fPcN interCultural:

friends of Peoples close to Nature

TOKYO -- Japan on Friday moved to recognize the Ainu as an indigenous people, pledging to support the traditionally nature-worshipping community that has endured centuries of discrimination

It is a landmark move for Japan, which has prided itself on being ethnically homogeneous but where the Ainu have sharply lower incomes and educational levels, according AFP.

The upper house of parliament voted 231-0 to adopt the resolution on the Ainu. The lower house was expected to follow suit with a unanimous vote later in the day, parliament officials and lawmakers said.

Two Reports from the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG)

on TORTURE by Indonesian Security Forces

1) UN Committee against Torture begins Review of Report of Indonesia (6 May 2008)

2) UN Committee against Torture hears Response of Indonesia (7 May 2008)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some extracts from the Review & from the Indonesian response (for the FULL REPORT see below) :

“During his recent visit to Indonesia, the Special Rapporteur on Torture had noted that torture is routine in Indonesian police stations.”

Rome, Feb. 14, 2008 - This morning Indigenous Peoples’ representatives formally withdrew from meeting of the Working Group on Protected Areas of the International Convention on Biological Diversity to protest their suppression of their effective participation at the meeting, being held at FAO headquarters in the Italian capital.

UNITED NATIONS, Sep 13 (IPS) - After 22 years of long and cumbersome negotiations, leaders of the world's 370 million indigenous people have won a powerful symbolic victory in their fight for recognition of the right to self-determination and control over their land and resources.

On Thursday, an overwhelming majority of the 192-member U.N. General Assembly said "yes" to a resolution calling for the adoption of the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Human rights defenders in Indonesia’s province of West Papua continue to face torture, arbitrary detention and harassment from the country’s police, military and security forces, an independent United Nations expert said today after wrapping up a week-long visit to the Asian archipelago, which she said had also taken some positive steps in the legal realm.

Sat, 06/09/2007 - 08:51 — Jayapura , Hundreds of Papuans rallied Friday in Papua and West Papua provinces during a one-day visit by special representative of the UN Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders Hina Jilani. In both provinces, Jilani was greeted with rallies.
In Papua, the protesters, from the Coalition of Community Concern on Papua and the United Front of West Papua People's Fight, welcomed Jilani, while others called on her to "stop the genocide of the Papuans" and "stop the killing in West Papua".

Fri, 05/25/2007 - 09:50 — In a joint statement to the Sixth Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), held from 14 to 25 May 2007 at the UN headquarters in New York, UNPO, its Members, and its partners, focuses on the environment and suggests 'Climate Change' as the thematic context of the Seventh Session.

A report on Sixth Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

A U. N. body committed to defending the rights of the world's over 370 million indigenous peoples meets later this month (May 14-25) in New York. Among the topics of discussion will be ways to increase international recognition of indigenous rights and to improve the participation of native peoples in their own development. From Washington, VOA reporter William Eagle looks at the upcoming Sixth UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Chairperson of UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and Special Rapporteur appeal to Members States

United Nations - Economic and Social Council

Working Group on Indigenous Populations
Twenty-fourth session
Geneva, 31st July - 4th August 2006
Item (c) of the Agenda: Indigenous peoples and conflict prevention and resolution
Dear Chair, Tribal & Indigenous Peoples, Secretariat, Government representatives, ladies & Gentleman,

United Nations - Economic and Social Council

Working Group on Indigenous Populations
Twenty-fourth session
Geneva, 31st July - 4 th August 2006
Item (b) of the Agenda: Principal theme: “Utilization of indigenous peoples’ lands by non-indigenous authorities, groups or individuals for military purposes”
Dear Chairperson, Tribal & Indigenous Peoples, Secretariat, Government representatives, ladies & Gentleman,

Dear Madam Chair,

Papua indigenous people have been worse condition for years due to our objection of being Indonesian people. Years passing by and we remain to claim our position as Melanesian which lead to anger by Indonesia government and its military.

The issue of the Act of Free Choice in 1969 had become the basic theme of protests of Papua indigenous people,leading in number of cases such as Laskar Jihad and militia forces.

Dear Chair, Ancestral owners of the land we stand on, elders, leaders, Government representatives and ladies and gentlemen.

Today I must present the statement of Benny Wenda the leader of the Koteka Tribal Assembly, in West Papua. Benny has asked me to say to you how sorry he is that he cannot be here today but his visa application is still being processed. Benny has also asked me to formally acknowledge with heartfelt thanks the support offered to him by the United Nations Voluntary Fund.

We very much hope that Benny will be able to be at future meetings.

Human rights: with special emphasis on an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people

We would like to remind Australia and Indonesia governments about the international laws and obligations they are duty bound to adhere to concerning the plight of the West Papua refugees.

Australia, as signatory to;
the
Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
the,
International Covenant on Civil and political rights.
the
International Covenant on Economic, social and cultural rights.
Article 1