Inexcusable blunder and a clear violation of the UNDRIP
By Gingging Avellanosa-ValleJuly 19, 2015
Sunstar Davao
IF AN ordinary citizen happens to “degrade” a person in authority, such act would constitute an unforgivable offense, such that it could even cost the life of the wrong doer. The person would probably be immediately imprisoned or detained in some “correctional” facility or worse. But if a government functionary who is supposed to be a “servant” of public interest wrongs the ordinary person or people, a reproach can never be said by those are at the receiving end of the insult. Their “position” in society, of course, spells the difference.
In a capitalist, decadent society, the servant becomes the master, because the master has no power whatsoever, even if he or she was the ones responsible for putting the servant in their place.
Such was the irony that was graphically displayed by the supposed chairperson to a House Committee on the Indigenous Peoples whose mandate is to serve the interests of the Indigenous Peoples and not to discriminate and hurl insults on their person.
Unfortunately, the representative was so ignorant of her duty that she could do nothing but brag about her feelings of disgust and contempt against the people she claims to be her kind.
It is a BIG shame, because by doing so, the Committee being headed by that irresponsible chairperson have degraded and defiled their duty and has tacitly refused to heed the call of the “United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) resolution adopted by the General Assembly... taking note of the recommendation of the Human Rights Council contained in its resolution 1/2 of 29 June 2006,1 by which the Council adopted the text of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples… by which it decided to defer consideration of an action on the Declaration to allow time for further consultations thereon, and also decided to conclude its consideration before the end of the sixty-first session of the General Assembly, (and henceforth) …adopts the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as contained in the annex to the present resolution.”
Contained in this particular document of UNDRIP, which was also signed by the Republic of the Philippines as member country to the United Nations, are the following acknowledgements: “Reaffirming that indigenous peoples, in the exercise of their rights, should be free from discrimination of any kind, concerned that indigenous peoples have suffered from historic injustices as a result of, inter alia, their colonization and dispossession of their lands, territories and resources, thus preventing them from exercising, in particular, their right to development in accordance with their own needs and interests, recognizing the urgent need to respect and promote the inherent rights of indigenous peoples which derive from their political, economic and social structures and from their cultures, spiritual traditions, histories and philosophies, especially their rights to their lands, territories and resources, recognizing also the urgent need to respect and promote the rights of indigenous peoples affirmed in treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements with States…"
It added: “Recognizing that the situation of indigenous peoples varies from region to region and from country to country and that the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical and cultural backgrounds should be taken into consideration, solemnly proclaims the following United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a standard of achievement to be pursued in a spirit of partnership and mutual respect.”
Under the same declaration, the UNDRIP further stated among others, on “Article 14 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to establish and control their educational systems and institutions providing education in their own languages, in a manner appropriate to their cultural methods of teaching and learning. 2. Indigenous individuals, particularly children, have the right to all levels and forms of education of the State without discrimination. 3. States shall, in conjunction with indigenous peoples, take effective measures, in order for indigenous individuals, particularly children, including those living outside their communities, to have access, when possible, to an education in their own culture and provided in their own language…”
Moreover, the UN declaration further stated on “Article 15 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to the dignity and diversity of their cultures, traditions, histories and aspirations which shall be appropriately reflected in education and public information. 2. States shall take effective measures, in consultation and cooperation with the indigenous peoples concerned, to combat prejudice and eliminate discrimination and to promote tolerance, understanding and good relations among indigenous peoples and all other segments of society.”
But sadly, Representative Nancy Catamco, chairperson to the Committee on Indigenous Peoples, conveniently IGNORED these facts and allowed her true prejudices to surface and maligned the already suffering Ata-Manobo who are only trying to survive with the assistance of well-meaning organizations and civilians after government agents chose to trample on their rights as a people.
Truly, it is a big SHAME, as she further demeans the IPs with her insensitivity by giving out school bags to their children whom she openly insulted, with big pictures of herself and her family pasted on it.
Unwittingly though, she gave the Ata-Manobo something to remind themselves of her foul-smelling mouth and rudeness which is being recorded in history as unprecedented and ultimate maleficence!
No comments:
Post a Comment