo, which is known by its acronym FORMADAT (Forum Masyarakat Adat Dataran Tinggi).”



The eBario telecentre currently provides information services to the Bario community via shared public access to the internet. Having won multiple awards for its innovative approach to the use of Information and Communications Technologies for the social and economic development of the people living in the remote Bario area, the radio station is seen as a natural extension by delivering information right into the homes of the residents.



The station will be managed and operated by the community themselves; broadcasting much of its material in the local Kelabit language. With their internet connection, it is also planned to broadcast programmes on the internet to provide information services to the wider Kelabit diaspora living throughout Malaysia and beyond.



Members of the Bario community have been involved in every step of the proposal and they are enthusiastic about the prospect of operating their own radio station. They have expressed concern that their language is dying out as the younger Kelabit move away from the area. It is expected that the radio station will contribute towards a language revival.



The station will also broadcast local news collected by the residents themselves as well as stimulating debate on issues of local concern. It will provide a channel for public service announcements in the local Kelabit language, including the relaying of national news as well as providing information to promote better agriculture, encourage commercial enterprises, preserve the local culture, extend education and improve public health. The promoters of Bario Radio are optimistic that it will herald more such proposals for community radio stations to improve information flows to Malaysia’s isolated rural and indigenous communities.

SUHAKAM to look into indigenous people's rights

Natalie Heng
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 23, 2010): For the first time since its inception in 1999, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), will be conducting a national inquiry into the rights of indigenous people.

Internal preparations for the national inquiry are expected to take at least six months, said Suhakam commissioner Jannie Lasimbang today.

"Such inquiry involves lot of research in terms of preparing the background," said Lasimbang, who has been involved in advocacy for indigenous rights since the 80s.


Commissioner Lasimbang with Tokoh Orang Asal of landmark Land Cases in Malaysia during the World Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebration in Selangor.


Although the specific topics for the inquiry have yet to be identified, a broad spectrum of issues including land, education and economic activities will be looked at.

Lasimbang was speaking at a press conference after the Suhakam commissioners had their first official meeting with a number of human and consumer rights NGOs. The meeting was to discuss economic, social and cultural rights in Malaysia.

Commissioner James Nayagam, who was also present, said the inquiry was to gather hard data on the issues of concern.

"It will involve experts conducting research to provide a fair presentation of facts, not assumptions.

"A lot things are alleged to have happened," said Nayagam, referring to various complaints about land rights and abuses of women within the Penan community. "The inquiry will help us gather the data to confirm it."

Lasimbang said another important function of the inquiry was to create greater public awareness and raise issues that people may previously have not been aware of.

"Especially those in relation to violations which are not obvious to the public and which may not have been brought up before," she said.

Aside from indigenous rights issues, a variety of topics were discussed during the meeting.

A key recommendation was to put pressure on the Malaysian government to ratify the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, a multilateral treaty which commits parties to work towards the granting of economic, social and cultural rights to individuals.

The fight against Kaiduan Dam

Aug 14, 2010

A village's fight against 'drowning' by development



By Rusaslina Idrus, For The Straits Times

LESS than a year ago, the remote village of Buayan, deep in the Borneo forest and six hours' walk from the nearest paved road, lacked electricity. But last month, the subsistence-farming villagers joined millions around the globe in watching the World Cup football tournament on television.

This is not just another case of national development, with the government finally extending the power grid to distant and deprived corners. This village in the heart of the Crocker Range rainforest in Sabah, East Malaysia, has plugged in largely through its own efforts.

With technical advice from a non-governmental organisation and funding from local and international donors, the villagers built a micro-hydroelectric system that has transformed their lives.

Energy-efficient light bulbs have replaced soot-covered oil lamps. A 'telecentre', courtesy of a local university, houses a public satellite phone service and computers linked to the Internet. Facebook is fast becoming popular among the young.

Micro-hydroelectricity is a cost-efficient and environmentally sustainable form of technology that makes use of the natural resources abundant in the area - water from the river flowing over the steep hills of the range. The system works by harnessing river water flowing downhill to spin a turbine. The kinetic energy is then converted into electricity.

Apart from the turbine, which was designed by a local company, the villagers helped to build much of this system from scratch, including scouring the forest for the right trees to use as electrical poles. After almost two years of hard work, the US$140,000 (S$191,000) project was completed last year. To contribute to the upkeep of the system, residents pay a monthly tariff that goes into the community coffer.

Living next to the Crocker Range National Park, the villagers work together with the park authorities to maintain the natural resources in the area. The pristine forest and ancient salt-trading trail along the range are fast attracting adventurous trekkers. Villagers welcome this venture into ecotourism and are proud to showcase their scenic village.

Buayan, in short, is an example of a robust and dynamic village. Open to adopting new technology and projects, it is a model of ingenuity and sustainable living.



The irony is that it is being threatened with extinction by 'development' - government plans to build a RM2.8 billion (S$1.2 billion) dam to supply water and electricity to Kota Kinabalu, the state capital.

The villagers, whose ancestors have farmed the area for generations, fear they and the residents of eight neighbouring villages will be relocated, as happened to the indigenous people with the construction of the massive Bakun Dam in Sarawak.

Studies examining the impact of relocation on communities displaced by such projects - such as the Bakun and the Babagon Dam in Sabah - reveal high rates of poverty, food shortage and social problems such as sexual violence and alcohol abuse.

Ms Irene, my host on a recent visit, told me she has been sick with worry since she first heard rumours of the project, known as the Kaiduan Dam, two years ago.

'Our lives are here,' she said. 'Here we have everything that we need. The river is our icebox and the forest is our supermarket.'

The nine villages have come together to protect their way of life. They have formed a task force to try to block the dam, though they are having trouble getting information about the project and feel they have been brushed aside by officials.

In the meantime, soil testing is being carried out in the Kaiduan valley. Villagers were alarmed when they learnt the company commissioned to conduct the dam feasibility study was also the developer of the controversial Bakun Dam in Sarawak.

Earlier this year, a task force handed a petition to the Chief Minister of Sabah making clear the villagers' unanimous objection to the dam. They say it will displace 1,400 residences and destroy farms, orchards, community halls, clinics, schools, churches, ancestral graveyards, ecotourism sites and watershed areas.

They also point out that the project contradicts the United Nations Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to which Malaysia is a signatory. According to the declaration, indigenous peoples have the right to determine the use of their lands and governments need to obtain their free and informed consent before embarking on any project of this nature. So far, the community in Buayan has not been consulted about the dam.

As the days go by, the villagers are feeling more apprehensive. But they plan to keep making their voices heard as there is too much at stake. Village chief John Sobitang told me: 'We are 100 per cent against this project and we will continue to defend our customary rights over this land.'

In a much publicised visit to rural Sarawak recently, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak promised the people of Borneo that his administration would ensure inclusive development in the name of social justice for all. Here is his chance to make good on his promise: He can scrap the Kaiduan Dam project and channel funding to support more community-based micro-hydroelectric projects in Sabah and Sarawak instead.

Last month, hundreds of people from the nine villages gathered at the proposed dam site. They constructed a blockade to halt ongoing soil-testing work. The predominantly Christian community also erected a 1.8m-tall wooden cross at the site and held a prayer session. Together they prayed that their government would not sweep their lives away.

JOAS STATEMENT ON PURPORTED FOREST CARBON DEAL IN SARAWAK INVOLVING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

August 10 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JOAS STATEMENT ON PURPORTED FOREST CARBON DEAL IN SARAWAK INVOLVING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES


JOAS Climate Change focal point, Jen Rubis, at Copenhagen climate change negotiations 2009. Photo by Ben Powless

On August 6, Reuters released a news article titled “Australia firm signs forest CO2 deal with Malaysia tribes”. On behalf of Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia / Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia (JOAS), we would like to state that our network is not involved in this and, to the best of our knowledge, we do not know which of the 24 villages (according to the news report)or 9 community leaders (according to the Australian company’s own press release) are involved in that project.

We feel it is important to make clear that it is not our network that is involved in this deal as we strongly and consistently endorse a process of free, prior informed consent (FPIC) before signing any deal that involves our forests and territories. This should involve a mandatory process where the communities are fully informed and independent workshops should be conducted to allow the communities to freely make a decision on their communal forest.

JOAS does not support the implementation of REDD in any form unless the parties involved in this deal have adequate consultation and FPIC. In this case, we hope that the company has at least ensured that the communities have access to their own lawyers who can independently advise them on the legal matters involved.

Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS) has conducted information sessions on REDD+
among its members. From these sessions there are two clear points:

1. That REDD+ will involve and affect the lands and resources of indigenous peoples

2. That there is a need for more capacity building among indigenous peoples in
Malaysia to understand REDD+

Therefore JOAS is committed towards building capacity to understand REDD and the impact,whether positive or negative, to our rights and resources.

Adrian Lasimbang
President
Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia / Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia (JOAS)

Kenyataan JOAS untuk Hari Orang Asal Sedunia 2010

Perayaan Hari Orang Asal Sedunia 9 Ogos

“KEPELBAGAIAN BUDAYA DAN TRADISI ORANG ASAL”


 
Kenyataan Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS)

9 Ogos 2010

Pada tahun 1994, Persidangan Agung PBB telah mengambil keputusan untuk merayakan Hari Orang Asal Sedunia pada 9 Ogos setiap tahun. Ini merupakan salah satu daripada pencapaian terbesar dalam penat lelah perjuangan Orang Asal di peringkat tempatan sehinggalah di peringkat antarabangsa dalam memperjuangkan pengikhtirafan identiti tersendiri dan hak kolektif bersama yang tidak boleh dipisahkan daripada Orang Asal. Salah satu lagi pencapaian terbesar bagi golongan masyarakat Orang Asal sedunia ialah apabila Persidangan Agung PBB telah mengadaptasi dan menerima Deklarasi Hak Orang Asal (UNDRIP) pada 13 September 2007.

Deklarasi Hak Orang Asal (UNDRIP) kini merupakan sebahagian daripada perundangan antarabangsa hak asasi manusia. UNDRIP menetapkan piawaian minima bagi pengikhtirafan hak kolektif bersama Orang Asal yang perlu dituruti oleh pihak kerajaan, agensi-agensi PBB, pendana-pendana dan program-program berkaitan dengan Orang Asal. Kerajaan Malaysia telah bersama-sama mempersetujui dan menerima adaptasi Deklarasi Hak Orang Asal (UNDRIP) bersama dengan 143 buah negara yang lain. Ini bermaksud, pihak kerajaan yang telah bersetuju, mempunyai tanggungjawab secara moral dan juga politik, untuk menuruti Deklarasi Hak Orang Asal (UNDRIP), sabagai sebahagian daripada tanggungjawab bersama menghormati hak asasi manusia, bukan sahaja di peringkat kebangsaan tetapi juga di peringkat antarabangsa.

Dalam usaha untuk membina masyarakat yang 'pluralistic', yang berbilang kaum dan agama, golongan masyarakat Orang Asal memainkan peranan yang penting dalam amalan budaya dan tradisi yang dikekalkan sejak bergenerasi lamanya. Adat yang diperturunkan dari Orang Tua diwarisi oleh golongan muda, agar tidak lapuk ditelan zaman dan akan diteruskan ke generasi akan datang. Budaya, tradisi, dan Adat Orang Asal merupakan tunjang bagi identiti dan martabat Orang Asal, yang hidup bersama dalam perkongsian bersama hak kolektif Orang Asal di atas tanah, wilayah dan sumber asli komuniti Orang Asal.

Masyarakat Orang Asal kini menghadapi masalah eksploitasi dan rampasan tanah, wilayah dan sumber asli yang berterusan oleh pihak kerajaan dan syarikat swasta; penindasan budaya melalui pelan-pelan komersil; penafian Izin Makluman Awal, Bebas dan Telus (FPIC) ke atas perkara yang memberi kesan kepada Orang Asal, ini termasuklah pembentukkan perundangan, polisi dan program tanpa melibatkan Orang Asal. Ini menjadi lebih teruk lagi, apabila pelan-pelan pembangunan yang agresif dan rakus tanpa mengira piawaian mapan, telah menceroboh masuk ke kawasan Orang Asal dan telah meninggalkan kesan-kesan buruk kepada pencemaran alam dan kehilangan sumber asli di kawasan itu yang telah sekaligus melupuskan budaya dan tradisi Orang Asal yang telah diamalkan sejak generasi lamanya dalam menjaga kawasan dan sumber asli mereka. Pelan pembangunan tidak lestari/mapan seperti perladangan kelapa sawit besar-besaran, pembinaan projek mega empangan dan termasuk juga skema pembangunan dan dasar ekonomi yang langsung tidak mencerminkan aspirasi Orang Asal, sedang berleluasa dan semakin lama semakin membinasakan alam sekitar dan sumber asli hutan, sungai dan persisiran pantai. Ini sekaligus memusnahkan penerusan amalan budaya dan tradisi Orang Asal yang hidup rapat dan bergantung kepada alam sekeliling dan sumber asli mereka.

Situasi ini telah mengancam kehidupan dan kesinambungan masyarakat Orang Asal. Selagi pihak kerajaan menafikan pengikhtirafan Hak Orang Asal sebagai golongan masyarakat yang mempunyai identiti tersendiri yang perlu hidup dengan hak kolektif bersama – terutamanya sekali ke atas Tanah,Wilayah dan Sumber – ketidakadilan sosial yang sedang berlaku kepada Orang Asal akan bertambah teruk lagi. Oleh itu, ianya merupakan satu tanggungjawab yang penting bagi pihak kerajaan untuk mengambil tindakan terhadap permintaan Orang Asal, mengadakan dialog yang berkesan mengenai pengikhtirafan Orang Asal sebagai golongan masyarakat yang mempunyai identiti tersendiri, dan membina kerjasama dalam mengatasi isu-isu yang berkenaan dengan pihak kerajaan dan juga masyarakat Orang Asal.

Deklarasi Hak Orang Asal (UNDRIP) menyediakan satu rangka kerja yang kritikal dalam membina hubungan yang baik di antara pihak kerajaan dan golongan masyarakat Orang Asal dalam seruan untuk menghormati dan mengamalkan Hak Orang Asal. Ia juga menyediakan langkah-langkah untuk mengatasi konflik di antara pihak kerajaan dan masyarakat Orang Asal dengan cara yang aman dan damai. Adaptasi ataupun penerimaan kerajaan Malaysia terhadap Deklarasi Hak Orang Asal (UNDRIP) sekarang harus diambil tindakan positif, agar menghentikan diskriminasi yang berlaku dan pihak kerajaan harus menghentikan penafian hak ke atas Orang Asal sebagai golongan masyarakat yang mempunyai identiti tersendiri dan hak kolektif bersama.

Apabila kita merayakan Perayaan Hari Orang Asal Sedunia bersama-sama dengan pihak kerajaan, agensi-agensi PBB, pendana tempatan dan juga antarabangsa, kita juga mesti mencari jalan yang bermakna agar hubungan yang terjalin berjangka masa lama, menuju kesedaran hak kolektif bersama Orang Asal yang akan menyumbangkan kepada keamanan, keadilan, kesama-rataan, dan pembangunan yang mapan dan lestari untuk semua.

Sempena Perayaan Hari Orang Asal Sedunia, seruan kepada kesemua saudara-mara dan keluarga Orang Asal seluruh dunia, mari kita bersama-sama kekalkan dan kuatkan perjuangan kita terutamanya sekali di peringkat komuniti, dan meluaskan dan memperkasakan lagi solidariti dan kerjasama di peringkat negara masing-masing dan juga di peringkat benua, dan seterusnya di seluruh dunia, bersama-sama menuju kesedaran dan aspirasi yang sama untuk mengekalkan identiti dan martabat kita sebagai masyarakat Orang Asal!

BERSAMA-SAMA MERAYAKAN HARI ORANG ASAL SEDUNIA
DENGAN MARTABAT DAN SOLIDARITI!

Masyarakat Penan mahu meneliti laporan Kajian Penilaian Kesan Sosial dan Alam Sekitar Projek Empangan Murum sebelum kelulusan dibuat

Jawatankuasa Hal Ehwal Penan Pelieran-Murum, Belaga



PRESS CONFERENCE
News Release for Press

(Baca sidang akhbar dan kenyataan media - Masyarakat Penan mahu meneliti laporan Kajian Penilaian Kesan Sosial dan Alam Sekitar Projek Empangan Murum sebelum kelulusan dibuat. Klik di sini)

4 August 2010
Regent Hotel
Bintulu, Sarawak.


Penan community wants to scrutinize the Social and Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) Report for Murum dam project prior to approval.

The Pelieran-Murum Penan Affairs Committee and the residents of the Penan villages affected by Murum Hydroelectric Dam project are urging the Sarawak State Government as not to make any approval to the “Social and Environmental Impact Assessment” until it has been scrutinised by themselves and the public.

Throughout last year (2009), we have been visited by various parties claimed to do some studies related with Murum dam project. We were told that the government has carried out the Social and Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) in order to study the impacts of the Murum dam project that on our community.

Up till now, we do still not know the actual progress whether the said studies and the SEIA report as well as other related reports have been completed and ready for public scrutinizing.

We would like to state here that, before the approval made to the said SEIA report, we urge the government especially the authority concerned, the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) to provide an opportunity to the public at large to scrutinize the SEIA report. And most importantly, our opinions and feedbacks on the said SEIA report should be seriously taken into account.

As our community is directly affected by this dam project, we should be duly informed regarding the progress of the said studies especially the effects and impacts of the project on us.

The government should also brief and clarifying to us regarding the specific development plans that is related with the resettlement programme as well as our livelihood and future.

We are totally discomfited with the construction works of Murum dam project that have been going on intensively at the project site while the said SEIA report is not confirmed of getting approval from the relevant authority concerned. What will happen if such report is not approve and what will the government do to recover back those land, forest, river and natural resources that had been destroyed?

In addition to the said SEIA report, we also call upon the government to inform us regarding the plan for resettlement area for us. Likewise, as being advised by the government, we have forwarded our suggestion for the proposed resettlement area that at Metalon River in the upper course of Pelieran River. However at present, Shin Yang Company is on the verge of clearing the proposed resettlement area for the purpose of large scale oil palm plantation. Shin Yang has entered the area illegally without our consent. If Shin Yang is allowed to extensively clear and fell the forest in the area there will be no more forest left for our community to sustain our livelihood. Thus, it would be meaningless for us to be resettled in the proposed area if it is to be developed with oil palm plantation.

We call upon the government with high hope to be involved in developing development plans for our betterment which will determine the future direction of our community. With that, as a start we urge the Sarawak state government and the Natural Resources and Environment Board to furnish us with a copy of the SEIA report to be scrutinized prior to it approval.

Thank you.

Issued by:
Mr Surang Alung
Chairman
Pelieran-Murum Penan Affairs Committee
Jawatankuasa Hal Ehwal Penan Pelieran-Murum

Perayaan Hari Orang Asal Sedunia 9 Ogos - Implementasi UNDRIP untuk Kehidupan dan Kesinambungan Martabat Orang Asal

Kenyataan oleh Joan Carling, Secretary General bagi Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP)

(read the English version here)

9 Ogos 2010

Pada tahun 1994, Persidangan Agung PBB telah mengambil keputusan untuk merayakan Hari Orang Asal Sedunia pada 9 Ogos setiap tahun. Ini merupakan salah satu daripada pencapaian terbesar dalam penat lelah perjuangan Orang Asal di peringkat tempatan sehinggalah di peringkat antarabangsa dalam memperjuangkan pengikhtirafan identiti tersendiri dan hak kolektif bersama yang tidak boleh dipisahkan daripada Orang Asal.

Salah satu lagi pencapaian terbesar bagi golongan masyarakat Orang Asal sedunia ialah apabila Persidangan Agung PBB telah mengadaptasi dan menerima Deklarasi Hak Orang Asal (UNDRIP) pada 13 September 2007.

Deklarasi Hak Orang Asal (UNDRIP) yang kini merupakan sebahagian daripada perundangan antarabangsa hak asasi manusia. UNDRIP menetapkan piawaian minima bagi pengikhtirafan hak kolektif bersama Orang Asal yang perlu dituruti oleh pihak kerajaan, agensi-agensi PBB, pendana-pendana dan program-program berkaitan dengan Orang Asal. Selain daripada kerajaan Bangladesh yang tidak bersetuju, kerajaan-kerajaan di Asia secara keseluruhannya telah bersama-sama mempersetujui dan menerima adaptasi Deklarasi Hak Orang Asal (UNDRIP). Ini bermaksud, pihak kerajaan yang telah bersetuju, mempunyai tanggungjawab secara moral dan juga politik, untuk menuruti Deklarasi Hak Orang Asal (UNDRIP), sabagai sebahagian daripada tanggungjawab bersama menghormati hak asasi manusia, bukan sahaja di peringkat kebangsaan tetapi juga di peringkat antarabangsa.

Dengan populasi mencecah 200 juta, Asia merupakan benua yang mempunyai populasi Orang Asal yang terbesar di dunia. Majoriti Orang Asal di Asia merupakan golongan yang terpinggir dan tertindas di kalangan masyarakat, yang hidup di bawah kadar kemiskinan yang tertinggi dan mempunyai akses yang terhad kepada keperluan sosial yang asas dan tidak diberi peluang untuk terlibat dalam politik dan juga proses-proses membuat keputusan. Orang Asal seringkali dianggap sebagai golongan minoriti dan identiti mereka masih tidak diikhtiraf, ini seterusnya menafikan hak kolektif bersama Orang Asal seperti yang tertera di Deklarasi Hak Orang Asal (UNDRIP).

Sebagai contoh di Thailand dan Malaysia, masih banyak golongan Orang Asal yang masih belum diberikan hak kewarganegaraan, yang telah menyebabkan golongan Orang Asal tidak dapat menikmati keperluan sosial yang asas, seperti yang dinikmati oleh golongan masyarakat yang lain.

Situasi ini telah menyebabkan Orang Asal menghadapi masalah eksploitasi dan rampasan tanah, wilayah dan sumber asli yang berterusan oleh pihak kerajaan dan syarikat swasta; penindasan budaya melalui pelan-pelan komersil; penafian Izin Makluman Awal, Bebas dan Telus (FPIC) ke atas perkara yang memberi kesan kepada Orang Asal, ini termasuklah pembentukkan perundangan, polisi dan program tanpa melibatkan Orang Asal. Ini menjadi lebih teruk lagi, apabila tindakan mitigasi dan adaptasi bagi krisis perubahan iklim yang diambil oleh pihak kerajaan dan pihak lain, seperti perladangan kelapa sawit besar-besaran, pembinaan projek mega empangan dan termasuk juga REDD Plus (Usaha mengurangkan emisi melalui penerokaan dan pemusnahan hutan).

Situasi ini telah mengancam kehidupan dan kesinambungan masyarakat Orang Asal di seluruh Asia. Selagi pihak kerajaan menafikan pengikhtirafan Hak Orang Asal sebagai golongan masyarakat yang mempunyai identiti tersendiri yang perlu hidup dengan hak kolektif bersama – terutamanya sekali ke atas Tanah,Wilayah dan Sumber – ketidakadilan sosial yang sedang berlaku kepada Orang Asal akan bertambah teruk lagi. Oleh itu, ianya merupakan satu tanggungjawab yang penting bagi pihak kerajaan untuk mengambil tindakan terhadap permintaan Orang Asal di seluruh Asia, mengadakan dialog yang berkesan mengenai pengikhtirafan Orang Asal sebagai golongan masyarakat yang mempunyai identiti tersendiri, dan membina kerjasama dalam mengatasi isu-isu yang berkenaan dengan pihak kerajaan dan juga masyarakat Orang Asal.

Deklarasi Hak Orang Asal (UNDRIP) menyediakan satu rangka kerja yang kritikal dalam membina hubungan yang baik di antara pihak kerajaan dan golongan masyarakat Orang Asal dalam seruan untuk menghormati dan mengamalkan Hak Orang Asal. Ia juga menyediakan langkah-langkah untuk mengatasi konflik di antara pihak kerajaan dan masyarakat Orang Asal dengan cara yang aman dan damai. Adaptasi ataupun penerimaan kerajaan-kerajaan di Asia terhadap Deklarasi Hak Orang Asal (UNDRIP) sekarang harus diambil tindakan positif, agar menghentikan diskriminasi yang berlaku dan pihak kerajaan harus menghentikan penafian hak ke atas Orang Asal sebagai golongan masyarakat yang mempunyai identiti tersendiri dan hak kolektif bersama.

Apabila kita merayakan Perayaan Hari Orang Asal Sedunia bersama-sama dengan pihak kerajaan, agensi-agensi PBB, pendana tempatan dan juga antarabangsa, kita juga mesti mencari jalan yang bermakna agar hubungan yang terjalin berjangka masa lama, menuju kesedaran hak kolektif bersama Orang Asal yang akan menyumbangkan kepada keamanan, keadilan, kesama-rataan, dan pembangunan yang mapan dan lestari untuk semua.

Sempena Perayaan Hari Orang Asal Sedunia, seruan kepada kesemua saudara-mara dan keluarga Orang Asal seluruh dunia, mari kita bersama-sama kekalkan dan kuatkan perjuangan kita terutamanya sekali di peringkat komuniti, dan meluaskan dan memperkasakan lagi solidariti dan kerjasama di peringkat negara masing-masing dan juga di peringkat benua, dan seterusnya di seluruh dunia, bersama-sama menuju kesedaran dan aspirasi yang sama untuk mengekalkan identiti dan martabat kita sebagai masyarakat Orang Asal!

BERSAMA-SAMA MERAYAKAN HARI ORANG ASAL SEDUNIA
DENGAN MARTABAT DAN SOLIDARITI!

Human Rights activist and lawyer stopped by police

2 August 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KUCHING - Prominent land rights and human rights lawyer, Harrison Ngau Laing was stopped and quizzed by Immigration and Special Branch Police officers while he was trying to board a plane to Kuala Lumpur at Kuching International Airport.

When Harrison inquired the Immigration and Special Branch officers as to why he is being stopped, he only received a reply that it was orders from the top.

"I asked them why am I stopped from traveling to Kuala Lumpur. They only told me that they were following orders", said Harrison.

Harrison is expected to attend a Roundtable Meeting on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in Kuala Lumpur. He is also attending another meeting with senior lawyers regarding IOI and the Sarawak Government's appeal on the landmark court decision involving TK Lah Anyie and his villagers of Long Teran Kanan, Tinjar, Baram.

"After explaining to the officers on the purpose of my trip, they finally let me go albeit apologetically", said Harrison.

This is not the first time Harrison was stopped and quizzed by the authorities while trying to travel out of Sarawak.

In the late eighties, Harrison passport was impounded by the state immigration authorities for the reason of national security because Harrison was active in the anti-logging movement in Sarawak and highlighting the plight of the indigenous Penan overseas.

Only in 2003, did Harrison manage to get his passport back but his movement inside and outside the country is constantly being monitored by the Special Branch.

Mark Bujang, Executive Director of Borneo Resources Institute (BRIMAS) condemns the latest attempt by the state authorities to restrict the movement of human rights and indigenous peoples' activist.

"Looks like Sarawak Land Development Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. James Masing pledge that the State Government's is willing to engage with NGOs is already beginning to sound hollow", said Mark.

"The state government is reverting to its old tactics of intimidating and restricting activists from traveling abroad. Until now, they are a few Sarawakian activists that are not allowed to travel outside the country.

Also, a few of our activist friends from Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah are not allowed to enter Sarawak. This is clearly a violation of our constitutional rights and also breaches the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) which Malaysia has agreed to adopt at the United Nations", added Mark.

Statement release by:
………………………
Mark Bujang
Executive Director

BORNEO RESOURCES INSTITUTE MALAYSIA
Tel: 085 423044
Fax: 085 438580
Email: markbujang@gmail.com

JOAS Climate Change focal point comments on Civil Society excluded from interim REDD partnership meeting

JOAS Climate Change focal point, Jen Rubis, comments on Civil Society excluded from interim REDD partnership meeting in Brazil.

16 July 2010


While certainly this train of events for is alarming for civil society, I would say that for Indigenous Peoples, it was even worse. The International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) is a long-existing platform open to all Indigenous Peoples and that serves as the IPO constituency at the UNFCCC and one that brings together IP organizations and networks from local to national, regional and international levels. Neither the IIPFCC or even indigenous organizations that are active at the IIPFCC had received any invitations, funded or otherwise by the Interim REDD+ Partnership to the meeting in Brazil. Certainly it represents a step backwards from the Government of Norway’s Climate and Forest Initiative (NCFI) meeting in May 2010, the precursor to this Initiative, where Indigenous Peoples were invited, though only as observers.


Jen Rubis at the COP 15 UNFCCC Climate Change Negotiations, Copenhagen 2009.
Photo by Ben Powless


All these leads to the worrying trend that, despite promising steps in the proposed international regulatory framework for REDD regarding the rights of Indigenous Peoples, there is little prioritization for putting the principle of full and effective participation into practice. The participation of Indigenous Peoples is a right internationally recognized in various conventions and international agreements to which all parties to the Partnership have signed on to.

Participation in the process is not equal agreeing to or endorsing the REDD+ Partnership, and in no way tantamount to the free, prior, informed consent of the rightsholders. However it is a necessary pre-condition to Indigenous Peoples being able to make a decision, without prejudice to the outcome of the decision. Furthermore, full and effective participation has to be facilitated and supported at all levels and it is not participation when decisions on when and who to participate are not made by Indigenous Peoples through our own processes but by other parties.

We as Indigenous Peoples continue to state that we are rightholders in this process. Our participation is only one aspect of our rightful and legitimate concerns regarding the REDD+ partnership process. The lack of our participation is in itself a violation of our rights by governments. The trend to not even acknowledge our participation as stakeholders is alarming and does little to reassure us that

1, governments are serious and determined to stop the violations of our human rights and indigenous peoples’ rights; that these violations will not continue at international and national level and that REDD will not contribute to these violations; and

2, that this hasty process of implementation, without participation or even consultation, will bring about the result that the governments are trying to achieve i.e. real, meaningful reductions in emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

Jen is a Dayak, from Sarawak and the Climate Change focal point for the Indigenous Peoples’ Network of Malaysia (JOAS)

JOAS statement at the EMRIP 3rd session - Agenda Item 4

Statement of Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalysia (JOAS)
[Indigenous Peoples’ Network of Malaysia]
To agenda item 4 Implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.


Thank you Mr. Chairman Kopivosian, Salam Sejahtera

This statement is made on behalf of Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia, the national umbrella body of Indigenous Peoples Organizations in Malaysia.

Mr. Chairman and distinguished delegates,

Malaysia consists of three regions namely Peninsular Malaysia and the two Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak. Indigenous Peoples of Malaysia is very diverse, consisting of over 80 groups of peoples with unique cultures, language and traditions that have co-existed in a pluralistic society for generations. Malaysia has a two-tier government, federal and state, and both have legislative powers. The federal government has jurisdiction over matters such as foreign affairs, defense/internal security, finance, communications, transportation and education. The individual states have control over their natural resources such as land, water, forest, agriculture and minerals, besides having their own constitutions and executive legislature.

Malaysia supported the adoption of the Unite Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) both at the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly, however since the adoption of this declaration; there is still minimal progress in its implementation in the national and local level.

Mr. Chairman,

In Malaysia, there are numerous court cases that have been filed by our Indigenous Peoples’ communities for their Native Customary Rights (NCR) due to development aggression and large scale land grabbing on their territories. The UNDRIP have been used extensively by our lawyers in these court case litigations and this have resulted in several land mark judgments that have upheld our rights. But despite all this, we still find it difficult to get our government and its agencies to put any reference to UNDRIP in official documents or negotiations often using the excuse that the declaration is a non binding document. Let us remind our government that this document is already in the human rights charter and other international law which it has obligations to implement. The UNDRIP should be the minimum standard when it come to respecting the rights of indigenous peoples.

With this regards Mr. Chairman, ever since the adoption of the UNDRIP, we the indigenous peoples of Malaysia have been facing uphill task to promote and demand the implementation of the declaration in our country mainly due to the low awareness of our governments and communities with regards to the UNDRIP in our country.

Since the adoption of the declaration in 2007, Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS) has conducted numerous road show and workshops around the country to create the awareness of our community about the declaration. We also have worked closely with the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) to promote the declaration including the translation and publication of the declaration to national the languages. We also produced simplified version of the declaration in popular materials such as leaflets, booklet and posters to help our communities to understand the essence of the declaration. We thank our national human rights commission for their support in co-organizing several workshops and trainings in the local level to increase the awareness of our communities and the local government about the UNDRIP.

We believe that the UNDRIP can be mainstreamed in our country through continuous active engagement with our governments. In this instance we have done a comparative policy study to examine the laws of our country to indentify the gaps that needs to be amended in line with the declaration. This comparative study will be submitted to our government for urgent action. We the indigenous peoples of Malaysia believe that the UNDRIP can provide a venue for pluralism to happen in our country.

We demand our government to adopt the UNDRIP as a law and provide a national platform that can ensure its full implementation in Malaysia. JOAS wish to extend its willingness and support to make this to happen.

I would like to conclude by urging the EMRIP to recommend the following to the Human Rights Council

• To establish and strengthen programs to promote the UNDRIP in the local, national and regional level.

• To provide resources for Indigenous Peoples Organization to promote the declaration in the Local and National level in line with the program of work of the Second Decade of Indigenous Peoples.

• To urge governments to integrate the UNDRIP in national laws and policies.

• To establish a mechanism to monitor the implementation of the UNDRIP in the national and regional level.

• To request the EMRIP to evaluate the implementation of the UNDRIP in line with other conventions and treaties as part of the commitments and obligations by the governments at the national level

Thank you Mr. Chairman for this opportunity to address this agenda item.

Kotohuandan om kounsikaan, Terima kasih