Malaysia: The High Court nullifies a case of land alienation in Sandakan
Malaysia: New report calls for respect of indigenous peoples right to withhold consent for dam
Fact-finding mission reports on fundamental human rights violations committed by Malaysian company Sarawak Energy at the proposed Baram Dam, while blockades of villagers against the dam reach day 300.
(KUALA LUMPUR / BARAM, MALAYSIA) - A newly released fact-finding report reveals systematic human rights violations are being committed against the indigenous peoples of Sarawak by the proponents of the proposed Baram Dam in Malaysia.
Malaysia: The Special Rapporteur gathered key information during visit
Representatives provided oral and written information on various issues including lands, territories and resources with a focus on extractive industries; militarization and impact of national security measures of Governments; and self-determination and identity. Indigenous peoples from Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Myanmar were represented at the consultation.
Malaysia: Chief Minister of Sabah attempts to discredit IWGIA partner
In an article in the Daily Express Malaysia from 13 November 2014 the Chief Minister of Sabah, Musa Aman, has made a statement that NGOs such as IWGIA’s partner the Partners of Community Organizations in Sabah (PACOS) are misleading and confusing natives to blame the government for not giving them land.
Danish news site focuses on indigenous peoples’ rights in Indonesia
The Danish news site on development, u-landsnyt.dk, brings an article about the ruling by Indonesia’s Constitutional Court, which recognises indigenous peoples’ customary forests. The article analyses the ruling and the potential it has to curb the country’s massive deforestation as well as the land dispossession and human rights abuses committed against indigenous peoples all over the archipelago.
Malaysia: Court rules in favour of indigenous orang asli
On 19 December, in what lawyers call a landmark decision, a high court in Malaysia has order parts of Malay reserve land to be degazetted. Judge khtar Tahir ruled that the reserve land was subservient to orang asli rights as they were the earliest inhabitants. The Malay reserve land in question encroached into more than 2,000ha of disputed orang asli customary land in Bera. The judge directed the Pahang Land and Mines Office to gazette the whole area as orang asli customary land within a year.