ORANG ASAL CALL FOR BASIC RIGHTS

 Source : COAC

Representatives of the Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia and the Natives of Sabah and Sarawak, collectively called Orang Asal, met for 3 days in September 2007 in Kuala Lumpur to assess their situation and to call for action. PUAH SZE NING, who was there, reports on their gathering.



Pulihkan demokrasi!   Hak Tanah, Hak Asasi!   Kembalikan Hak Asasi!

 
'Restore democracy!', 'Lands rights, our basic rights!', 'Return our basic rights!'  were the strong and determined cries of over 60 Orang Asal who travelled from as far as Sabah and Sarawak and from across Peninsular Malaysia.

Their plight echoed across the city during the late Saturday afternoon as they marched from Central Market to Merdeka Square to hand over a memorandum to Teresa Kok, DAP leader and the Member of Parliament for Seputeh.

This march marks another milestone in the history of Malaysia's indigenous peoples and their umbrella body, the Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia, JOAS). The march was organized and participated by organizations such as Sinui Pai Nanuk Sengik (SPNS), Partners of Community Trust, Sabah (PACOS Trust), Borneo Resources Institute (Brimas), the Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC), and the local urban settlers' organization, PERMAS.

The event was held in conjunction with the 10-day long 50:44 Merdeka Coalition which was organized by over 30 civil society organizations and communities to commemorate 50 years of Independence, and 44 years of Malaysian nationhood.

"I think it was good that common people went to a symbolic place such as Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square), as our focus of the 50:44 coalition is a people-centered Merdeka to remember the people who built the nation. So I'm glad that there was big turn up for the march as well as a big presence from the Orang Asal", said Jerald Joseph, director of Komas, one of the key organisers.

The march followed a two-day workshop titled "Hak Tanah Hak Asasi" (Land Rights, Our Basic Rights).

The main outputs from the workshop held from 13th-14th September 2007 was a statement by the Indigenous Peoples of Malaysia (see statement here).

Written with the contribution from the participants, the statement highlighted a few recommended action plans on human rights for consideration from the Malaysian government – including the stress on the further development of national legislation which protects and promotes the human rights of indigenous people and the setting up of an independent National Indigenous Peoples Land Commission to address indigenous land claims.

Adrian Lasimbang, left, a representative from PACOS who facilitated the workshop expressed disappointment as a lot of the government departments who were invited did not show up, notably the Department of Orang Asli Affairs (JHEOA).

"Our hope is to get the Malaysian government to do something about our demands."


Jenita a/k Engi, below, a Temuan from Kampung Parit Gong in Negeri Sembilan representing COAC, expressed hope that the Orang Asli will not be afraid to give their opinions on their rights to land anymore.

"This workshop is actually to expose us to learn how to address our land problems to relevant government bodies and at the same time for us to know how to protect our rights."

As a mark of hope and a source of additional inspiration for the struggle of the Orang Asal, it was timely that the United Nation's General Assembly formally adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples during the course of the workshop, on 13 September 2007.


The ball is now at the feet of the authorities.