South East Asia Program [SEAP] 2007

“Students and Indigenous Peoples: Walking Hand in Hand for Human Rights”

The Indigenous Peoples (IPs) of today face extreme marginalization in almost every country in all fields. Despite being the “first” or “original” owners and inhabitants of the land and nation, they are often sidelines and forgotten in society in every aspect of citizenship. Despite practicing peaceful and non-violent spirituality and lifestyles, their culture is often labelled as uncivilised and not productive according to current commercial and globalized standards. Hence, they face very strong opposing forces in terms of human rights violations that are causing them to be pushed to the margins of society and in the longer term face extinctions.

The IMCS Asia Pacific is committed to promote engagement of university students with the indigenous peoples in order to journey hand in hand as to ensure the dignity of the indigenous people are maintained and enshrined. The students also have a lot to learn from the value rich experiences of the indigenous spirituality and cultures. With this reality in mind, this IMCS  South East Asian Program (SEAP) acts as a follow up programme of the IMCS International Committee 2007 program: “Empowering Student Action for Dialogue and Peace”, IMCS Asia Pacific Council 2006 program: “Student Engagement in Peace-Building through Dialogue”, the Pan Asia Pacific Assembly 2004 program “Towards an Alternative Globalization – Students with the Marginalized”.

Background

IMCS AP has constantly journeyed with the indigenous people in the past. Our certain national movements like AICUF (India) and the MCSC (Malaysia) have specific programs for and with the Indigenous Peoples. This South East Asian Program will further deepen the experience of students and provide for them specific analytical and responding tools towards the indigenous people. As for our movements whom are yet to work or focus on indigenous issues, this SEAP will act as an introductory to them.

The SEAP is a platform to reflect on the context of South East Asia as follows:

• The South East Asian reflections on IP social realties and the students’ role to respond
• Issue Forum: We will study common critical Human Rights issues in South East Asia and discover the deeper implications and impact of these issues, and decide on short term and long term follow-ups.
• Skills Training: We will provide tools for the students to use in their effort of peace building as to empower them to engage effectively at grassroots, national, sub-regional, regional and global levels as to be in solidarity with the IPs
• Enhance solidarity among all national movements in South East Asia.