Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANILA4349
2006-10-13 09:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Manila
Cable title:
UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
how-toVZCZCXRO8221 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHML #4349 2860916 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 130916Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY MANILA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3486 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 9442 RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND IMMEDIATE 0552 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0180
UNCLAS MANILA 004349
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA UN RP
SUBJECT: UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
REF: STATE 169257
UNCLAS MANILA 004349
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA UN RP
SUBJECT: UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
REF: STATE 169257
1. (SBU) Jointly with officers from the New Zealand and
Australian Embassies, poloff on October 12 delivered reftel
demarche on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Human Rights
and Humanitarian Affairs Director Noel Servigon. Servigon
said the decision as to how the Philippines will vote in the
UNGA now lies with Foreign Secretary Romulo, but he promised
to convey these views to the Secretary. He noted that the
Philippines had abstained in the Human Rights Council vote in
June because it had not had a chance fully to consider the
Declaration.
2. (SBU) Servigon described two Philippine concerns with
the Declaration: its implications for ancestral domain, and
its provision for self-determination. He highlighted the
GRP's ongoing peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front in Muslim Mindanao as a complicating factor, due to a
lively debate over these very issues. He added that the
indigenous peoples movement in the Philippines "has grown
strong," and expressed surprise that nations with "similar
concerns" -- especially from Latin America -- had voted in
favor of the Declaration in the Human Rights Council. He
requested copies of any formal voting position issued by any
of the three governments.
KENNEY
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA UN RP
SUBJECT: UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
REF: STATE 169257
1. (SBU) Jointly with officers from the New Zealand and
Australian Embassies, poloff on October 12 delivered reftel
demarche on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Human Rights
and Humanitarian Affairs Director Noel Servigon. Servigon
said the decision as to how the Philippines will vote in the
UNGA now lies with Foreign Secretary Romulo, but he promised
to convey these views to the Secretary. He noted that the
Philippines had abstained in the Human Rights Council vote in
June because it had not had a chance fully to consider the
Declaration.
2. (SBU) Servigon described two Philippine concerns with
the Declaration: its implications for ancestral domain, and
its provision for self-determination. He highlighted the
GRP's ongoing peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front in Muslim Mindanao as a complicating factor, due to a
lively debate over these very issues. He added that the
indigenous peoples movement in the Philippines "has grown
strong," and expressed surprise that nations with "similar
concerns" -- especially from Latin America -- had voted in
favor of the Declaration in the Human Rights Council. He
requested copies of any formal voting position issued by any
of the three governments.
KENNEY