The Strive of The Indigenous Peoples

PERJUANGAN ORANG ASAL

Exhibition, Performance, Memorandum
11am Wednesday 10 September till
7pm Sunday 14 September
The Annexe Gallery, Central Market
Jalan Hang Kasturi, Kuala Lumpur
0320701137 colin.coac@gmail.com

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The Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS) is hosting a series of events on indigenous peoples and rights in Malaysia to celebrate the first year anniversary of the United Nations Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIP).

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*Its invitation page on Facebook. All text here courtesy of the organisers. Scroll down for map to the venue.

PUBLIC EXHIBITION

A public exhibition on indigenous peoples of Malaysia, their contributions as well as current challenges. The exhibition includes photographs by orang asal as well as activists like Colin Nicholas, and also an installation of a typical blokade used by the orang asal to prevent developers’ vehicles from entering their territories.

CULTURAL NIGHT

A cultural night of exchange with performances by members of the orang asal communities. Guaranteed more authentic than Citrawarna. Sat 13 Sep, 7pm, an all night revelry!

MEMORANDUM HANDOVER

There is a private workshop from 10-12 Sep to discuss the final draft of a memorandum on indigenous peoples rights. While this workshop is NOT open to the public, supporters are welcome to join them in the handover of the memorandumto DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agung on Sat 13 Sep, 9am. Come earlier and meet at The Annexe Gallery if you like to join.

BACKGROUND INFO

Since June 2008, representatives from different indigenous peoples organisations across Malaysia have been reviewing national and state laws in the areas of adat and customary law, land and resources and development policies and assessing them against the Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIP).

Adopted on 13 September 2007 by the United Nations General Assembly, the DRIP presents a set of minimum standards for how governments should treat indigenous peoples and is intended to help address the social and economic marginalization faced by indigenous communities.

The Declaration describes the rights of indigenous peoples, and their rights to identity, language, education and their traditional lands. It also emphasizes their rights to be involved in all decisions and matters that affect them as well as their right to pursue their own vision of economic and social development.

Malaysia has been a strong supporter of the DRIP, backing it as early as 2006 when it was adopted by the UN Human Rights Council and then voting twice in favor of the Declaration’s adoption by the General Assembly. The adoption of this instrument is the clearest indication yet that Malaysia and the international community are committed to the protection of the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples.

Representatives from different Orang Asli, Kadazandusun, Murut, Dayak and Orang Ulu groups will be deliberating on the final draft of the memorandum from 10-12 September 2008. This is a private event, not for the public. However, JOAS will present a memorandum based on the review to DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agung at the Royal Palace on 13 September 2008 on behalf of the indigenous peoples of Malaysia, and indigenous peoples as well as supporters are invited to join the group on the walk to the Royal Palace.