BN GOVERNMENT IGNORE DAYAK RIGHTS
Posted by gkm2020
Let me quote you a statement from the Mr. Ragunath Kesavan, President of Malaysian Bar Council dated 18 September 2009
Lack of Political Will (Dayak Lama Leaders) to uphold rights of indigenous peoples.
The Malaysian Bar is disappointed at the Government’s continuing lack of political will to promote and protect the welfare and rights of indigenous peoples throughout Malaysia.
The Government’s inaction makes a mockery of its vote in favor of adopting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007 (“the UN Declaration”).
Most recently, the Government refused to make public the report of the National Task Force established to investigate the allegations of sexual abuse against Penan women and girls.
This refusal flouts democratic principles of transparency and accountability.
The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development finally made the report publicly available only after pressure from various interest groups.
No Fund for investigation of Dayak Penan rape
We are further disappointed that despite the Inspector-General of Police’s pledge of full support for a joint police-NGO investigative mission, the Sarawak police have now reportedly stated that the funds allocated for the project are not sufficient to fund the participation of NGO representatives.
The sexual abuse faced by the Penans is but one of a multitude of human rights violations that indigenous communities face on an ongoing basis, and which are inextricably inter-linked.
BN Government lip service the protections for Dayak’s rights
Most indigenous persons are not able to fully enjoy their fundamental human rights because their traditions, customs and values are being eroded and their needs have been long neglected.
A crucial first step for the Government, in fulfilling its state obligation, is to formally recognize, protect and guarantee the right of indigenous peoples to their ancestral lands throughout the country and to gazette such ancestral lands as reserved areas for them. If necessary, land laws must be amended to achieve this.
We are concerned that many indigenous communities still live without basic amenities and infrastructure.
It is within the context of the deprivation of their rights to ancestral lands and access to basic services that indigenous peoples have become vulnerable to sexual abuse and other violations of human rights.
BN Government should take concrete steps
We strongly urge the Government to perform its duty by taking concrete steps to improve the welfare of indigenous peoples.
Finally, we denounce the wholly unnecessary arrest of 15 Sarawakian indigenous leaders on 16 September, who were reportedly detained as they attempted to deliver a memorandum to the Chief Minister to protest the building of hydro-electric dams that would adversely affect their communities.
The manner in which our nation deals with the needs and rights of these communities is a reflection of our commitment to democracy and human rights.
In this, our leaders have failed.
Change is Possible. More Can, and Must, be Done.
We therefore echo our earlier call, made in a resolution that was unanimously adopted at the Malaysian Bar’s 63rd Annual General Meeting on 15 March 2009, that the Federal and State Governments, as well as all public and private enterprises and individuals, respect and protect the rights of indigenous peoples pursuant to the UN Declaration, and not act in any manner inconsistent with those rights.
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4 Responses to “BN GOVERNMENT IGNORE DAYAK RIGHTS”
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Inspirational word from gkm2020
This bar council is a political activist,and their common intention is to stir things up and then someone will come up to them to get the issue brought up to the court and get them hired, and when we talk about hiring there is substantial of money involve for lawyer fees. This we call business nowadays.
They are close to the NGOs and most members are lawyers. They are hiding under NGO’s to instigate the peoples so that there are always business for them.
Ungal Changop4540,
I hope that the BN government can settle all the issues concerning the Dayak rights so that all those bar councils -lawyers will have no work. We the Dayaks won’t lose money to pay them as you said. I suggest that our MPs,Aduns and Ministers don’t just jump to solve the mix marraige children issue for it is of no use if Dayaks are considered lower class bumiputra and their right still ignore. This issue only serve the purpose for a few individuals and not as a whole. If the Dayaks can depend on Ungal Changops group to solve their problems I don’t think this blog have been started.
The bar council get involved because no body or group can help the Dayaks now beside them. Do you think government lawyers dare to takle all these cases without prejudice and free of fee ?
Dear Dr. John,
Is the BN Government really ignoring dayaks’ rights or as perceived by certain persons or NGOs, not doing enough?
There are two different things. IGNORING is a STRONG WORD and can imply not doing anything at all.
With due respect to the President, Bar Council Malaysia, my view is he could be WRONGLY BRIEFED on the actual situation of dayaks rights, besides having possible own PRE-CONCEIVED IDEA before becoming the President and probable own AGENDA. Only he himself knows.
The President would be doing a favour and justice for Sarawak and Sabah people if he and his Council can come up with a new “fair and square” proposed or amended FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONS free of charge for all Malaysians, instead of dwelling on a lesser issue which Sarawakians themselves understand better and can design a better plan to fight the BN Government on their own on DAYAKS RIGHTS. Can the President take on the CHALLENGE, please? It would do our younger generations justice and fairness and truly one-united Malaysia.
Let the Bar Council FOCUS on fighting for all MALAYSIANS RIGHTS.
Can we agree to that, Mr. President of the Bar Council Malaysia and Dr. John?
Thank you Dr. John.
i hope BN will be lost………… taib and the geng go to hell……..all of u pura-pura….we are penan bully by u…