Six indigenous people have been on hunger strike at the UN in Geneva in
protest at the UK and other governments' blocking of an historic UN
declaration on indigenous rights.
Negotiations are taking place at the UN this week over the Draft
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This year marks the
end of the UN Decade of Indigenous Peoples, during which the draft
declaration has been completed following hundreds of consultations with
indigenous representatives. It would be the strongest international
agreement on indigenous peoples – but the UK, along with the USA and
other governments, is blocking its progress. Many indigenous delegates
to the UN believe that the British position is motivated by its close
relationship with the USA.
The UK and the USA refuse to recognise collective rights, which are essential for the survival of tribal and indigenous peoples.
In a statement from Geneva, the hunger strikers said, 'We are in this
great house but it is not our house. We are in a palace where documents
are written for peoples but not for our indigenous peoples. They open
doors for us to enter but they close their ears and hearts… There is
one thing we should never do – we should never, never give up our
rights.'
Earlier, Grand Chief Ted Moses of the Grand Council of the Crees from
Canada said, 'Current UK policies on indigenous peoples' human rights
are relics of colonial policies that have failed.'
The strike ended yesterday following talks with UN representatives, but
the UK remains intransigent. The strike was supported by indigenous
organisations from Alaska, Amazonia, Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile,
Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Guatemala, Hawaii, Kenya, Mexico, the
Moluccas (Indonesia), Morocco, New Zealand, Panama, Peru and the USA.
For more information contact Miriam Ross on (+44) (0)20 7687 8734 or mr@survival-international.org
