Elisa Burchett asks, ‘Will African Group Proposal Derail Entire Indigenous Declaration Process?’
“This is a terrible tragedy”, states Mililani B. Trask, leader of the Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement and Founder of “Na Koa Ikaika O Ka Lahui Hawaii”, an internationally recognized NGO, describing the possibility of Botswana and Namibia blocking the passage of a declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which she says has been some 21 years in the making.
Sitting across from Ms. Trask in the Vienna Café, she is visibly and audibly shaken by the thought of what she calls the “irony” of it all. She told me there must have been a reason for me to be here today. “No one else would be able to talk to you in this way.” I realize I’ve fallen into an issue that is so far reaching and touches the very core of the existence of some 500 million Indigenous peoples (arguably), across the world, if you take into account the Indigenous peoples of countries like India who do not recognize the existence of an “Indigenous population” there.
Ms. Trask helped to author the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and worked and studied under Mother Teresa of Calcutta for seven years. Trask explained this declaration is not a convention and it is not binding but it is very important, in that it will send a statement, creating a real framework for addressing Indigenous peoples and their rights as human beings.
“How ironic it is that the great nations of Africa that have been so victimized by colonization will do the work of their white masters in creating tribal differences”, she points out. She added, “The Concern of the African Group is that this declaration will fuel intertribal differences and lead to intertribal groups declaring independence” but in 21 years she says “none has ever demanded independence.” The view being that the richest and most powerful tribal groups of Africa control the government and are seen as partnering with the CANZUS States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S to defer the decision on a declaration.
As noted in a statement by the Global Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus, “For historical reasons, African, Asian, Caribbean peoples and Indigenous peoples have always supported each other, generally and in various U.N. processes. It is with great sorrow that the Indigenous peoples note that despite our similar history, hardships and concerns, the African Group presently has a position that most likely will derail the entire Declaration process.”
A vote is expected later today on the proposal by the African Group to delay the adoption of a resolution claiming the Declaration poses fundamental constitutional and political problems that would prove impossible to implement. Trask says, “They’ve saved the toughest proposals for last.” A tense battle and a lot of finger pointing is expected.
Elisa Burchett
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
Please also see:
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ CAUCUS, UNITED NATIONS: Declaration Update
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=2832&blz=1
The Assembly of First Nations
http://www.afn.ca/article.asp?id=2944
Panelists Push for GA Approval of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
http://www.unpo.org/article.php?id=5730
H A W A I ` I
Independent & Sovereign
http://www.hawaii-nation.org
“This is a terrible tragedy”, states Mililani B. Trask, leader of the Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement and Founder of “Na Koa Ikaika O Ka Lahui Hawaii”, an internationally recognized NGO, describing the possibility of Botswana and Namibia blocking the passage of a declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which she says has been some 21 years in the making.
Sitting across from Ms. Trask in the Vienna Café, she is visibly and audibly shaken by the thought of what she calls the “irony” of it all. She told me there must have been a reason for me to be here today. “No one else would be able to talk to you in this way.” I realize I’ve fallen into an issue that is so far reaching and touches the very core of the existence of some 500 million Indigenous peoples (arguably), across the world, if you take into account the Indigenous peoples of countries like India who do not recognize the existence of an “Indigenous population” there.
Ms. Trask helped to author the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and worked and studied under Mother Teresa of Calcutta for seven years. Trask explained this declaration is not a convention and it is not binding but it is very important, in that it will send a statement, creating a real framework for addressing Indigenous peoples and their rights as human beings.
“How ironic it is that the great nations of Africa that have been so victimized by colonization will do the work of their white masters in creating tribal differences”, she points out. She added, “The Concern of the African Group is that this declaration will fuel intertribal differences and lead to intertribal groups declaring independence” but in 21 years she says “none has ever demanded independence.” The view being that the richest and most powerful tribal groups of Africa control the government and are seen as partnering with the CANZUS States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S to defer the decision on a declaration.
As noted in a statement by the Global Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus, “For historical reasons, African, Asian, Caribbean peoples and Indigenous peoples have always supported each other, generally and in various U.N. processes. It is with great sorrow that the Indigenous peoples note that despite our similar history, hardships and concerns, the African Group presently has a position that most likely will derail the entire Declaration process.”
A vote is expected later today on the proposal by the African Group to delay the adoption of a resolution claiming the Declaration poses fundamental constitutional and political problems that would prove impossible to implement. Trask says, “They’ve saved the toughest proposals for last.” A tense battle and a lot of finger pointing is expected.
Elisa Burchett
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
Please also see:
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ CAUCUS, UNITED NATIONS: Declaration Update
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=2832&blz=1
The Assembly of First Nations
http://www.afn.ca/article.asp?id=2944
Panelists Push for GA Approval of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
http://www.unpo.org/article.php?id=5730
H A W A I ` I
Independent & Sovereign
http://www.hawaii-nation.org