A three-day roundtable meeting on globalisation and security impact on indigenous and tribal peoples ended in Kuching, Sarawak today with a call on governments in Asia to review their security-related laws and its negative impact on human rights of indigenous and tribal peoples.

About 30 participants from Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh, India and the United Kingdom met to discuss the various related issues.

A representative of the International Association of Peoples' Lawyers from Belgium was also present.

A prospective key participant from Kuala Lumpur Colin Nicholas was denied entry to Kuching "in violation of his freedom of movement within his own country," a statement issued by the organisers said.

A conference official told reporters that Nicholas had been barred from entering Sarawak, although he is also a Malaysian, because of what was said to be his involvement in anti-logging activities in Sarawak in 1987.

Provides a forum

The Sept 9-11 meeting held at a local hotel was organised by the Miri-based Borneo Resources Institute Malaysia (Brimas), Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) and the Minority Rights Group International, London (MRGI).

"The meeting aimed to provide a forum for indigenous and human rights organisations in Asia to discuss the impact of globalisation and security on the human rights of indigenous and tribal peoples, besides assessing situations and sharing strategies for addressing such developments," according to programme co-ordinator Raymond Abin, of Brimas.

The conference participants said the aftermath of the Sept 11 terror attacks provided a fresh impetus for governments to invoke what they described as repressive laws which intensified human rights violations against indigenous and tribal and minorities.

"These repressive laws are efforts to create 'peace' through 'war on terrorism.' Therefore, the importance of the roundtable meeting further contributes towards the task of preserving, protecting and defending the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples against any violation," according to an official statement after the meeting.

Publish details

Later, at a press conference, Beverly Longid, the Philippine representative, made it clear that they were not against laws dealing with terrorists and terror organisations but how they could or would affect the human rights of indigenous peoples and tribes.

She expressed concern that governments could use security laws as an excuse to send in security forces into tribal areas or to legitimise certain actions for economic reasons in exploiting the resources in tribal lands.

She said there was a move by Asean security chiefs to harmonise similar laws, and urged the region's governments to publish the details for the benefit of their people, especially human rights organisations.

Novi Julaiha, the representative from Indonesia, said another example when security laws were being applied was in the case of what was known as the Bulu Kumba tragedy that occurred in the Kajang area, Sulawesi in July when at least five people and many others injured in shooting involving security forces trying to stop a rally by 1700 people in from the legislative assembly in defence of their indigenous and tribal rights.

She added that there was also heightened concern at new laws being used in the troubled province of Aceh in Indonesia where separatists are waging a war against the military for the last three years.

"This affects the indigenous and tribal groups just as much," she said.