In the advent of 21st century, the South East Asia saw the tremendous advancement of science and technologies, fast-paced growth in industrialization, westernization, tremendous escalation in economy, development and to boast further, the governments in the region are preparing for the economic integration—free trade and movement by 2015.
In the advent of 21st century, the South East Asia saw the tremendous advancement of science and technologies, fast-paced growth in industrialization, westernization, tremendous escalation in economy, development and to boast further, the governments in the region are preparing for the economic integration—free trade and movement by 2015.
But the Indigenous Peoples in South East Asia continue to face serious problems like massive violation of their rights to land, territories, and resources, some of which endanger their very survival in this changing environment, say participants sharing their issues and concerns in the first day of 2-day ASEAN media dialogue, held in Bangkok, Thailand. South East Asia is a sub-region of Asia, composed of 11 countries—Brunai, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maynmar, Philiphines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. These countries are united under the regional organization—Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Highlighting the objectives of the regional dialogue workshop with media on emerging issues and concerns of indigenous peoples in ASEAN, Secretary General, of Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact Foundation (AIPP), Joan Carling said, “We aim to gauge the situation of Indigenous Peoples in the ASEAN, also explore the challenges that media face and come up with the action plan to make more visibility of Indigenous Peoples, promote their voice, access and participation in the media.”
Indigenous Peoples in South East Asia are called in different names—ethnic or national minorities, Orang Asli/Orang Asal, Hill tribes, Masyarakat Adat and so forth, which represent more than 1,000 and make up over 80 million population. They have their own distinct lifestyles, language, cultures, and customary laws, community centered social and political institutions that are very different from those of the dominant ethno-linguistic groups in the region.
Non-recognition
The indigenous Peoples in South East Asia have similar histories of struggles for the recognition and affirmation of distinct identity as ‘indigenous peoples’ having a distinct lifestyles, social, cultural and political systems. Similarly, they share the similar histories of marginalization and discriminations for assurance and recognition of their rights, stipulated in the international human rights documents like United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
The human rights violation of Indigenous Peoples due to militarization in Thailand, Myanmar, Philiphines, Cambodia and rest in other countries in South East Asia is rampant.
Violation to right to land, territories and Resources
Indigenous Peoples in South East Asia live in the areas rich in natural resources—forest, riverside and in the mountains, which have become the targets of government as well as the multinational companies for resource extractions.
In the name of development, the indigenous peoples have faced the impacts of mining, logging, dam construction, large-scale of plantations, infrastructure development and so forth. These sort of activities have been planned without maintaining ‘Free, Prior and Informed Consent’ from the indigenous communities living in the areas, which have resulted to the loss of their livelihood, culture and identity.
Indigenous Peoples in each country in South East Asia seem to be fighting for the lands, territories and the natural resources; either encroached, or tricked and trapped by private companies. The land, territories and natural resources of indigenous peoples are nationalized, seized and used by government or private companies with the increasing desire for economic growth for hydropower generation, construction of dams and so forth.
‘If we lose our land and forest, we lose everything. We are not giving up,” says Ms. Caroline Mbang Nyurang from Malaysia, presenting a case study of Baram Hydro-Electric Dam project and its impact and struggle of indigenous peoples against it.
“The fighting is still going on,” says she.
Phorn Sotheara from Cambodia shared similar stories of struggle of indigenous peoples against Economic Land Concessions (ELCs) for commercial plantations such as rubber and corn for bio-fuel.
Ridzki Rinanto Sigit also had parallel stories of palm oil plantations in Indonesia and displacement of indigenous peoples from their traditional land and territories and alike in Vietnam in the name of construction of dams and pipelines, in the case study presented by Vang Thi Ngoan.
Lack of access to Media
Despite tremendous growth in media industry in South East Asia, the Indigenous Peoples share their experience of lack of access to, voice and participation in so called ‘mainstream’ media. The right to access to information is prerequisite to empowering indigenous peoples. But due to language barrier, low literacy, lack of resources and capacity, indigenous peoples in South East Asia don’t’ have access to media.
Sharing their views on coverage of indigenous peoples in mainstream media, the panel speakers—Gayathry Venkiteswaran, from South East Asia Press Alliance, Bangkok, Imam Prakoso, from World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC), Khun Aung, Research and Communication Development at AIPP and Khin Maung Shwe, from Burma News International (BNI) said that indigenous peoples have inadequate media channels to make their voices, issues and concerns heard.
Report by Dev Kumar Sunuwar
Oct. 1, 2014 Bangkok, Thailand
