We stress to the members of APEC that the non-recognition of the collective rights of indigenous peoples, is contrary to democracy and does not provide genuine partnerships for sustainable peoples development and security in peaceful co-existence. Therefore, while this situation of negation and exclusion persists, the agreements of APEC lack legitimacy as despite the fact that all that is to be implemented in economic matters in the framework of the right to lands, territories and related resources, does not count with our consent, considering that these rights constitute the fundamental basis of our culture. We urgently ask the members of APEC that they include in their agenda the issues of indigenous peoples and establish a mechanism of full and effective participation of indigenous peoples be opened as a form to guarantee and secure our cultural projection and the respect for the human rights of indigenous peoples.Cordillera Peoples Alliance, Philippines; PIPEC - Pacific Indigenous Peoples Environment Coalition, Aotearoa/New Zealand; Tebtebba, Indigenous Peoples’ International Centre for Policy Research and Education, Philippines; International Indian Treaty Council, USA; ANIPA – Asamblea Nacional Indígena Plural por la Autonomia, México; Consejo de Todas las Tierras, Chile; Wallmapuche, Pucón, Chile  04 - June - 2004  (2004-6-14)

 
Centro de Documentación Mapuche Documentation Center

DECLARATION AND POSITION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TO THE MEETING OF THE APEC TRADE MINISTERS, CHILE 4 to 5 JUNE, 2004

Cordillera Peoples Alliance, Philippines

PIPEC - Pacific Indigenous Peoples Environment Coalition, Aotearoa/New Zealand

Tebtebba, Indigenous Peoples’ International Centre for Policy Research and Education, Philippines

International Indian Treaty Council, USA

ANIPA – Asamblea Nacional Indígena Plural por la Autonomia, México

Consejo de Todas las Tierras, Chile

Wallmapuche, Pucón, Chile  04 -   June -   2004


Honourable Ministers of Trade of the Member Economies of APEC, meeting in Mapuche territory – Wallmapuche

APEC, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, pretends to benefit and improve the living conditions of all citizens in the member countries. However, APEC is part of the general process of globalizing trade and finance liberalization which can undermine the inherent rights of indigenous peoples to their territories and their collective rights because the economic interests of transnational corporations will prevail over our rights.

In this regard, we, indigenous peoples and organizations with ancestral rights in these member countries of APEC would like to present some fundamental concerns which affect our future as well as underline the lack of transparency and call your attention to the following recommendations and specific demands of the indigenous peoples concerned.

1. We express our serious concern for the lack of transparency in the process of APEC where there is no public information on the working documents which contain the details of the scope of the economic agreements. This situation might give rise to a lack of legitimacy of the process and the agreements made between governments. The absence of indigenous issues in this forum is alarming given that these agreements of globalizing economy directly affect the fundamental rights of indigenous peoples.

2. We, the indigenous peoples of the countries which integrate APEC have suffered from the negative impacts of the development of free trade and the accelerated economic cooperation in the context of the so-called globalization in various forms. The criteria which guide the agreements of free trade do not take into account nor respect our human rights. In this respect, we underline, that we are holders of ancestral rights. In the frame of these agreements, we are not consulted nor do we participate in the taking of decisions which have an immediate impact on our lives and collective rights.

3. Therefore, we urge that you recognize our human rights as indigenous peoples as they are enshrined in the Draft United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, such as there are the rights to land, territory and self-determination, expressed in Article 3: “Indigenous peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development”, as well as in the Draft American Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples – OAS. In this respect, our right to self-determination as peoples and our territorial rights must be recognized and respected in any decision or acitivity which is taken or taking place in our territories and which affect our ways and conditions of live as indigenous peoples.

4. In particular, we would like to call your attention on Articles 6 and 7 of the ILO Convention Nr. 169 which establish that indigenous peoples and communities affected by a development project or proposal must be consulted in a broad and transparent way and they must participate in the decision-making and at every step of the project or proposal. However, we believe that this internationally recognized principle and right is not taken into account in the APEC agreements.

5. With regard to our natural resources and traditional knowledge and the associated rights, we would like to draw your attention on the Convention on Biological Diversity which states in Article 8(j) that “ the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities” must be respected, preserved and maintained. Furthermore, Article 10 (c) of the same Convention calls for the protection and continuation of the customary use of biological resources, in accordance with traditional cultural practices.

6. We are calling on the members of APEC to recognize the elemental norms of the human rights of indigenous peoples; particularly those countries which have not ratified ILO Convention 169 and which furthermore do not have a policy on indigenous peoples.

7. We stress to the members of APEC that the non-recognition of the collective rights of indigenous peoples, is contrary to democracy and does not provide genuine partnerships for sustainable peoples development and security in peaceful co-existence.

8. Therefore, while this situation of negation and exclusion persists, the agreements of APEC lack legitimacy as despite the fact that all that is to be implemented in economic matters in the framework of the right to lands, territories and related resources, does not count with our consent, considering that these rights constitute the fundamental basis of our culture.

9. We urgently ask the members of APEC that they include in their agenda the issues of indigenous peoples and establish a mechanism of full and effective participation of indigenous peoples be opened as a form to guarantee and secure our cultural projection and the respect for the human rights of indigenous peoples.

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