ASIA INDIGENOUS OBSERVER

LOVE FOR FREEDOM

CONTENT

PAGE-02-06 PAGE-07-20 HUMAN RIGHTS RADAR: 02 GROUND REPORT 01 Focus False lawsuit against the Chairperson of AIPP assesses the ground the Kapaeeng Foundation realities of the Myanmar- Thailand border refugee A Mro woman allegedly raped by a crisis local political leader in CHT, Bangladesh

Communal attack on indigenous Jumma PAGE-35 villages in Baghaichhari, GENDER LENS District 04 This month the Indigenous Miscreants cut down a thousand betel Women’s Programme trees in ; Khasi Indigenous People collaborated and broke down in tears consulted with global Attack on a Buddhist Monk in partners IWGIA and SIDA Khagrachari to start exciting new Anti- conservation infrastructure projects that will have development under the guise of eco- wide reaching impact on tourism Indigenous Women and the many intersections that Eviction fear grips Tripura indigenous affect their lives. community in

PAGE-36-38 03 CLIMATE WATCH International Biodiversity Day was momentous with the digital launch of the comic book “Let’s Go Back Home”. The digital campaign saw full participation and solidarity from our partners and members HUMAN RIGHTS RADAR: Bangladesh Focus False lawsuit against the Chairperson of the Kapaeeng Foundation

On May 5, 2021, an alleged land robber Md. Mahabubur Rahman filed a false and fabricated case against the victim Niren Mardi along with local indigenous leaders in Senior Judicial Magistrate Amli Court (5), , Bangladesh in connection with the land robbery. In that case, Rabindranath Soren, a human rights activist, President of Jatiya Adivasi Parishad and Chairperson of Kapaeeng Foundation has been made the prime accused in that case. Manik Soren, Information & Research Secretary of the Jatiya Adivasi Parishad were also included in the case among others. A total of 22 Indigenous People have been accused in that false case. It is to be noted that, earlier, the court acquitted Niren Mardi in another case filed by land robber Md Mahabubur Rahman last year. Since then, Rahman has been furious with Niren Mardi and his family. Source: Kapaeeng Foundation & Daily Star A Mro woman allegedly raped by a local political leader in CHT, Bangladesh Source: Kapaeeng Foundation The rape accusation of a young Mro indigenous woman (23) was found on 11th May 2021, against Mahbubur Rahman Zahid alias Kabir (35) at Chitajhiri muk of Hambuk para village of Rupsipara union under LamaUpazila in Bandarban hill district of Hill Tracts. According to local sources, the indigenous woman lives with her family on a farm at Chitajhiri muk of the said village. Next to their farm, there is the fish farm and tobacco field of the perpetrator. As per media reports, the accused developed an illicit affair on the basis of fake promises of marriage and accordingly raped the girl several times.

Page-2 The Chairman of the local union council said that Mahbubur Rahman had been raping the girl for the last five years at different times. On May 11, 2021, he started pressuring the girl to have an abortion. When the woman did not agree, the culprit beat her and forced her to take medicine. The perpetrator immediately fled the scene when the girl fell sick after taking medicine. Later, the survivor was admitted to the Health Centre. A rape case was filed at the Lama police station in this connection on Wednesday, 12 May 2021, under “Women and Children Violence Protection Law 2000” by the victim’s father against the perpetrator.

Communal attack on indigenous Jumma villages in Baghaichhari, Rangamati District

Source: Kapaeeng Foundation A group of settlers led by Rassel Chowdhury, Chairman of Amtoli Union Parishad allegedly carried out a communal attack on the indigenous village namely Perachhara under Ward 7 of the neighbouring Sarboatali Union of Bagharchhari upazila, Rangamati District of CHT on 24 April 2021. 3 indigenous Jumma villagers were injured and 1 shop and 1 Buddhist monastery were vandalized during the attack. It's been learnt that on the incident day at around 9am the Bengali settler namely Md. Rob Mia went to graze cows on the paddy field of Kalachokha Chakma in Perachhara village of nearby Sarboatali Union while the cows destroyed the paddy field of Kalachokha Chakma. After seeing this, Kalachokha Chakma asked Md. Rob Mia to take his cows elsewhere. At this, Md. Rob Mia became furious and insulted Kalachokha Chakma by using abuses. Afterwards, there was a verbal argument and physical clashes occurred between them. Later, Md. Rob Mia threatened Kalachokha Chakma when he was returning with his cows. It’s to be mentioned that, Md. Rob Mia often grazed his cows in the paddy field of Kalachokha Chakma and misbehave with the indigenous women. After returning to the village, Md. Rob Mia informed the matter immediately to Rassel Chowdhury. As a result, at around 3pm. 20-25 Bengali settlers with arms sticks and sharp weapons, led by Rassel Chowdhury indiscriminately attacked on the indigenous Jumma villages of Perachhara and destroyed and looted the shop of Purnachandra Chakma. The perpetrators also vandalized and looted the property of a Buddhist monastery namely ‘Naba Karunapur Banavihar’ in the village. Chulakal Bhikkhu, the principal of the Buddhist monastery flew away and took shelter elsewhere to save his life during the attack.

Page-3 The Khasi people in a sad mood in front of the betel leaf trees that cut down by the miscreant. Photo: Collected. Source: Kapaeeng Foundation

Miscreants cut down a thousand betel trees in Sylhet; Khasi Indigenous People broke down in tears On 28th May 2021, it has been alleged that outsiders have occupied three betel leaf jum of Khasi people in Banakhola punji of south Shahbazpur union of Moulvibazar’s Baralekha upazila. Two written complaints have been lodged with the Baralekha police station on behalf of the residents of Punji and Chhotalekha tea garden authority. In it, 16 names were mentioned and 30-35 anonymous people were charged.

According to the tea authority and local Khasi residents, the Chhotelekha Tea-Garden Authority leased 1,968 acres of hilly land from the government for tea cultivation. Later, they sub-leased 272 acres of land to the Khasias at an annual cost of 1 million Bangladeshi taka. But suddenly, on May 26, a group of outsiders entered the punji with local weapons and occupied three betel leaf jum of Khasi people. At this time, outsiders built a temporary house there. It is to be noted that, at present 36 Khasia families live in this punji.

On the other hand, 30th May 2021, miscreants cut down a thousand of betel leaf trees at Agar punji in south Shahbazpur union of Moulvibazar’s Baralekha Upazila on Sunday afternoon. After waking up in the morning to find out about the incident, the local Khasi residents broke down in tears. It has been seen that most of the betel tree roots have been cut off. It is estimated that they have lost 8 hundred thousand taka as a result of cutting down betel trees. About 48 indigenous Khasi families live there. They have been planting betel trees in the small hills for ages for their livelihood.

Page-4 Attack on a Buddhist Monk in Khagrachari A Buddhist Monk has been intentionally attacked by two Bengali settlers in Pujgang Pragya Sadhana Bana Vihara Monastery under Panchari upazila of in CHT, Bangladesh on 31 May 2021. It was learnt that; the unknown two Bengali setters have attempted to cut the trees of the temple illegally before. However, the authority of the temple has forbidden them not to do that again. Early hours of the incident day, the perpetrators allegedly attacked on Agrojyoti Bhante (Monk) (47) with iron chariot and chopper and injured him seriously after finding him alone while most of the Buddhist Monks went away and looted almost 60,000 Taka from the temple. Sources said that, the victim has identified an attacker who often comes to work along with other Bengali settlers in the Buddhist Temple. The villagers of Pujgang protested and demonstrated a rally against this barbaric attack and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. Source: Kapaeeng Foundation

Page-5 Anti- conservation infrastructure development under the guise of eco-tourism

On 30 May 2021, the Indigenous peoples formed a human chain in Madhupur of district of Bangladesh protesting the construction of an arboretum, a guest house and boundary walls over an ancient crematorium by the forest department in the name of eco-tourism. The forest department will have to stop constructing the arboretum and the guest house, otherwise, people from indigenous community will wage tougher movements to resist the bid, speakers at the programme warned.

Link of the news

https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/news/ garos-demand-stop-destruction-forests-the-name- eco-tourism-2101709

Page-6 Anti- conservation infrastructure development under the guise of eco-tourism Tripura indigenous community live in different areas of Bangladesh, including the Chittagong Hill Tracts and plains of Bangladesh. Tripura community of Sonaichhari in Sitakunda upazila, Chittagong (plain land) are in constant fear as some local influential people have allegedly been trying to evict them from their ancestral land. The indigenous inhabitants of Tripura Para at Sonaichhari alleged that Abul Khayer Group, a Chittagong-based business conglomerate, is trying to grab their land illegally. The influential people of Abul Khayer Group have long been asking the Tripura community people to leave the place. Community people are receiving threats from the land grabbers. According to the Bangladesh Indigenous Forum, Sitakunda, there are 800 families living in different hills in Sitakunda. The areas include Choto Darogarhat of Baroiardala union, Mahadebpur in Sitakunda municipality, Banshbaria, Sultana temple and Choto Kumira in Kumira upazila, Madhya, South Sonaichhari under Sonaichhari union and Madnahat area. Of the total area, 75 families lived at Sonaichhari Tripura Para, 122 families at Choto Kumira Tripura Para, 45 at Mahadebpur, 10 at Choto Darogahat, 30 at Sultana Temple, 10 at Banshbaria, 38 at Shitalpur Tripura Para. The influential people also wanted to evict them; the Forum alleged. Source link: https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2021/05/19/eviction-fear- grips-sitakunda-tripura-ethnic-community-2 https://hillvoice.net/an-indigenous-tripura-village-in-sitakunda-faces-eviction/? fbclid=IwAR1rF7DgAuPd2WUVhNMYeKOy42t8g8HCE8qBrK5925OibPgLrRbvRMUO Dpk

Page-7 GROUND REPORT: AIPP ASSESSES MYANMAR-THAILAND BORDER REFUGEE CRISIS

On February 1st 2021, Myanmar’s Senior G e n e r a l M i n A u n g H l a i n g a n d Commander-in-Chief led a military t a k e o v e r w h i c h d e p o s e d t h e democratically-elected civilian government and plunged Myanmar into a political and economic crisis.

The coup triggered a massive uprising, bringing hundreds of thousands of protesters to the streets to demand a return to democracy, while civil servants have boycotted work in a bid to shutter the junta’s administration. The anti-coup movement has reportedly killed more than 720 people with some 3,100 activists, journalists and dissidents detained as of mid-April. Intensifying violence has driven fearful civilians in Myanmar to seek asylum in Thailand, and to a lesser extent India.

Page-8 Reports from the ground are contrary to the Thai government’s official stance of accepting refugees. AIPP’s sources at the Thai-Myanmar border reported that Thai local officials and military have continued to block refugee access to the country, in some cases preventing the dispatch of vital supplies.

The flashpoint is also between Myanmar’s military and ethnic armed groups. Air raids targeting Karen army camps, government offices and public infrastructure such as schools and hospitals has acerbated an intense situation.

In late April, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU) seized two out of three Myanmar army bases opposite Mae Sam Laep village. This incident provoked further air strikes two weeks ago. Air strikes at the Salween River border since last April by the Tatmadaw targeting KNU territory, has deepened a humanitarian crisis, leading to an influx of about 3000 Karen Displaced Peoples.

Page-9 On the 10th and 11th of April, AIPP visited Mae Sam Laep village in Mae Sariang district, Ma Hong Song province, in what has become the focal point of the crisis locally, to observe and evaluate the situation in consultation with local organizations and civil society groups, in order to provide contextualized aid to the Karen Displaced Peoples.

To read the full report please download https://aippnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/AIPP-THAI-BURMA- GROUND-REPORT.pdf

Page-10 CLIMATE WATCH: BIODIVERSITY WEEK

REVISITING INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE: LET'S GO BACK HOME!

On the International Day for Biological Diversity, and under this year’s theme of “We are part of the Solution”, AIPP's Environment Programme proudly presented the comic book titled, "Let's Go Back Home".

A labour of love between the Karen Indigenous Peoples of Mae Yod village in Northern Thailand, Pgakenyaw Association for Sustainable Development (PASD), and the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), “Let’s Go Back Home” is the story of their lives, traditions and sustainable practices that protect the fragile ecosystem and biodiversity of the region.

Page-11 Page-7 Page-12 Chosen as one of the pilot communities, the ancestral lands of the Mae Yod people were declared as a Special Cultural Zone in line with the 2010 Cabinet Resolution on the restoration of traditional practices and livelihoods of Karen Indigenous Peoples, to provide solutions to land right issues, and to secure their livelihoods. The comic book will be part of the local curriculum of the Ban Mae Yod school. You can download the English, Thai and Karen versions of the comic book from here

To strengthen the narrative that Indigenous Peoples are the World’s leaders whose ground initiatives and actions are critical in protecting the biological and cultural diversity we all depend on, and above all, for the successful implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, AIPP partnered with its members and existing networks and celebrate the 2021 International Day for Biodiversity and World Environment Day from 22 May-5 June 2021.

“We, Indigenous Peoples are taking care of our forests from forest fires and human who wants to destroy it. Our life is close to nature. We live in harmony with nature.

Page-13 Therefore, where Indigenous Peoples are, so too are forests. We have been using our beliefs, culture, and knowledge systems to sustainably manage our resources from generation to generation…The respect and recognition of our Indigenous Knowledge and customary land tenure are important for us to maintain our historical stewardship with nature and continue practicing our low carbon way of life.

Therefore, any actions to combat climate change, address the loss of biodiversity, and achieve sustainable development shall include and explicitly highlight culture and tenure of Indigenous Peoples as part of solutions.”

Ms. Noraeri Thungmueangthong is the first woman chief of Huay Ee Khang Village. She belongs to the Karen Indigenous group in Thailand. As one of the most prominent Indigenous Women leaders in Thailand, she actively engages in Indigenous Women’s issues, promotion of Indigenous Knowledge, and sustainable natural resource management at local and country levels.

Barsha Lekhi is an environmental activist and advocates for environmental protection as well as for the rights of Indigenous Peoples, especially women. A Goodwill Ambassador for the Clean Up Nepal Campaign, she has also worked as National Indigenous Peoples Fellow under the UNDP-GEF small grants programme.

Page-14 Speaking to AIPP, Ms. Barsha said, “We, Indigenous Peoples, often inhabit the most biodiverse ecosystems of the Planet. Our sustainable way of living is in harmony with Nature. We manage our resources sustainably using our time-tested Indigenous Knowledge. The flora and fauna found in our territories have traditional and cultural values.”

In our conversation with Beverly Longid who is the South East Asia sub-regional representative to the Executive Council AIPP and the International Solidary Officer of KATRIBU, which works for the recognition of Indigenous Peoples rights to ancestral lands, equality and justice, and self-determination she said, “Indigenous Peoples are defenders of Mother Earth. For centuries, our values and practices have sustained and cared for the environment and kept biodiversity balance. Our life, our culture, and our identity are linked intimately to our lands and territories, to the environment. Our environment shaped and shapes our ways of living.

Indigenous Peoples around the world are actively defending Mother Earth. The rightful assertion of our inherent collective rights over our land, territories, and ways of life made us targets of state and corporate attacks. The Covid-19 pandemic, worsening economic crisis, and intensified repression call on us to strengthen our unity and solidarity beyond country borders. Let us support ongoing initiatives and campaigns. Let us join our voices together, not only as key development actors but as protectors of Mother Earth.”

Page-16 The majority of the biodiversity flourishes on the lands belonging to Indigenous Peoples. Their resilience has fostered sustainability, through their diverse and deep- rooted knowledge of the ecosystems they inhabit. Today, as forest fires rage and the planet and people battle an ongoing pandemic, it's time we paid closer attention to and learn from Indigenous Peoples’ Traditional Ecological Knowledge which offers an invaluable lens into “sustainability” as an intergenerational practice.

Pasang Dolma Sherpa, Executive Director, Center for Indigenous Peoples' Research & Development (CIPRED) has functioned under many roles.

Page-17 She represents Asia Indigenous Peoples in the Facilitative Working Group Members (FWG) of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIP) of the UNFCCC. She is also the Chair of Specialist Group on Indigenous Peoples' Customary and Environmental Laws and Human Rights (SPICEH) within CEESP- IUCN.

According to her,” Our ancestral land, forest, and water resources are our lives, culture, identity, and livelihoods. We have been managing our natural resources, biodiversity, and environment through our Indigenous Knowledge, customary practices, and traditional institutions. We have been transferring our knowledge, skills, cultural values and live with self-respect and dignity from generation to generation.

We have our own traditional healers such as Amchi in the Mountain Indigenous Peoples’ Communities and have been providing medicines and necessary treatments without any fixed charges, accept anything offered and available at any time in the community. We believe in the nonviolence principle (Shakya Tradition in Tsum Nubri, Gorkha) and living in harmony with nature. We, Indigenous Peoples are part of the solution.”

Indigenous Peoples are the link between the past and the future. Their integral and organic knowledge of biodiversity needs to be referred to by policymakers, rights groups, and anyone dedicated to a free and equitable future in order to learn how to manage and sustain the fragile links between Humans and Nature in order to retard the devastating effects of climate change.

Page-20 Speaking to AIPP, our Executive Council Member and Executive Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development in Mountainous Areas (CSDM), Ms Luong Thi Truong spoke from her experience of over two decades in Indigenous Knowledge, climate change, biodiversity, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples, especially Indigenous Women. ”Our Vietnam Indigenous Knowledge Network, VTIK has gained significant achievements in awareness-raising, revitalizing, and advocating on Indigenous languages such as Thai, Dao, Mong, and Muong communities. The Thai language is now recognized and allowed by the government to teach in primary school in Dien Bien and Son La Provinces. The Dao, Mong, and Muong languages are permitted by the provincial government and widely learned in the communities. We encouraged our Indigenous Sisters and Brothers to wear their traditional costumes in all the events of VTIK. Gradually they started feeling proud and are now pioneer in wearing traditional costumes and as result, more and more women and men also wear in their communities. In Thanh Son commune, Thanh Hoa province, children in primary school wear Thai traditional costumes every Monday. Vietnamese indigenous communities and VTIK members have very rich Indigenous Knowledge and traditional practices relating to natural resources management, particularly in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.”

Ms Truong has played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Network of Indigenous Women in Vietnam 2019, which has more than 650 members and the Vietnam Indigenous Knowledge Network (VTIK), starting with 32 members in 2007, VTIK now has more than 3,400 members hailing from different provinces of Vietnam.

Page-20 Art imitates life and so we take you behind the scenes of how the comic book "Let's Go Back Home" was made. The creative concepts and real people who inspired the illustrations and story of the people of Karen Indigenous Peoples of Mae Yod village in Northern Thailand.

https://www.facebook.com/AIPPIKPA/videos/471881330577117 “The traditional knowledge from our ancestor should be recognized because it can protect the environment better. For example, for my tribe the Tinagas, we were told that exploring the area of a creek with springs and cutting down plants in the forest is forbidden. This is because these places have spirits and disturbing these spirits will make us sick. Such practices can effectively preserve the biodiversity. Until today we still follow the rules. That is why, even with a pandemic, the indigenous people can still live well where forests and rivers are their source of food,” said Ms. Maslah Rompado. Ms. Maslah is the Secretary General Assistant of the Jaringan Orang Asal Semalaysia (JOAS). She is also the Indigenous Women’s representative to the Executive Council of Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP). https://www.facebook.com/AIPPIKPA/posts/4186184301471905 Kreingkrai Cheechoung, Coordinator, West Karen Network for Culture and Environment talks about why it's important to protect the environment to ensure sustainable food systems

https://www.facebook.com/AIPPIKPA/posts/4185798531510482

Get access to the full digital campaign for International Day for Biodiversity and World Environment Day Celebration at https://aippnet.org/indigenous-knowledge-and-peoples-of-asia-ikpa/ international-day-for-biodiversity-world-environment-day-2021/

Page-21 GENDER LENS

The Indigenous Women’s programme presented at the SIDA DEV TALKS (4th May 2021) on “Indigenous Women and Diversity”. Case studies were shared to provide understanding of the interlinkages between Indigenous Communities, particularly Indigenous Women and biodiversity. The programme also recommended new ways to collaborate “Preserve, promote, and use Indigenous Women’s Knowledge, skills, technology, innovation and customary practices of forest, water and pasture-based livelihoods to transfer in economic activities, and stop criminalization” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nnwwcocVog&t=191s

Page-22 NIWA EMERGENCY FUND LIVE

NIWA/AIPP has partnered with IWGIA to establish the NIWA emergency fund. The Emergency Fund seeks to provide quick access to funds and greater flexibility to enable the Indigenous Women to fight the inequality in emergency situations. This fund will directly support Indigenous Women Human Rights Defenders and Survivors of gender- based violence who face immediate threats. MRLF The Indigenous Women’s programme also presented at Mekong Region Land Forum on 26th May 31, 2021. Titled: INDIGENOUS WOMEN’S ACCESS AND POLITICAL RIGHTS TO FOREST SPACES AND TERRITORIES

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