The Indigenous World 2001-2002 : Editorial

Written on 02 May 2002. Posted in The Indigenous World Editorial

The year 2001 will go down in history as the year in which the technologically and economically developed Western world cameface to face with its vulnerability and, overnight, became engulfed in fear, suspicion and hatred, in which armed revenge has so far been the only response envisaged. The terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington on September 11, 2001, and the deaths of some 3,000 innocent civilian men and women, radically changed the world overnight and, as the US administration and its allies get ever more deeply involved in their “war against terrorism”, there is indeed cause for deep concern for the indigenous movement worldwide also.

The global and long lasting impact of the September 11 events can but seem out of proportion when compared with events that tookplace in other parts of the world during 2001. This holds especially true when talking about events that involve indigenous peoples, and this issue of The Indigenous World gives several examples of massacres, violent deaths and disappearances of indigenous peoples and indigenous leaders – Colombia is a case in point – events that are condemnable and abominable too but which, nevertheless, barely make the news and most probably will never make history.

The impact of September 11 has also been directly felt by indigenous peoples. In some cases, it has meant that important indigenous issues were taken off the table, as reported from Mexico; in others (e.g.India) the passing of a new anti-terrorism law is seen as a direct threat to indigenous organisations. In yet others, hostile governments and local authorities have taken the opportunity of the “war against terrorism” to accuse and castigate indigenous peoples of being terrorists when they are legitimately protesting against the violation of their fundamental rights, (see chapters on Chile, China, etc.) or are using excitation against Islam to persecute Moslem indigenous peoples (e.g. Burma).

With the prevailing worldwide “terrorist syndrome” it is indeedto be feared that indigenous peoples who merely struggle for self determination and for their fundamental rights may in the future be unjustly accused of being terrorists and treated as such. This situation may well, in some places, degenerate into more oppression and even serious confrontation, and indigenous leaders will hence forward needall the political acumen they can muster in order not to give the authorities a pretext to clamp down on them and their fellow men.

Globalisation and neo-liberal economic policies are two other factors that are increasingly impacting on the situation of indigenous peoples.The Plan Puebla-Panama, which will affect indigenous communities throughout Mexico and Central America, is one example. In Russia, indigenous communities are facing increasingly tough competition from private enterprises over their land and natural resources. In other cases, rights acquired by the indigenous peoples are being directly threatened. In India, for instance, private mining companies are lobbying forcefully for an amendment to the 5^th Schedule of the Constitution, which would make the leasing of land to outsiders in tribal areas possible. In Bolivia, the whole land reform process for which the indigenous population has struggled for years is being jeopardized by the government’s sell-out to the cattle farming sector and large landowners.

In other parts of the world, indigenous peoples continue to be forced to relocate in order to make way for hydroelectric dams (e.g.in Laos, the Philippines, Chile), national parks (e.g. Bangladesh, India, Tanzania), or in the name of so-called “development”, like the San of Botswana and the Mon-Khmer of Laos. Not surprisingly, the issue of forced relocation was high on the indigenous agenda during the consultations conducted in 2001-2002 by the WorldBank in connection with the revision of their guidelines. Unfortunately, it seems as if the proposed revised guidelines will not be nearly as strong as they should be and even weaker than they were originally.

While this issue of The Indigenous World brings a number of country reports that show that the situation of indigenous peoples worldwide remains highly precarious, with important advances being consistently threatened, it also highlights a number of positive developments that have occurred over the period under consideration.

At local level, one such development worth mentioning is the several-month-long protest movement of the Adivasi and the Dalits inthe state of Kerala (India), which ended with the government conceding to all the demands made by the Adivasi-Dalit platform, SamaraSamithy, notably in terms of land distribution. Other examples include Cambodia, where a new land law recognizing indigenous landrights has been passed, and Nicaragua where the Awas Tingni land claims were recognised.

A major event in 2001 - 2002 was the birth of a new independent country - Timor Lorosa’e. After more than 24 years of Indonesian colonization and a liberation struggle which, on several occasions, seemed on the point of collapsing, this is indeed cause for joy and, from IWGIA, we send our best wishes and hopes for the future to the people of Timor Lorosa’e.

At international level, there have also been some major achievements. In the Americas, the Inter-American Court on Human Rights (IACHR), which has the mandate to place binding obligations on all American states to comply with human rights standards, has been playing an increasingly important role in mediating and defending indigenous peoples’ rights (see chapters on Panama, Paraguay and Nicaragua).

In the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), with the establishment of an ad-hoc group that will focus on the situation of indigenous peoples in Africa. Given the reticence of African governments to recognize the concept of “indigenous”, this is a promising step forward that may open up the path for a process which, in the longer term, may give the commission a role similar to that of the IACHR.

At UN level, the designation of Rodolfo Stavenhagen as Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Indigenous People has been met with great expectations and will, in the future, be a significant contribution to the protection and recognition of indigenous peoples’ fundamental rights.

The greatest advance, however, has been the establishment of thePermanent Forum for Indigenous Peoples under ECOSOC. This new high-level institution within the UN system is a breakthrough for indigenous peoples and will, hopefully, support them in meeting the many challenges of the years to come: the ongoing struggle for land rights and self-determination, for recognition and respect of their indigenous cultures and know–how, for acquisition of equal rights and equal opportunities.

This issue of The Indigenous World is no.16. From the very beginning in 1986 - our goal has been to document as completely as possible the situation of indigenous peoples worldwide. Even though we are still far from this goal, we also feel that some progress has been made over the years. For this we wish to thank our many contributors and, at the same time, enjoin all those who feel there are still too many shortcomings to come forward with their suggestions and contributions so that we can keep improving our coverage of the indigenous world.

Diana Vinding

Coordinating Editor

Tags: Human rights, IWGIA Report