Independence seekers urged to go to U.N.

The Advertiser has an article today on the visit to Hawaii by Julian Burger, coordinator of the Indigenous Peoples Unit of the U.N.'s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and his discussion with independence leaders about how to "press their case for self-determination at the United Nations."

On one hand, it is good that this subject is even being discussed, and to have someone like Julian Burger (with whom Kekula has worked) more aware of Hawaii's situation. On the other hand, I find this article very frustrating because it is full of misinformation on both sides. God bless Kekuni, I love and respect the man, but I just disagree with him on how he perceives the situation.

The main point is that the whole discussion in this article is coming from the perspective of an indigenous group seeking self-determination, rather than a national population of an already recognized country under occupation seeking restoration of their government. Keep that in mind when reading the article. Hawaii may well go to the UN at some point, but once you see things from what I think is the proper legal and historical perspective of continuity and occupation, the approach and venue within the UN is completely different.

And Burger says, "In the United Nations and international law, there's no right to independence. What you have is a right to self-determination." For indigenous peoples, there's no right to independence, but for a country that is already independent, there sure as hell is! Hawaiians don't need to go through a process of self-determination when their country already exists and was recognized.

Also re Tony Sang's comments about the PCA case, first the PCA didn't reject the case, they heard it and then decided that they couldn't rule, but the case was nevertheless valuable as a means to expose Hawaii's situation. But more importantly, it was just one step in the process. There are other approaches and venues still to be pursued when the time is right, and the PCA case helped lay a foundation for those. By Sang's logic, we could just as easily say, well we tried getting the Akaka bill passed last session and it was rejected, so it is futile to get the U.S. to recognize Hawaiians.

UPDATE: In the extended entry I have posted the text of a press release received via email regarding a human rights seminar at MCC on Maui this week, hosted by the Hawaii Institute for Human Rights, featuring Julian Burger. It is open to the public.

UPDATE 6/14: A brief Maui News item covering Burger's seminar.

June 2005

Summer Seminar Announcement for Human Rights on Maui

United Nations Expert on Indigenous Peoples Rights in Hawaii to Speak at University Seminars and Visit Areas of Potentional Human Rights Violations to Prevent Future Problems in Paradise

The Hawaii Institute for Human Rights hosts an international expert on indigenous peoples rights at the 6th annual summer seminar on Maui this week from June 13 - June 17 at Maui Community College. The summer seminar will take place from 9 am to 1pm daily. All interested participants are asked to meet at the Faculty Hale on MCC's campus.

Julian Burger, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Head of Indigenous Peoples Unit and author of The Gaia Atlas of First Peoples, will speak on Oahu and visit indigenous communities to hear their human rights concerns during the summer seminar.

Burger will also celebrate the passage of the Hawaii State resolution adopting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples during the last session. Hawaii is one of the only states in the world to recognize this important international instrument defending the human rights of indigenous peoples.

Burger's talks will focus on various topics relating to the indigenous movements in international human rights law and the power of peoples movements to influence international instruments and institutions.

All events are open to the public. The public is invited to participate in a thoughtful discussion on the contemporary role of the United Nations and indigenous peoples. Donations are accepted. Burger's visit is part of the 6th annual summer seminar sponsored by the Hawaii Institute for Human Rights, UNA Hawaii, the HPU Anthropology Department, UH West Oahu Service Learning, UH Manoa Center for Hawaiian Studies and Ethnic Studies. For more information contact Joshua Cooper (808) 542 - 7204.

Attached below is a short bio:

Julian Burger is the Coordinator of the Indigenous and Minorities Unit atthe Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)based in Geneva. In this capacity he is responsible for the programme of activities relating to indigenous peoples and minorities of the Office including various working groups, the work on the draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples, human rights training for minorities and indigenous peoples, research and studies, and a number of country-level programmes. Julian Burger joined the United Nations in 1990 and since 1991 has been responsible for indigenous issues at OHCHR.

From 1987 to 1990, Julian was the Deputy Director of the Independent Commissionion on International Humanitarian Issues, a think-tank established by the United Nations and headed by Sadruddin Aga Khan, former High Commissioner for Refugees. The Indedependent Commission was tasked by the General Assembly with proposing new approaches for humanitarian crises ands was the proponent of the right to humanitarian intervention.

From 1982 to 1987, he was the Research Director at Anti-Slavery International, considered the world's first human rights organization, where he helped to develop a major research programme on child labour, bonded labour and indigenous rights and to establish the Human Rights Fund for Indigenous Peoples to assist indigenous peoples attend UN meetings. He represented the organization at the first session of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations in August 1982.

From 1978 to 1982, Julian was a researcher and later lecturer at the Centre for Latin American Studies at the University of Essex in the UK where he also received his PhD. His doctoral research covered poverty issues in North-East Brazil, one of the poorest regions in Latin America. He holds a BA (Hons) in Politics/Economics, MA and PhD. Following the completion of his first degree he also worked as a school teacher.

Julian has worked in several different countries including Australia, Chile, Brazil, Guatemala, India and Thailand and travelled widely in the course of his human rights career in Africa, the Arctic, Pacific, Asia and Latin America. He has written several books principally on indigenous peoples including "Report from the frontier: the state of the world's indigenous peoples" (Zed), "Atlas of First Peoples: a future for the indigenous world" (Anchor) and "Indigenous peoples: a global quest for justice" (Zed) as well as numerous articles.

Please Attend in the Summer Course

Political Science 290

A Future for the Indigenous World:
A Human Rights Framework for Protection and Promotion of Sustainability, Peace and Fundamental Freedoms

June 12 - 17, 2005

A One Week Intensive Course featuring educational lectures and excursions of empowerment examining ecology, peace and human rights in relation to indigenous peoples and island communities.

Joshua Cooper will be facilating the course with guest lecturer Julian Burger from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for the week of instruction.

Please email joshua@hawaii.edu or call 542-7204 to reserve place in this course.

Posted: Mon - June 13, 2005 at 09:30 AM

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Independence seekers urged to go to U.N.

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