PREAMBLE

We the participants of the Asian Indigenous and Tribal Peoples’ Consultation on “Empowerment of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples for Self-Rule” held on 2-4 March 2005 in Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, Panjabari, Guwahati, Assam, address widely the serious deteriorating situation and problems faced by Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) in most of the Asian nations. They feel and fully realize that Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) are the most disadvantaged groups in society despite the considerable efforts that have been made during the last several decades for their protection and development.

The Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) face serious problems, such as racial discrimination, land alienation, militarization, forced population transfer, displacement, human rights abuses and cultural assimilation. Their traditional way of governance has been denied and suppressed. Their habitations were divided during colonial period by applying “divide and rule” policy for colonial interests. In the wake of their recent awareness, Indigenous, and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) have realized that there is a need to rectify the past errors of territorial divisions for full realization and enjoyment of their fundamental rights and freedoms through a peaceful process towards Indigenous and Tribal Peoples’ self-determination. The participants discussed various options, such as self-rule, village council and self-determination as a solution to these problems. Taking these facts into consideration, the Consultation has unanimously adopted the following recommendations for consideration by the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 2005:

• Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) should have the right to choose their able community representative bodies having women representative in equal footing which will have full authority to govern their territories and affairs based on their customary laws, culture, tradition and religion;
• The traditional social and political institutions of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) should be recognized and respected by the states.
• The Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) should have permanent sovereignty over their lands and territories and resources;
• Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) should have the right to development in their own way;
• In the process of development, Indigenous and Tribal Peoples’ landed properties should be utilized, if required, only on proper rental basis;
• Any national and international development program in the territories of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) should be designed and implemented with full and effective participation of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples on the basis of proper terms agreed between Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) authorities and the agencies concerned;
• Territories of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) should be free of state military intervention;
• The rights of the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) should be restored and safeguarded and the past errors of territorial boundaries that have created during colonial period or under super power control should be rectified conforming to the concerns of the lesser known Indigenous and Tribal Peoples also;
• The UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Adivasi) should be adopted and implemented at the earliest;
• Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) should have every rights to self-determination in accordance with the UN Declaration;
• Internal colonization through infiltration, migration, and settlement of non Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) population in the lands and territories of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples must be stopped;
• The lands of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) occupied by state or/any other peoples other than Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) should be restored and safeguarded and preserve customary tenancy land laws including natural resources of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) occupied by non- Indigenous Tribal Peoples;
• Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) affected by development programs should be properly repatriated to their own territories and rehabilitated with proper establishments for their future sustainable livelihood;
• The development aid policies and implementation systems of states and international agencies should be thoroughly reviewed and amended and corrected;
• The Principles and implementation methods of social and economic development are universal, like the human rights. These must be applied in practice for all including Indigenous and Tribal Peoples.

Some of these include:

• Full and effective participation and freedom of choice in all development activities affecting them;
• Help from people to people and help for self-sufficiency;
• Full transparency and accountability;
• Relation between development aid agencies and the organizations of Indigenous Peoples should be direct;
• System of direct and indirect restraint must be replaced by empowering the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples. Restraint/suppression is the main cause of their desperate situation;
• Encouragement and promotion should be given for UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for dialogue between different religions including Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) religions, in order to avoid conflicts and promote mutual acceptance. There can be no peace, hope progress for the minorities as without peace and understanding between the different religion and cultures;
• Close cooperation and coordinated activities of all organizations concerned, such as the UN Human Rights, World Bank, WHO, Human Rights Organization and funding agencies are required for a real progress for all;
• Worldwide research program for humane and sustainable development for whole human society should be promoted from the United Nations as well as from national research programs;
• Depriving the very livelihood of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) without adequate and proper arrangement for their future livelihood will lead to slow genocide and should be considered as a crime against humanity;
• In all the development issues and processes, empowering women to effective participation in all decision-making processes and bodies of the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) and other bodies concerning them should ensure gender parity and equality. Special programs should be undertaken for development of Indigenous women and children;
• There should be a separate data bank on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Adivasi) religions in the government census and records.
  
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