Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BANDARSERIBEGAWAN531
2006-10-20 08:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Cable title:
BRUNEI SHARES OUR CONCERN ABOUT UN DECLARATION ON
how-toVZCZCXRO5362 RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBD #0531 2930836 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 200836Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3578 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0408 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000531
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MTS AND IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2016
TAGS: KTIA PHUM PREL BX
SUBJECT: BRUNEI SHARES OUR CONCERN ABOUT UN DECLARATION ON
THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
REF: SECSTATE 169257
Classified By: DCM Justin Friedman, reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000531
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MTS AND IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2016
TAGS: KTIA PHUM PREL BX
SUBJECT: BRUNEI SHARES OUR CONCERN ABOUT UN DECLARATION ON
THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
REF: SECSTATE 169257
Classified By: DCM Justin Friedman, reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (SBU) DCM delivered reftel demarche together with the
Australian DCM on October 19 to Florence Chong, Assistant
Director for International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade. We were forced to wait until the 19th
because the Australian Embassy in Brunei did not receive
instructions until the 18th.
2. (C) Chong responded that she agreed with all our major
points about the draft Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples. Emphasizing that she was speaking
personally, she said that she was concerned that the draft
text was highly proscriptive, dictating actions by
governments without taking into account local conditions.
She said that the text would be reviewed by MFAT legal
experts and the Attorney General's office, and that she
anticipated that they would object in particular to the draft
elements that challenge the sovereignty of national
governments over their subjects. NOTE: Chong is well
informed about UN issues and a key voice in formulating the
GoB positions at UNGA and in UN committees. END NOTE.
3. (C) Chong noted that Brunei law declares that seven ethnic
groups, including the majority Malay people, are indigenous.
Thus, it would be hard to say what impact the declaration
would have if passed in its current form. That said, Chong
shared U.S. and Australian concerns about the precedent this
declaration could set and noted particularly our point that
this declaration could restrict the ability of states to
govern for the common good.
SKODON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MTS AND IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2016
TAGS: KTIA PHUM PREL BX
SUBJECT: BRUNEI SHARES OUR CONCERN ABOUT UN DECLARATION ON
THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
REF: SECSTATE 169257
Classified By: DCM Justin Friedman, reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (SBU) DCM delivered reftel demarche together with the
Australian DCM on October 19 to Florence Chong, Assistant
Director for International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade. We were forced to wait until the 19th
because the Australian Embassy in Brunei did not receive
instructions until the 18th.
2. (C) Chong responded that she agreed with all our major
points about the draft Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples. Emphasizing that she was speaking
personally, she said that she was concerned that the draft
text was highly proscriptive, dictating actions by
governments without taking into account local conditions.
She said that the text would be reviewed by MFAT legal
experts and the Attorney General's office, and that she
anticipated that they would object in particular to the draft
elements that challenge the sovereignty of national
governments over their subjects. NOTE: Chong is well
informed about UN issues and a key voice in formulating the
GoB positions at UNGA and in UN committees. END NOTE.
3. (C) Chong noted that Brunei law declares that seven ethnic
groups, including the majority Malay people, are indigenous.
Thus, it would be hard to say what impact the declaration
would have if passed in its current form. That said, Chong
shared U.S. and Australian concerns about the precedent this
declaration could set and noted particularly our point that
this declaration could restrict the ability of states to
govern for the common good.
SKODON