KUCHING: Around 30 indigenous peoples’ leaders from different countries all over Asia travelled to the blockade site at Long Kesseh (which locals refer to as Kilometre 15) to support the people’s opposition to the construction of the Baram Dam.
The indigenous leaders, representing the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), joined the Baram people in their call to stop all plans to build the dam because it would displace some 20,000 indigenous peoples from 26 villages and destroy their land, life and resources that they depend on for their survival, said a statement from AIPP yesterday.
Bearing stories and lessons from their own experiences, the indigenous leaders took turns encouraging the Baram protesters not to give up in their fight to defend their land and their cultural identity.
AIPP secretary general Joan Carling recounted how the indigenous peoples in the Philippines succeeded in stopping the World Bank-funded Chico River Dam project during the 1980s.
Based on this experience, Carling stressed the need for strong unity to confront powerful forces.
“What is most important is that the affected peoples are united and that we have wide support of advocates, academe, lawyers, environmental groups and other sectors at the local, national and international levels.
“We are encouraged and inspired by the determination of the Baram peoples and we commit to support your actions to defend your rights and dignity,” she said.
Meanwhile, the participants reiterated that indigenous peoples have the right to participate fully and effectively in decision-making processes affecting them.
They called on the Sarawak and Malaysian governments to respect the native customary rights of indigenous communities accorded to them under the Federal Constitution and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Undrip) in relation to the planned hydropower projects in Sarawak.
The exchange visit with the Baram people was hosted by the Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (Joas), a national network of indigenous peoples’ organisations in Malaysia and one of the members of AIPP providing assistance and platform for indigenous communities in Malaysia.
AIPP is a regional organisation founded in 1988 as a platform for solidarity and cooperation among indigenous peoples’ movements.
It is comprised of 47 member organisations from 14 countries in Asia with seven indigenous peoples’ national alliances/networks and 35 local and sub-national organisations.
AIPP actively promotes indigenous peoples’ rights and human rights; sustainable development and management of resources; and environment protection through advocacy and building partnerships at local to global levels.-Borneo Post
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Can foreigners come to our country and protesting about the proposed dam in Baram?