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