International Council for the Indigenous Peoples of CHT (ICIP-CHT)

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UN ECOSOC rejects 'hEW&//l with CHT Accord

The General Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), whose session started on 22
nd
July,
ended yesterday (29
th
) in Geneva, Switzerland. ECOSOC is the parent body of several subsidiary bodies, including the UN
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), and reports to the UN general Assembly.

After intense negotiations over the past three days and even up to the last minute of the agenda, the ECOSOC rejected
C8 unlll Bangladesh had expressed its concerns over the PFII going beyond its
mandate in dealing with the issue of the implementation of the CHT Accord of 1997, on the ground that there were no
indigenous peoples in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). Statements in explanation of its position were made by the GOB,
as by others among the fifty-four members of ECOSOC. However, the GoB lacking solidarity from other ECOSOC
member-

A few of the many concerns raised by the GoB are to be i P
ECOSOC, will not delete any paragraphs of the 10
th
session report, as was pleaded by the GoB. ECOSOC will not
distinguish between indigenous and tribal groups, as highlighted by the GoB, or take i C8
the jurisdiction of the PFII to deal with the CHT Accord of 1977 on the basis that the ethnic groups of the CHT were not
indigenous, and hence outside the purview of the mandate of the PFII.

The UNPFII, in June, had cal C8 CP1
declare a timeframe for implementation of the peace accord, and establish an independent commission to inquire into
CP1 A unlll
recommended that the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO) review the military personnel and units,
who are being sent on UN missions to make sure no personnel or units are taken from any, that are accused by
indigenous Jumma people of violating human rights in the CHT.
Other country responses:
The USA seemed determined to protect the integrity of the UNPFII and this reflected a major shift in its international
engagements with regard to indigenous issues under President Obama.

Mexico was the lead facilitator and played a very constructive role in the consensual decision. Bolivia highlighted PFII as
the only space for dialogue on IP issues in the UN; France (EU) reaffirmed independent nature of PFII and reiterated that
the report be adopted by consensus, albeit with a note, refers to a specific situation and does not set a precedent for
ECOSOC to deal with reports of a subsidiary body; Australia supported the role of the PFII as a constructive forum for
dialogue; in such complex situations as in the CHT, it stands ready to assist GOB/ and people of the CHT in dialogue; and
Morocco welcomed adoption by consensus.

Reportedly, only China, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, all three countries with the worst human-rights records in Asia,
provided some support to the concerns raised by Bangladesh; L 8 C8
stance, they reiterated the importance of the role of indigenous peoples on the international human rights agenda.

FINAL & FULL TEXT ADOPTED BY ECOSOC CAN BE FOUND AT:
http://www.unog.ch/unog/website/news_media.nsf/%28httpNewsByYear_en%29/EE007477BCA3B90FC12578DC003B50EE?OpenDocument

Published by ICIP-CHT (International Council for the Indigenous Peoples of CHT)
Media contact:
Prof Mong Sanu: +88 01730086301
Wasfia Nazreen: +88 01675588890