Legislation of UNDRIP article among 4 resolutions adopted at Sadia forums
Four resolutions were adopted at the conclusion of a series of forums organised by Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) from Aug 26, 2023 to Jan 17 this year.
Sadia in a press release yesterday said one of the resolutions called for the federal government to legislate Article 26(3) of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in accordance with Article 76 of the Federal Constitution.
“Article 26(3) of the UNDRIP says that states shall give legal recognition and protection to lands, territories and resources of the indigenous peoples, and that such recognition shall be conducted with due respect to their customs, traditions and land tenure systems.
“The other resolution is to urge the federal government to initiate a policy applying the provisions of Article 153 of the Federal Constitution to reserve quotas for services, permits, scholarships and other training facilities for qualified Ibans of Sarawak,” said the association.
The third resolution urged the Sarawak government to initiate a policy applying the provisions of Article 39 of the State Constitution regarding the reservation of quotas for services, permits, scholarships, and other training facilities for qualified Iban individuals.
“The fourth resolution urged the Sarawak government to legally recognise the customary rights of the Iban over their ‘Pulau Galau’,” said Sadia.
The association said for this year, it plans to organise a series of talks on brainstorming the major decisions or resolutions passed at all the forums.
On the some 720 individuals who had attended the series of forums, Sadia said they comprised members of its branches in Kuching, Sri Aman, Sibu, Song, Kapit, Kanowit, Bintulu and Miri, as well as government agencies and native customary rights (NCR) landowners.
It explained the forums were in pursuant to UNDRIP and held in collaboration with the Canadian Funds for Local Initiatives (CFLI).
The first forum was held in Kuching on Aug 26, 2023, followed by Sri Aman, Sibu, Bintulu. The final forum took place in Miri on Jan 17.
The topics ranged from rights of the indigenous peoples over land, territories, and resources; climate change and carbon forests; gender equality and issues affecting Iban women; and sustainability of the Iban community in this century.
Sadia president Sidi Munan in the release expressed his gratitude to Sadia National Executive Committee members, forum organisers, branch committee members, and government agencies for the success of the forums. He also extended special thanks to the Canadian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur for their collaboration.