The Bar Council Committee on Orang
Asli Rights (“COAR”) is organising a seminar on the land rights and
other challenges currently faced by the Orang Asli in Peninsular
Malaysia. The seminar will be held at Bar Council on 19 November 2011.
The
aim of the seminar is to increase awareness of the critical issues that
continue to threaten the Orang Asli’s customary way of life and their
very existence as indigenous people of the land – and to provide an
avenue by which lawyers can address this situation.
Time
and again we read reports and public statements on the protection of
the Orang Asli and their rights. However, the reality is that their
rights are, more often than not, trampled upon and ignored. There are
many cases where the Orang Asli are forced to vacate their ancestral
lands and give up their livelihood and heritage due to indiscriminate
logging, and arbitrary and unwelcome “development”. The predicament of
the Orang Asli is a matter of grave concern and must be brought to
light.
Apart
from the awareness aspect, lectures and training will also be conducted
at the seminar to equip Members of the Bar to represent the Orang Asli
in the many disputes and cases that are either pending or already in
court. To this end, there will be an open invitation at this seminar
for Members of the Bar to come forward and volunteer their services to
be part of the COAR’s pro bono legal team that handles these matters for the Orang Asli.
This
is a clarion call for a worthy cause that is central to the calling of
all lawyers who aspire to advocate the rights of the poor, downtrodden
and marginalised members of our society. Members of the Bar who want to
know more about issues affecting the Orang Asli, and want to be
involved in the pursuit of justice for them, should not miss the
opportunity of attending this seminar.
Details of the seminar are as follows:
Date: 19 November 2011 (Saturday)
Time: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Venue: Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium
1st Floor, Bar Council
15 Leboh Pasar Besar
50050 Kuala Lumpur
The
highlight of the seminar will be case presentations by lawyers, and
Orang Asli representatives from different settlements, whose lands are
being threatened or are encroached upon. They will share their
experiences and the many struggles they have to overcome in espousing
and protecting the fundamental rights of the Orang Asli.
COAR
will invite the Human Rights Commission of Malaysian (SUHAKAM) to speak
on the ongoing historical national inquiry on indigenous land rights.
We will also invite experienced lawyers and academicians to conduct
practical training on the basic elements, practice, procedure and
evidence of native title law.
The
constitutional fundamental right to life means more than mere
existence. It includes the right to land, the right to dwelling and the
right to livelihood. These rights must be protected for all peoples of
our land, including the Orang Asli. So, we urge Members of the Bar to
come join us in this endeavour to work with, defend and empower the
Orang Asli to realise their just rights.
For more information on the seminar, please contact Christina Gomez, Officer, Bar Council, by telephone at 03-2050 2087 or by email at christina@malaysianbar.org.my.
Ambiga Sreenevasan and Steven Thiru
Co-Chairpersons
Bar Council Committee on Orang Asli Rights
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