CAMBODIA Indigenous Peoples' Movements As a Platform for Solidarity and Cooperation
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AIPP at a glance The Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) is a regional organization founded in 1988 by CAMBODIA indigenous peoples' movements as a platform for solidarity and cooperation. AIPP is actively promoting and defending indigenous peoples' rights and human rights, sustainable develop- Indigenous Peoples in ASEAN ment and management of resources and environment protection. Through the year, AIPP has developed its expertise on grassroots capacity building, advocacy and networking from local to global levels and strengthening partnerships with indigenous organizations, support NGOs, UN agencies and other institutions. At present, AIPP has 47 members from 14 countries in Asia with 7 indigenous peoples' national alliances/ networks and 35 local and sub-national organizations including 16 are ethnic-based organizations, five (5) indigenous women and four (4) are indigenous youth organizations.. Through our Indigenous Women (IW) programme, AIPP aims to empower indigenous women through networking, education and capacity building activities with the overall goal for indigenous women to assert, promote and protect their rights as women and as indigenous peoples. Our Vision Indigenous peoples in Asia are fully exercising their rights, distinct cultures and identities, are living with dignity, and enhancing their sustainable management systems on lands, territories and resources for their own future and development in an environment of peace, justice and equality. Our Mission AIPP strengthens the solidarity, cooperation and capacities of indigenous peoples in Asia to promote and protect their rights, cultures and identities, and their sustainable resource management systems for their development and self-determination. AIPP Programmes Our main areas of work among the different programmes are information dissemination, awareness raising, capacity building, advocacy and networking from local to global. Our programmes are: • Human Rights Campaign and Policy Advocacy • Regional Capacity Building • Environment • Indigenous Women • Communication Development AIPP is accredited as an NGO in special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and as observer organization with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Green Climate Fund (GCF), Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). AIPP is a member of the International Land Coalition (ILC). Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) 108 Moo 5, Tambon Sanpranate, Amphur Sansai, Chiang Mai 50210, Thailand www.aippnet.org,www.iva.aippnet.org, www.ccmin.aippnet.org, www.iphrdefenders.net E-mail: [email protected] Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact Copyright © 2015 AIPP. All Rights Reserved. Indigenous Peoples in ASEAN: Cambodia Copyright ©Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact 2015 All rights reserved. Writer: Frédéric Bourdier Editor: Luchie Maranan Design and lay-out: Sar Law La Saw Photo credits: Samrith Vaing, Pok Hong, Samin Ngach, Frédéric Bourdier Publisher: Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) Foundation 108 Moo 5 Tambon Sanpranate Amphur Sansai, Chiang Mai 50210 Thailand Tel: +66 53 380 168 Fax: +66 53 380 752 Web: www.aippnet.org http://www.iphrdefenders.net http://ccmin.aippnet.org http://iva.aippnet.org ISBN: Printer: AIPP Printing Press 32, Moo 2, Tambon Sanpranate Amphur Sansai, Chiang Mai 50210 Thailand Email: [email protected] Website: www.aippprinting.com This document has been produced with the generous support of the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA). Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this report do not necessarily represent those of IWGIA. The text and data in this report may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes with attribution to the copyright holder. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact. TABLE OF CONTENTS A. Background ....................................................................................................... 4 B. Profile of Indigenous Peoples in the Country ................................................... 6 B. 1 The Indigenous Peoples in the Country ........................................................... 6 B. 2 Demography and Population .......................................................................... 7 B. 3 Geographical Localization ............................................................................. 8 B. 4 Brief Information on their Specific and Unique Characteristics ......................... 9 B. 5 Economic, Social and Cultural Systems .......................................................... 11 B. 6 Customary Institutions/Political, Governance, Justice Systems ......................... 12 B. 7 Natural Resource Management ...................................................................... 13 B. 8 Women Taking Action ................................................................................... 14 C. Legal Status of Indigenous Peoples in the Country ......................................... 15 D. Laws, Policies, Programs, Mechanisms .......................................................... 18 E. Mapping of Projects/Programs of the Government in light of the ASEAN Integration Plan .................................................................................................. 21 F. Key Issues and Challenges ................................................................................. 22 G. Indigenous Organizations, Movements, Alliances, and Networks ................... 27 H. Key Recommendations ..................................................................................... 29 Acknowledgement The Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact would like to express its deep appreciation for the support extended by IWGIA, not only financially but also the understanding it has given in the face of challenges faced in making this report come to fruition. AIPP also acknowledges the support of the Cambodian Indigenous Youth Association (CIYA) to the author in the drafting of this report. We are also grateful for the feedback received from Mong Vichet, Yun Mane, Pheap Sochea, Samin Ngach, Jeremy Ironside, Graeme Brown and others in providing updated information and clarifications. The responsibility of the present research document remains, however, with the author. Acronyms ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations ADHOC Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association CIPO Cambodian Indigenous People Organization CIYA Cambodian Indigenous Youth Association CNRP Cambodian National Rescue Party CPP Cambodian People’s Party CBOs Community Based Organizations ELCs Economic Land Concessions EU European Union HA Highlander Association IADC Indigenous Peoples for Agriculture ICERD International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination IPNN Indigenous Peoples NGO Network IPOs Indigenous Peoples’ Organisations IPRH Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Health IRAM Indigenous Right Active Members IFC International Finance Corporation ILO International Labour Organization IWGIA International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs Lao PDR Lao People’s Democratic Republic NTFP non-timber forest products MoI Ministry of Interior MLMUPC Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction MoRD Ministry of Rural Development NSDP National Strategic Development Plan NGO non-government organisations OPKC Organization to Promote Kuy Culture UNDRIP United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples A. Background on various local socioeconomic organizations, cultural practices and ‘animist’ ceremonies Cambodian indigenous peoples, as they have when traveling or working in contact with non- been called recently (Baird 2008b, Swift 2013), Khmer groups inhabiting forested and hilly have never lived in cultural isolation, despite areas. their remote geographical location. They maintain a long history of encounters, exchanges, At the dawn of the twentieth century, the main adaptations, agreements and conflicts among purpose of the government was to ‘pacify’ the themselves and with neighboring empires, thus so-called aboriginals living in the hinterlands they cannot be considered as static groups. (Guérin 2008), as they were perceived as A legacy of the past has been maintained potential trouble-makers and uncivilized through oral transmission, even if irregularly people, therefore not yet suitable to be citizens and not homogenously in the present-days, of the nation. Preliminary explorations led by via epics, oral literature, myths and various colonizers (Cupet 1900) were followed by a ceremonies and rituals (Bourdier 2006). Recent non-intrusive state policy during the French anthropological analysis in the northeastern protectorate, followed in the sixties by the provinces shows that transmission is a dynamic Sihanouk policy of assimilation (Guérin 2009). process with newly included elements, like the The Cambodian government could not turn remnants of war (Uk 2011), artifacts and ideas ethnic minorities into ‘reasonable’ Khmers as borrowed from outside. These contribute to the expected. This vain attempt was interrupted creation, the richness and the diversity of what by the Khmer Rouge regime from 1970 (Colm can be called ‘flexible identities’ (Bourdier et al. 2009a) who, after forging preliminary dogmas 2014). related to indigenous peoples1 living in relative socio-economic equality, started to persecute The first written testimony was provided by those among them who were maintaining Chinese ambassador