30-06-2025
Voices Of Power: Regional Exchange And Solidarity Building In Defense Of Indigenous Peoples Rights
In building unity and support for Indigenous women paralegals and rights defenders, IPMSDL gathered Indigenous women partners and members from the Philippines, Northeast India, Bangladesh, West Papua, Burma and Borneo last June 20, 2024 for the 'Voices of Power: Regional Exchange and Solidarity Building in Defense of Indigenous Peoples Rights' in Penang, Malaysia.
The regional gathering was one of the side-events during the two-day International Festival for Peoples Rights & Struggles that brought together hundreds of attendees from people's movements from around the world.
The regional activity followed a series of online discussions, local para-legal training, rights and anti–judicial harassment campaigning led by Indigenous women.
'We gather to hear the lived experiences and challenges faced by communities and the different but common struggles on Indigenous women and Indigenous Peoples against criminalization due to their defense of their rights, lands and territories,' said Paul Belisario, IPMSDL global coordinator.
Opening the event was a traditional prayer and ritual by Indigenous Dayak from Sabah, asking for the ancestors and spirits to bless and guide everyone.
Ananya Chakma shared the experiences of Bangladesh's Jumma peoples displaced from the militarized Chittagong Hill Tracts under the guise of development projects. 'In order to occupy the land of Indigenous Peoples, they always target women, children and their families, threatening their lives and safety,' she said.
From Manipur, Sorokhaibam Panthoi Chanu and Kiranmala Laishram exposed the brutality following India's military forces using extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and a militarization. Under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) which legalized attacks and perpetuated impunity among our women suffer the most,' they stressed, urging the repeal of AFSPA and respect for Indigenous autonomy.
Naw Paw Pree from Burma presented accounts of airstrikes on schools and churches, including the March 2024 bombing in Doo Tha Htoo, northern part of Mon State, Burma. 'End military dictatorship and ethnic chauvinism,' she contended.
Meanwhile, Filipina activist Mae Fe Ancheta-Templa uplifted the role of Lumad women in Mindanao, portraying them as educators, warriors, and healers despite the continuous militarization and ancestral land theft. Her rallying cry—'Kamalitanan, maghiusa!'—then called for unity amid struggle. Her speech was seconded by Eufemia Cullamat, which emphasized that Lumad women, especially those choosing the road for liberation and revolutionary struggle, have always been sacrificing their lives and becoming martyrs.
Sayang Mandabayan of West Papua condemned Indonesia's transmigration program for eroding Papuan identity, capturing their lands and criminalizing and imprisoning Indigenous activists for self-determination. These became a huge toll to women and children left in refugee camps and forcibly removed from their communities. A survivor of political imprisonment, she reminded the world that West Papua bleeds behind silence but they will not disappear. Common in the sharing was the heavy militarization linked to development projects and land grabbing by government and corporate interests.
Each also shared how the paralegal training project, network building, sharing of stories and rights campaigning offered overall education and learning, awareness raising and capacity building in terms of IP women rights, IP rights, and immediate paralegal and legal knowledge necessary for IP women to identify steps in protecting themselves, their communities, organizations and families.
The event also cemented and initiated the ground work on how Indigenous women from different places can support one another, exchange experiences and meaningful experiences to challenge any attacks and rights violations.
Giving solidarity and support, Datuk Dr. Haji Sangkar Rasam, Chairman of Felcra Niaga Sdn Bhd and Head Branch of Peoples Justice Party Keningau, also extended inspirational message and stories of Indigenous Peoples persistence to push for their welfare and own development.
In Penang, the affirmation that there is still a lot of work needed to be done for all Indigenous women and Indigenous Peoples further emphasized the key role of solidarity building between and among Indigenous women and communities. The actions and steps to safeguard ancestral lands, the safety and protection of communities and leaders, and the strengthening of local struggles to realize a self–determined future is a step by step journey. And with these regional exchange, bold strides are now being led by brave Indigenous women.
The event is made possibe with the support from FIMI-AYNI, The Christensen Fund and Possible Futures.
