Respect rights of indigenous peoples to choose their own chiefs, govt told

KUCHING, Sept 27, 2014: Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia(JOAS), a national umbrella of indigenous organisations from throughout Malaysia, has called on the federal and state governments not to interfere in the appointment of village and community chiefs, and instead to respect the democratic and consensual process of the communities for such appointments and positions.

The call was made by JOAS president Thomas Jalong in a statement released from the United Nations at the conclusion of the World Conference of Indigenous Peoples, from Sept 22 to 23, 2014.

Jalong led JOAS delegation to WCIP while Minister of Rural and Regional Development Shafie Apdal led the Malaysian government delegation.

The call for non-interference in the appointment of the village and community chiefs was included in the WCIP Outcome Document.

Jalong said:" "On our rights to self-determination and governance, we reiterate our call to the government to respect and safeguard our rights to determine and choose development models that are appropriate to our peoples and communities’ needs, capacity, aspirations, sense of security and

well-being within our indigenous territories.

 "We urge that in areas where conflicts or disputes exist and are still unresolved between indigenous peoples and the states or corporations, a moratorium should be imposed pending just solutions.

"In areas where strong and persistent objections by indigenous peoples towards destructive and controversial projects are carried out, such projects should be withdrawn as an effective measure to show respect and protection of rights of indigenous peoples under the UNDRIPs," he said.

 He said JOAS also urges the Federal and State government to review laws, policies and administrative procedures so as to incorporate legal recognitions to the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples as prescribed under the UNDRIPs, as well as to amend and or repeal laws, policies and procedures which negate, deny or diminish the rights of the indigenous peoples.

"This process should be done in consultation with and through full and effective participation of indigenous peoples’ representative institutions, indigenous elders and experts, community-based organisations and representatives selected by indigenous peoples organisations, including JOAS. 

Jalong said:" We urge the government to also ratify international conventions and instruments that promotes and advance the rights of indigenous peoples, for e.g. the ILO Convention 169.

"We also call on the government to establish and institutionalize implementable consultation mechanisms and safeguards to ensure proper and meaningful consultation process with indigenous peoples to obtain our free, prior informed consent prior to adopting and implementing legislative or

administrative measures, and prior to designing and approval of development plans and

projects that affect indigenous peoples." 

Jalong said JOAS welcomes and views WCIP Outcome Document as another step forward towards the realisation of the rights provided in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The WCIP OD incorporates, among others, reaffirmation of support and commitments by member states, including the Malaysian government, for the implementation of the rights of indigenous peoples at the national and local level as well as different sectors of the indigenous peoples.