Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact

By H. Rhoades Feb 17, 2012

Prey Lang, ‘Our Forest’ in the indigenous Kuy language, is a precious and important example of evergreen and semi-evergreen forest. Covering 3,600 square kilometres between the Mekong and Stung Sen rivers of Cambodia, it is the last of its kind on the Indo-Chinese peninsula. It is a haven for flora and fauna, including several endangered species who rely on its healthy and fragile landscape. Furthermore, Prey Lang is of vital social and economic importance to local peoples such as the Kuy who rely on its produce for their survival and livelihoods.

KIRKENES, Norway -- The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Professor James Anaya, urges state authorities and industrial companies to involve indigenous peoples as genuine partners in decision making on and extraction of natural resources in or near their traditional territories.

In a keynote speech delivered in Kirkenes, Norway, Professor Anaya underlined the key developments that have taken place in recent decades aimed at safeguarding the rights of indigenous peoples. He spoke of corporate responsibility, which is in the process of being formalized in international customary law. He reminded of the three main dimensions of it: the duty of states to protect indigenous peoples; the duty of corporations to respect indigenous peoples; and the need to have remedial mechanisms in place when states and corporations fail on the two first-mentioned accounts.

At a review of the proposed Tipaimukh dam construction over the Barark River in Manipur held at Manipur Press Club on 11 February 2012, community organizations have resolved against the 1500 MW Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project calling for an urgent revocation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Govt of Manipur, the National Hydroelectric Project Corporation and teh Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited in October 2010 and also the environemtnal Clearance granted by the Ministry of Environemtn and Forest of the Government of India on 24 October 2008.

RESOLUTION OF ONE DAY REVIEW MEETING ON TIPAIMUKH DAM ON 11 FEBRUARY 2012,  PRESS CLUB, IMPHAL MANIPUR, ORGANIZED BY CCDD, COLNER, ACTIP, NEDF, SIPHRO

We, the participants of the one day review meet on Tipaimukh Dam, held at Manipur Press Club on 11 February 2012, organized by Committee on Land and Natural Resources, Citizens’ Concern for Dams and Development, Action Committee Against Tipaimukh Dam, North East Dialogue Forum and the Sinlung Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Organizations:

February 20 is World Day for Social Justice, focusing attention on the necessity for economic growth to promote equity and social justice, and that “a society for all” must be based on social justice and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms. In Cambodia new legislation is helping some indigenous peoples achieve some of these rights and build a more secure future. By Maeve Galvin, Communication and Advocacy Officer, ILO Cambodia