1 August 2011

Dear UNPO Members and Friends,

This past month the UNPO has worked with its members to support our commitment to the democratic principle of freedom of information. This principle, a key component in any healthy democracy and a right protected by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, is violated with relative regularity by many states. The UNPO has joined with many other organisations in condemning the arrest of the journalists Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson in Ethiopia. UNPO was able to highlight these concerns as well as the many other human rights abuses taking place in Ethiopia at the country’s review under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights over the course of July in Geneva.

 UNPO took further action on its commitment to the freedom of information by condemning China for violations of human rights under a strangulating veil of deliberate misinformation surrounding the July 18 violence in Hotan, East Turkestan that resulted in the deaths of 20 people.

July was also a month of mourning for the death of Otto von Habsburg, father to Karl von Habsburg, a former Director General of the UNPO. Otto von Habsburg was an important figure in Cold War European politics, having been the main organizer of the Pan-European Picnic, a key event in the Reunification of Germany and the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Earlier this month UNPO recognized the 1000th day of the abduction of indigenous rights activist James Moy Balao, a member of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance. It is believed that Balao was abducted by state security forces in collaboration with local military and police units in September 2008.  The Cordillera Peoples Alliance, Cordillera Human Rights Alliance and others organized a letter campaign to Philippine president, Benigno Aquino III. UNPO supported these calls for James Belau’s immediate release and a thorough investigation into his abduction. UNPO is deeply concerned about the continued targeting of indigenous and minority rights activists through enforced disappearance, imprisonment and execution; these reprehensible tactics are used against a number of UNPO Members.

Finally, UNPO celebrates the Dalai Lama’s birthday, as he turned 76 on the 6th of July. While he may have retired from his position as the political leader of Tibet, his legacy was commemorated at the creation of the European Council of Mongolia-Uyghur-Tibet-China (ECMUTC). It is an important initiative for three UNPO members: Inner Mongolia, East Turkestan and Tibet.  Created to enhance exchange between the groups, the Council’s launch was hailed by UNPO representative Andrew Swan as a “key moment in the campaign for human rights, freedom of expression, and respect for multiculturalism in China.” The ECMUTC unites these different groups under the universal slogan of Freedom-Equality-Love-Culture-Peace.

Best Wishes,

Marino Busdachin, UNPO General Secretary

July Activities & Events

July 1

Call for the Release of Disappeared James Balao

The Hague, the Netherlands

UNPO joins the Cordillera Peoples Alliance campaign to petition President Aquino to release human rights activist James Balao, who has been missing for over 1,000 days as of June 2011, and to address the issue of enforced disappearances in the Philippines.

Assyrian National Day

 Worldwide

 Assyrians from around the world joined together in celebrating their common culture and ancient history as well as marking those Assyrians who have lost their lives lost in Iraq and elsewhere because of their identity and religion.  On 4 July the Dutch Parliament passed a resolution calling on Iraq and the European Union to protect Assyrians in the Nineveh Plains of Iraq.

July 2

Oromo Conference

Brussels, Belgium

UNPO amongst other speakers from Europe, Middle East and Africa presented on the international recognition of the Oromo Nation and its current challenges at a conference titled “Let’s Work for the Freedom of Nations and Regional Stability” and organized by the Oromo Parliamentarians Council. Despite efforts by the Ethiopian Embassy, a significant number of participants attended. 

July 4

A Question of Sovereignty? The EU´s Policy on Taiwan´s Participation in International Organizations

Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

UNPO attends the defence of new research into the role and perspective of the European Union and its member states in their relations and interaction with Taiwan in international institutions.

July 5

Demonstration Commemorating the 2008 Urumqi Unrest

Brussels, Belgium

UNPO met with leaders of Chinese, Mongol, Tibetan, and Uyghur representatives at the close of a demonstration marking the second anniversary since the 2008 Urumqi massacres in which protests were violently put down in East Turkestan by Chinese security forces.  Many individuals remain unaccounted for, their families not knowing whether they have been killed, detained or sent to re-education labour camps.

July 6

Launch of European Council of Mongolia-Uyghur-Tibet-China

Brussels, Belgium

UNPO attended the launch of the European Council of Mongolia-Uyghur-Tibet-China (ECMUTC). The ECMUTC is a new forum for a number of groups that face repression under the Chinese state government including three UNPO members of East Turkestan, Inner Mongolia, and Tibet. The forum is intended to help the groups learn from each other’s experiences and to enhance cultural exchange between them. 

July 7

EU-China Human Rights Dialogue Debriefing

Brussels, Belgium

UNPO joined other human rights organisations in attending the European Commission’s debriefing of the recent EU-China Human Rights Dialogue.

Reform, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka

Brussels, Belgium

Discussions centred on the impact of reconciliation on Sri Lanka, the role of the international communities and the lessons to be learned and transferred from the experience of Sri Lanka in recent years.

July 8

UNPO condemns arrest of journalists Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye

Two journalists, the Swedish photographer Johan Persson and reporter Martin Schibbye, were violently detained by the Ethiopian government  on the 1st July 2011.  They are contributors to the Swedish based Kontinent.  UNPO Secretary General Marino Busdachin issued a statement unilaterally condemning “the policies of intimidation, harassment and expulsions pursued by the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and called for the immediate and unconditional release of both Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye.” 

July 11-15th

4th Session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Geneva, Switzerland

The theme for this year’s EMRIP session is indigenous peoples’ right to participate in decision-making.   There remains debate regarding indigenous decision-making processes and organizations and how they can compliment or bring their concerns to state governance institutions.  In many instances, indigenous communities remain vulnerable to top-down State interventions which lead to land repossession, ethnic conflict, human rights violations and the loss of sustainable livelihoods.

Rabindranath Soren of the Jatiya Adivasi Parishad and Kapaeeng Foundation gave a statement on the 12th of July for the 4th Session of the EMRIP on language and educational hindrances on the adivasi people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. 

July 11 – July 29

Ethiopia under review at the 102nd session of the Human Rights Committee for the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Geneva, Switzerland 

UNPO with a coalition of NGOs briefed the committee on the pressing human rights issues that require attention in Ethiopia, including anti-terror law, practices of torture, and the arrest of the journalists Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye. The day was given further emphasis by a demonstration of Ogaden diaspora which gathered outside the UN Office to bring attention to human rights abuses occurring in the Ogaden region. The Committee questioned the Ethiopian delegation on the prevailing issues. In addition UNPO met with a number of Permanent missions to inform them of the human rights situation in Ethiopia as well as the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Somali region. 

July 12

UNPO attends exchange of views with the Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives

Brussels, Belgium

UNPO attended an “exchange of views” with Uthama Al-Nujaifi, the Speaker of the Council of Representatives of the Republic of Iraq. He discussed the challenge of strengthening democracy in the country. He affirmed the need for “coexistence” between Iraqis many factions and ethnicities and he also addressed questions on the plight of minorities, referring to the refugee situation of Christian minorities as a “crime” but overall his contributions failed to evoke much confidence from Iraq’s minority communities.  For more information go here.

July 13

Development Policy for Peace and Stability in the Sahel Region

European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium

UNPO attended a seminar on the Sahel region, the southern stretch below the Saharan desert and marking the transition to the Sudanese Savannahs. It includes parts of Nigeria, Senegal and Ethiopia and is characterised by underdevelopment. This seminar included input from representatives of the EU, NGOs and local stakeholders.

Bureau du Tibet Reception

Brussels, Belgium

At the invitation of the Bureau du Tibet, UNPO staff attended a reception marking the 76th birthday of H. H. the Dalai Lama.  Guests comprising prominent members of the European Parliament and long-standing supporters of Tibet were present for renditions of traditional Tibetan music and dancing in the company of Acting Representative of H.H. the Dalai Lama, Mr Kelsang Gyaltsen.

July 19

Georgia’s Choices: Charting a Future in Uncertain Times

Brussels, Belgium

Organized by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, UNPO attended the discussion centred around a report by Thomas de Waal, titled “Georgia’s Choices: Charting a Future in Uncertain Times”.  The event comes ahead of Abkhazia’s 26 August 2011 Presidential elections following the passing of Sergei Bagapsh.

July 25

UNPO General Secretary Condemns Violence in Hotan, East Turkestan

Brussels, Belgium

The UNPO General Secretary issued a statement of condemnation in response to an incident in Hotan, East Turkestan on Monday 18 July 2011, which resulted in the deaths of some 20 people. The statement condemned both the violence that caused the deaths and the Chinese government’s policies of repression and violence towards the Uyghur population and their expression of their rights and identity. It also called for an increase in the need for transparency and flow of information into and out of  the PR China. You can read the statement here.

July 26

Meeting with the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Brussels, Belgium

As drought continues to deeply affect the Horn of Africa Region, UNPO joined representatives of the Republic of Somaliland, Mr. Mohamoud Daar in meeting with the Brussels office of OCHA to raise awareness of the situation in Somaliland and steps being taken to mitigate any future drought. 

Upcoming Activities & Events

August 9

International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

The 17th commemoration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People.  The theme for this year is “Indigenous designs: celebrating stories and cultures, crafting our own future.”   The 65th session of the General Assembly will commemorate the day through statements to be given by the Secretary General, the President of the General Assembly amongst other key figures. More information can be found here. 

August 14

Anniversary of Abkhazian Declaration of Independence

Abkhazia marks the anniversary when it faced a land and air attack from Georgian forces on the southeast part of Abkhazia and its capital city, Sokhum, that claimed many lives and resulted in a tragic humanitarian crisis.

UNPO Publications

UNPO 20th Anniversary Publication

The 20th Anniversary Publication puts into perspective the achievements of the last two decades and understand the challenges and issues faced along the journey to improve the situations of our unrepresented nations and peoples. Click here to view. [http://www.unpo.org/article/12302]

Mapuche Summer School Report

In January 2011 UNPO together with the Escuela de Filosofia, Espiritualidad y Sabiduria Ancestral Mapuche implemented this year´s first Mapuche summer school in the community of Andrés Huanqui, Limahue, in the IX Region. The three-day event helped Mapuche children and youth re-connect with their culture in a natural surrounding and is part of the first phase of a three-year project aimed at fostering a process of revitalisation of the Mapuche culture in Chile. Click here to view. [http://www.unpo.org/article/12451]

UNPO Indigenous Overview – Trends in Africa 2011

UNPO report on environmental degradation and resource depletion in Africa and how our Members are affected by these issues. Click here to view. [http://www.unpo.org/article/12620]

UNPO Report – Restoration of Crimean Tatars Rights

A report created for the Crimean Tatar roundtable that occurred on June 28th titled: “Crimean Tatars: A Missing Piece in Ukraine’s Society? Roundtable Discussion on the Restoration of Crimean Tatars’ Rights”. The report provides an overview of the historical and contemporary situation of the Crimean Tatars. Current prevailing issues mentioned in the article include land rights, the recognition and preservation of the Crimean Tatar language, employment and religious acceptance and tolerance. Click here to view. [http://www.unpo.org/downloads/278.pdf]

UNPO CERD Report at the 79th Session During the Consideration of the 19th to 21st Periodic Reports of Ukraine

UNPO has submitted an Alternative Report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ahead of Ukraine’s review in August 2011.  This report to the Treaty Body monitoring committee underlines the economic, social and political marginalization experienced by the Crimean Tatars due to racial discrimination in Ukraine. The full report can be downloaded here.  

UNPO Donations

We are celebrating our 20th anniversary at UNPO. In recognising the achievements of the last two decades, it is also explicit that we rely on financial support from our members and friends to continue our work each year, such donations are crucial to ensure the continued full participation and engagement of a great number of underrepresented communities, indigenous peoples, minorities and occupied or unrecognised territories. The 2008-2010 General Secretary report gives an overview of the activities we have been working on over the last two years.

August Newsletter

Please send us your agendas for the coming months for inclusion in our diary. If you have any questions or queries please feel free to contact the UNPO Secretariat at unpo@unpo.org